How stems breathe: Oxygen production in woody stems under different light conditions
Plant Science Research WeeklyIn woody plants, we know much less about how photosynthesis functions in stems than in leaves. This study by Natale et al. focused on how chloroplasts in Fraxinus ornus stems of different ages work. The authors looked at oxygen production rates in whole stems, bark, and wood using various methods like…
Sealing the deal to graft healing: PAT1 as a novel regulator of graft formation
Plant Science Research WeeklyGrafting is a way to combine the desirable properties of two plants by joining the scions and rootstocks from different plants. While frequently practiced, little is known about how grafting within and between coniferous species works. Most pertinently, grafting success relies on how efficiently connected…
Contribution of synthetic auxin conjugates to clonal propagation of woody species
Plant Science Research WeeklyFrom food and energy to paper and timber, many industries rely on clonal propagation of tree species. Successful propagation of cuttings depends on adventitious rooting ability, which is known to decline with tree age and to be naturally low in many species of interest. Propagators therefore employ naturally…