Rho-of-plants (ROP) proteins are master regulators of cell polarity within plants and influence cell wall deposition, tissue development, and several signaling processes. However, they are quite difficult to study: attempts to form a fluorescent ROP fusion protein have proven elusive, and there are multiple…

Seagrasses are fascinating examples of adaptation. Like dolphins and other sea mammals, they are marine-dwelling descendants of species that had fully adapted to life on land. To survive submerged in saltwater has necessitated morphological, anatomical and physiological adaptations. Recent genome analysis…

The availability of annotated genomes for a wide range of plants allows for tremendous opportunity to perform comparative genomics studies such as that carried out by Kong et al. detailing the evolution of cuticle biosynthesis. The cuticle is the waxy hydrophobic layer that protects aerial plant tissue…

Plants produce more root hairs (epidermal projections) in response to low soil phosphate and the detailed mechanism of this developmental response remains elusive. TARGET OF MONOPTEROS 5 (TMO5) and LONESOME HIGHWAY (LHW) are vascular specific bHLH proteins that work as a heterodimer to activate the rate…

Review: Dry architecture: towards the understanding of the variation of longevity in desiccation- tolerant germplasm ($) Most seeds, pollen grains, and fern spores are desiccation-tolerant, meaning they remain viable after drying to low water contents. Given this property, they can be stored in cold…

Zhifeng Wang, first author of MYB transcription factor 161 mediates feedback regulation of Secondary wall-associated NAC-Domain 1 family genes for wood formation Current Position: Ph.D. candidate Education: Ph.D. and MS from State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University,…

Cristina Castillejo Mangado, first author of Allelic Variation of MYB10 is the Major Force Controlling Natural Variation of Skin and Flesh Color in Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) fruit Current Position: Research Associate at Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera de Andalucía (IFAPA) Education:…

Swayoma Banerjee, co-first author of Spatial profiles of phosphate in roots indicate developmental control of uptake, recycling, and sequestration Current Position: Process Engineer, Intel Corp. Education: PhD, Biology, Texas A&M University, USA Non-scientific Interests: music, travel Brief…