Maize Meristem Matters
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellTsuda et al. explore the function of BLH transcription factors in maize meristems
Plants have specialized tissues at the tips of roots and shoots called meristems. Meristem cells are what keep the plant growing; they are undifferentiated cells that continue to divide, providing new cells for growth.…
How Rice Seedlings Emerge from Soil
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a Nutshell0 Comments
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Xiong et al. explore the action of plant hormones that control how rice seedlings emerge from the soil http://www.plantcell.org/content/29/5/1053
By Qing Xiong, Bao Ma, and Lu Xiang
Flowering plants begin their life cycle as a seed beneath the soil surface. With adequate water and the right temperature,…
Funding Opportunity: NSF Solicits Proposals to Expand INCLUDES National Network
Funding Opportunities, ResearchOn July 14, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) soliciting proposals to expand the Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) program. The DCL invites proposals for Early-concept…
Using Metabolism to Improve Maize Breeding
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellCañas et al. study the relationships between maize leaf metabolism and grain yield to identify putative markers for breeding http://www.plantcell.org/content/29/5/919
By Rafael A. Cañas, Peter J. Lea and Bertrand Hirel
In crops, several metabolic pathways are involved in the control of biomass…
Review: Uncovering gene regulatory networks controlling plant cell differentiation ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, Research, Research BlogThe transparency and simplicity of the Arabidopsis root apex has made it an excellent model through which to understand the processes that lead from undifferentiated meristem cells to mature root tissues. Drapek et al. review the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that underlie the development of the endodermis…
Update: Shining light on the function of NPH3/RPT2-like proteins in phototropin signalling
Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: Updates, Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchBlue light regulates diverse functions including phototropism and chloroplast movements. Christie et al. summarize recent updates in understanding the signalling pathway between light perception by phototropins and downstream responses. They describe the central roles for the 33 members (in Arabidopsis)…
Review: The evolution of calcium-based signalling in plants
Plant Science Research Weekly, Research BlogCalcium signalling is a ubiquitous process in plants and other organisms. Transporters at the plasma and vacuolar (tonoplast) membranes control entry and exit of calcium ion into the cytoplasm, and it is the cytoplasmic calcium level ([Ca2+]cyt) that affects cellular responses, as calcium-binding proteins…
What We're Reading: July 21
Research, Research BlogReview: The evolution of calcium-based signalling in plants
Calcium signalling is a ubiquitous process in plants and other organisms. Transporters at the plasma and vacuolar (tonoplast) membranes control entry and exit of calcium ion into the cytoplasm, and it is the cytoplasmic calcium level ([Ca2+]cyt)…
Report: Undergraduate research experiences for STEM students: Successes, challenges, and opportunities
Plant Science Research WeeklyA new report (free to download) from the National Academies, edited by Gentile et al., provides insights into how undergraduate research experiences (UREs) enhance and support undergraduate education, whether they are faculty-mentored lab or field-based research or research embedded in a course. This…