
Review: Palaeobotanical redux: revisiting the age of the angiosperms
Plant Science Research Weekly, Research0 Comments
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Although angiosperms are the dominant autotrophs in most parts of the world, their evolutionary origins remain somewhat mysterious. Herendeen et al. review the earliest evidence for angiosperms from the Early Cretaceous, and discuss fossil remains from earlier periods (Jurassic, Triassic) that have some…

Review: Impact of the ion transportome of chloroplasts on the optimization of photosynthesis ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchIn photosynthesis, light energy generates proton motive force (pmf) across the thylakoid membrane. The establishment and maintenance of pmf involves numerous membrane transporters as well as other ions. Szabò and Septea review how various ions (including K+, Na+, Fe2+, Cu+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Cl–) contribute…

Reviews: Nature Insight: Plants ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchNature journal published a special “Plant Insights” section featuring several excellent reviews. Zipfel and Oldroyd review Plant signalling in symbiosis and immunity (10.1038/nature22009), Bevan et al. write about Genomic innovation for crop improvement (10.1038/nature22011), Scheres and van der…

What We’re Reading: March 24
Blog, Research Blog
Have you seen an exciting new paper you’d like to summarize for the community? Contact Mary Williams to inquire about contributing to this series!
Reviews: Nature Insight: Plants ($)
Nature journal published a special “Plant Insights” section featuring several excellent reviews. Zipfel…

A community repository of plant illustrations
Blog, Research Blog, Writing/Reviewing/Publishing/CommunicatingGuest post by Erin Sparks, Guillaume Lobet, Larry York and Frédéric Bouché
It is midnight on a cold winter evening and you are scheduled to give a seminar at 8 am the next morning. All you are missing to complete your presentation is one last graphic to illustrate your conclusions. You wearily…

A Kinase- and Proteasome-Mediated Link Between Lipid Biosynthesis and Energy Homeostasis
Research, The Plant Cell: In BriefIN BRIEF by Nancy R. Hofmann [email protected]
The economy of living cells includes energy production, energy utilization, and energy storage. Thus, a plant’s energy budget must connect the decision to produce lipids (for energy storage) with its overall energy status. Energy sensor kinases, such…

How a kernel of corn may yield answers into some cancers (by Kevin Folta)
Blog, Research, Research BlogThis article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
By Kevin M. Folta, University of Florida
Driving down a country highway in the Midwest can seem an endless ribbon flanked by green walls of corn, neatly planted in stately rows. But who would guess…

The contribution of solar brightening to the US maize yield trend ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchOver the past several decades, the amount of maize produced in the US Midwestern “Corn Belt” has been rising steadily. In order to accurately predict future grain yields, the factors that contribute to these recent yield increases must be identified. Tollenaar et al. found that more than a quarter…

Elevated CO2 does not increase eucalypt forest productivity on low-phosphorus soil ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchThe “Law of the Minimum” put forth by Justus von Liebig states that the most limiting nutrient governs plant growth. Although there is evidence in some conditions that increasing atmospheric CO2 levels can enhance plant growth, this only holds true under conditions in which CO2 is limiting growth.…