Opinion: Best practice data life cycle approaches for the life sciences (F1000 Res)
Plant Science Research WeeklyProducing data is costly, and with advances in technology, we are producing data with revolutionary capacity. However, we are also losing data at an astonishing rate, with around 80% of data being unavailable 20 years after publication. Griffin et al. provide guidelines, repositories and other resources…
Focused Review: A role for ecophysiology in the ’omics’ era (Plant J.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyEcophysiology is the study of plant functioning as modulated by the environment (or, as described by one author, “outdoors physiology“). Flexas and Gago ask whether research (and training) in ecophysiology has been left behind somewhat by successes in -omics approaches, and from a Web of Science…
Molecular basis of salt sequestration in epidermal bladder cells of Chenopodium quinoa
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe recent focus on quinoa is a result of not only its high nutritional value, but also its astonishing salt stress tolerance. Epidermal bladder cells (EBC) are suspected to be a cause of salinity tolerance by serving as salt dumping place. In order to identify molecular mechanisms underlying salt sequestration,…
SHOU4 proteins regulate trafficking of cellulose synthase complexes to the plasma membrane (Curr. Biol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlant cell walls provide mechanical support and define the extent and direction of cell expansion. Regulation of cellulose synthase determines cell wall load bearing and involves the receptor like kinases FEI1/FEI2. To gain further understanding of cell wall integrity regulation Polko et al. performed…
ZmbZIP22 regulates 27-kD γ-zein transcription during maize endosperm development (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyZeins are maize seed storage proteins, but are notoriously low in the amino acids lycine and tryptophan. Therefore, to improve maize's nutritional properties, efforts have been made to decrease zein levels. However, such efforts often lead to abnormal (opague) kernels. Previous work has demonstrated…
Flowering time in the real world (Nature Plants)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThere are pros and cons to growing plants in controlled conditions. On the one hand, controlling light, temperature, humidity and other environmental factors should aid reproducibility between experiments and labs. But what if the conditions used profoundly and unexpectedly affect the process you are…
Recognizing Plant Cell first authors: Junpeng Zhan
The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: Author ProfilesJunpeng Zhan, first author of Opaque-2 regulates a complex gene network associated with cell differentiation and storage function of maize endosperm
Current Position: Postdoctoral Associate, Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Education: Ph.D. in Plant Science, University of Arizona,…
Recognizing Plant Physiology first authors: Chi Zhang
Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: Author ProfilesChi Zhang, first author of The MAPK kinase kinase GmMEKK1 regulates cell death and defense responses
Current Position: Postgraduate Student in the College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China 321004
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Shaanxi University of…
Recognizing Plant Physiology first authors: Zhi-Rong Wang
Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: Author ProfilesZhi-Rong Wang, first author of The MAPK kinase kinase GmMEKK1 regulates cell death and defense responses
Current Position: Research Manager, Zhejiang Tian-Feng Bio-Science Company, Jinhua, China 321004
Education: Master Degree in Plant Genetics from Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China 321004
Non-scientific…