Recent Posts

Tools to unravel the mystery of why some tomatoes are hairier than others

Galdon-Armero et al. present an image resource that can be used to identify natural variation in leaf epidermal development in tomato. The Plant Cell (2020). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.20.00127 By Javier Galdon-Armero and Cathie Martin, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK Background: Just like our…

ALIX helps to open the pore

García-León et al. reveal a function for a trafficking protein in stomatal aperture regulation. Plant Cell https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.19.00399 By Marta García-León and Vicente Rubio Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC) Darwin, 3. 28049 Madrid, Spain  Background: Plants protect…

Abscisic acid-independent stomatal CO2 signal transduction pathway and convergence of CO2 and ABA signaling downstream of OST1 kinase (PNAS - $)

The global increase in CO2 concentrations results in the reduced opening of the stomata. Although reduction in the stomatal opening in response to drought relies on abscisic acid (ABA), less is known about the mechanism controlling stomatal aperture in response to elevated CO2. Hsu et al. examined stomatal…

ABA-mediated regulation of stomatal density is OST1-independent (Plant Direct)

Stomata are not only important for CO2 uptake, but are also important in limiting water loss when the water availability is running low. Stress hormone ABA activates protein kinase OPEN STOMATA 1 (OST1) leading to opening of ion channels, water efflux and stomatal closure. Increased levels of ABA decrease…