Review: mlo-based resistance: An apparently universal “weapon” to defeat powdery mildew disease ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, Research0 Comments
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Powdery mildew disease is a broad term that encompasses more than 650 species of powdery mildew fungi that affect about 10,000 plant species, with serious economic consequences. In the 1930s/40s, broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew was found in barley with a loss-of-function of the Mildew resistance…
ROS accumulation and antiviral defence control by microRNA528 in rice
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchSeveral studies have implicated microRNAs in plant defenses against pathogens. Wu et al. previously showed that virus resistance is facilitated by the interaction of viral-inducible AGO18 (which is cleavage-inactive) and rice miR528. In this work, they identified the role of miR528 in viral resistance.…
Review: Unlocking the potential of orphan legumes ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchOrphan legumes, which include cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Bambara groundnut (V. subterranea), grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) and marama bean (Tylosema esculentum), are important food sources for many farmers, but have largely been ignored by breeders and industry. Cullis and Kunert argue that some of these…
Homeodomain protein underpins leaf shape variation in cotton ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchHomeodomain transcription factors are well-known as regulators of developmental patterning, including in leaves. Andres et al. examine the molecular basis behind leaf shape in cotton, particularly the Okra locus that was identified by breeders as a regulator of leaf shape. They show that the Okra locus…
A PNAS trio: DNA methylation and small RNAs in plant reproduction
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchThree PNAS papers explore DNA methylation and/or small RNAs in plant reproductive development. In angiosperms, sexual reproduction is accompanied by DNA demethylation in certain tissues, particularly those that have a nutritive or supporting role. Park et al. (10.1073/pnas.1619047114) show that in…
Opinion Paper: Bandwagons I, too, have known (reflections of a plant breeder) ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchIn this entertaining Opinion article written for the 150th anniversary of Mendel’s seminal work, Bernardo reviews “bandwagons” that have come and gone in plant breeding. Early bandwagons such as induced polyploidy are discussed, as well as more recent trends such as trangenics, molecular markers…
Review: History of Solanaceae family in genetic research
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchPlants from the Solanaceae family had, and continue to have, fundamental roles in plant genetic research. Gebhardt summarizes the historical contributions of the Solanaceous plants tomato, tobacco, petunia, potato, pepper, and eggplant. The tomato has been a model plant for studying fruit traits…
Gene editing to produce doubly-determinate, early-yielding tomatoes ($)
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchTomatoes have an indeterminate growth pattern that arises from the balance of flower-promoting (florigen) and flower repressing activities. Suppressing this flower-repressing activity leads to greater determinacy and facilitates cultivation. Soyk et al. compared flowering times in short- and long-days…
Genetic basis of primrose floral dimorphism
Plant Science Research Weekly, ResearchSelf-fertilization in Primula is avoided by the production of two flower forms (morphs), one with a long style in which the stigma is elevated above the anthers (the L morph or pin) and one with a short style in which the anthers are well above the stigma (the S morph or thrum), although there are also…