Recent Posts

A nitrogen-fixing algal organelle

Coale et al. provide an exciting peek into the evolution of a nitrogen-fixing organelle (called a nitroplast) in their studies of a tiny marine alga, Braarudosphaera bigelowii and its endosymbiont cyanobacterium, Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa (UCYN-A). Plant biologists are familiar with…

Review: Scripting a new dialogue between diazotrophs and crops

All organisms need nitrogen to produce nucleic and amino acids, but nitrogen-limitation is common for many plants. Although nitrogen is very abundant in the atmosphere, most is inaccessible due to the triple bond that renders N2 relatively inert. Tremendous crop yields in recent decades are attributable…

NAC-CYP Mediates Soybean Nodule Senescence

Yu et al. show that activation of the expression of cysteine protease genes by GmNAC039 and GmNAC018 is required for soybean nodule senescence The Plant Cell (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad129 By H Yu and Y Cao Background: Soybean (Glycine max) roots have nodules in which symbiotic…