Recent Posts

Endogenous control of root system architecture through hypoxic conditions (Mol Plant)($)

The three-dimensional structure of plant roots, often referred to as the root system architecture (RSA), is important for soil exploration and nutrient acquisition. The regulation of the RSA is important to prevent overuse of resources and to ensure efficient function. A recent study from Shukla et al.…

Proteome-wide, structure-based prediction of protein-protein interactions (Plant Physiol)

Genomics and transcriptomics have brought huge advances in understanding of plant science, but proteomics is both more challenging and in some ways more relevant to understand what is happening inside of a cell. Proteins function largely through their interactions with other proteins, so it is important…

I see the light! Fluorescent proteins suitable for cell wall/apoplast targeting in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves (Plant Direct)

Imaging proteins through fluorescent tagging is tremendously powerful but also tricky. In this very useful paper, Stottard and Rolland survey the properties of 10 fluorescent tags to determine their effectiveness in the low pH environment of the plant cell wall and apoplast. The authors also test the…

The global burden of pathogens and pests on major food crops (Nature Ecol Evol) ($)

Pathogens and pests are bad, but just how bad? And how do different regions of the world compare in terms of crop losses to pathogens and pests? Savary et al. surveyed crop experts from across the globe to address these questions, focusing on five major food crops (wheat, rice, maize, potato and soybean).…

What quantity of photosystem I is optimum for safe photosynthesis? ($) (Plant Physiol)

Photosynthesis is one of the most vital and complex processes carried out by plants. During photosynthesis, Photosystem I and II (PSI and PSII) undergo photo-excitation. Excessive photo-excitation can damage and deactivate the PSI by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). This kind of photoinhibition…

Leaf age dictates abiotic versus biotic stress signalling in Arabidopsis (PNAS)

Plants sense and respond to various external stimuli throughout their lifespan. During stress responses brought forth by abiotic or biotic factors, molecular and physiological adjustments mediated by distinct yet interconnected hormone pathways play critical roles in plant survival. Berens et al. investigate…

Rubisco condensate formation by CcmM in β-carboxysome biogenesis (Nature) ($)

Cyanobacterial carbon-dioxide concentrating mechanisms elevate intracellular inorganic carbon as bicarbonate, and then concentrate it as carbon-dioxide around the enzyme Rubisco in specialized protein micro-compartments called carboxysomes. The formation of B-carboxysomes involves an aggregation between…

Review: Deep learning on image-based plant phenotyping (Trends Plant Sci)

The development of deep learning brings opportunities to train computers to solve complex questions. Self-driving vehicles are classic examples of an application of deep learning in the real world. However, the large amounts of data that are required for building accurate models and avoiding overfitting…

Nitrate transporter gene OsNRT1.1A/ OsNPF6.3 confers high yield in rice (Plant Cell)

In many ecosystems, nitrogen (N) is a limiting factor for plant growth. In agro-ecosystems, the application of synthetic N fertiliser has solved that issue. However, N fertiliser application is costly both to the farmers and the environment (in terms of N leaching and atmospheric release of greenhouse…