Parasitic plants form haustoria, which are specialized multicellular structures that penetrate into their host’s vasculature and act as conduits for nutrients.  The molecular and genetic contributors to haustorium development and function are well described. Here, Masumoto et al. have provided new…

If you remember your biochemistry, lipids that are saturated (without double bonds) pack more tightly and therefore have a higher melting temperature than those that are unsaturated, therefore bend and pack less tightly (think of margarine versus oil). Plants can modify their membranes in a temperature-responsive…

All plant species are associated with a diverse yet distinct assemblage of microorganisms known as the microbiome. Traditionally, the environment is considered the primary source of these microbes. However, Abdelfattah and colleagues' fascinating research shows that seeds can act as vehicles to share…

Review: Age is NOT just a number Aging of plants is marked by the growth and differentiation of individual organs, as well as transitions of the whole plant through developmental phases: juvenile, vegetative adult, and reproductive phase. In their recent review, Rankenberg et al. discuss how abiotic…

Mario Fenech Torre, first author of The role of GDP-L-Galactose phosphorylase in the control of ascorbate biosynthesis Current Position: Postdoctoral researcher in the Plant biotechnology and Biochemistry Lab at the University of Malaga Education: PhD in Molecular Biology (2020); MSc in Advanced…

Gayani Ekanayake, first author of DYNAMIN-RELATED PROTEIN DRP1A functions with DRP2B in plant growth, immune responses and FLS2 endocytosis Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar at The Ohio State University Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Missouri-Columbia (2014 – 2020) BS…

Hou et al. report a DEAD-box helicase as a component of the RNA microprocessor complex and highlight its importance in embryogenesis. Plant Cell http://bit.ly/2LhT7LO By Xiu-Li Hou,a,b Xiu-Fen Song,a,b Chun-Ming Liua,b,c a Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese…

Baoguang Liu, first author of Transcriptional Reprogramming of Xylem Cell Wall Biosynthesis in Tension Wood https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiab038 Current Position: Teacher, Academy of Forestry, Beihua University Education: Ph.D. in Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University Non-scientific…