Recent Posts

A Small Peptide Signal Regulates Systemic Responses to Plant Water Status ($)

Plant organs perceive their immediate environment and communicate over both short and long distances to regulate the physiology of the affected organ as well as organs distal to the perceived stress. To accomplish this, plants utilize an impressive array of signalling molecules which range from small…

Identification and characterization of wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr21 effective against the Ug99 race group at high temperature (OA)

Stem rust is a fungal disease of wheat caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The Ug99 race group of the fungus has evolved the ability to overcome most stem rust (Sr) resistance genes. Previously, Sr21, an Sr gene that confers partial resistance to Ug99, was found in diploid wheat. Chen et…

SIAMESE-RELATED1 (SMR1) has roles in leaf growth repression under drought (OA)

The cell cycle of plants is regulated by signals that integrate endogenous and environmental cues to allow for adaptation to varying conditions. When a plant is under drought stress, cell division in young leaves is stopped by an active mechanism to conserve resources. Cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitory…

Saving Algae from Environmental Stresses

Du et al. investigate an important protein that regulates photosynthesis under stress. Plant Cell. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00446.                                                                               Background:…

Update: Ethylene exerts species-specific and age-dependent control of photosynthesis

By Johan Ceuster and Bram Van de Poel Abstract The volatile plant hormone ethylene plays a regulatory role in many developmental processes and in biotic and abiotic stress responses. One of the under-explored actions of ethylene is its regulation of photosynthesis and associated components such…

Ethylene signaling modulates cortical microtubule reassembly in response to salt stress

Ethylene is an important mediator during plant adaptation to salt stress. During salt stress, ethylene has been shown to promote microtubule (MT) stability and organization. Dou et al. further examine this pathway using Ag+ to block ethylene signaling in addition to using various mutants. In wildtype…