Plant Physiology Focus issue on biotic stress The April 2019 issue of Plant Physiology includes a set of papers addressing biotic interactions between plant and pathogens or pests. As the editors indicate, progress on this topic has been rapid and significant. Key topics explored in reviews and research…

Review: Exploiting natural variation and genetic manipulation of stomatal conductance for crop improvement Identifying methods to improve crop productivity is vital considering the devastating consequences of climate change (e.g., frequent droughts). Stomatal conductance influences photosynthesis…

Review: Molecular networks of seed size control in plants ($) Crop yield is largely determined by the size of seeds, and studies are being conducted to understand the complex molecular network controlling the seed size. Li et al. review the possible molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks underlying…

Review: Linking autophagy to abiotic and biotic stress responses ($) Autophagy means “self-eating” in ancient Greek. It’s a process in which cellular components are delivered to lytic vacuoles to be reused. This recycling process promotes abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. In this review,…

Review: Evolutionary and ecological insights from herbicide resistant weeds: what have we learned about plant adaptation, and what is left to uncover? Weeds represent a problem for the economy due to their easy resistance of pesticides, but they are also a model for adaptation, ecology and evolution.…

Review: The metabolic response to drought ($) Understanding environmental stress in plants is undoubtedly important due to the consequences of climate change in crop productivity and survival of plants. Metabolomics based on liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry…

Review: Cytokinin – A developing story ($) With its diverse chemical structures, the phytohormone cytokinin is significant from embryogenesis to the maturation of plants. In this review, Wybouw and De Rybel highlight in detail cytokinin signaling in multiple plant developmental process including…

A comparison of the EU regulatory approach to directed mutagenesis with that of other jurisdictions, consequences for international trade and potential steps forward The seed sector, and particularly plant breeders, are responsible for providing farmers with new plant varieties able to overcome challenges…