News Feature Channel: Plants

How Modified Atmosphere Packaging Enhances Nutrient Levels in Broccoli Rabe

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:50:10 EST

A recent study shows that low-oxygen storage significantly enhances the health-promoting compounds in broccoli rabe, such as ��-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and lactic acid (LA). These metabolites, known for their stress-relief and dietary benefits, are produced in higher quantities due to metabolic shifts induced by modified atmosphere packaging (MAP).

CRISPR Creates 'Invisible' Male Plants to Boost Crop Yields

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:15:21 EST

In a new development, researchers have successfully created an efficient two-line system for hybrid seed production in Brassica napus (rapeseed) using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing combined with the RUBY visual reporter. By targeting the BnaMS1 and BnaMS2 genes, they directly generated male-sterile lines from elite breeding materials, overcoming the traditional hurdles of propagation and sorting.

Tropical Bounty: How Forests Can Turn Into Chemical Factories

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 19:05:11 EST

A new study led by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden has uncovered a surprising layer of diversity in tropical forests.

Hidden Forces Shape Plants From the Inside Out

Universite de Montreal — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:30:27 EST

UdeM scientists use a combination of experimental data and modelling to reveal how physical forces help plants to generate their complex 3D shapes.

Climate Change and Human Activity Threaten Plant Diversity--Can Ancient Pollen Help Predict the Future?

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:55:17 EST

Scientists from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have compared several methods for plant diversity reconstruction using pollen data. By analyzing modern pollen distributions across China, the team calculated angiosperm diversity using five key ecological indices and--for the first time--applied an image similarity algorithm (SSIM) to validate their findings.

Lilies and Cats: A Deadly Combination

Virginia Tech — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:15:27 EST

Lilies might be beautiful, but for cats, they pose a significant threat that can be deadly. A veterinarian with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is urging cat owners to be extra cautious and understand the risks associated with these common household and garden plants, especially with Easter and the spring planting season.

Where Have All the Butterflies Gone?

Virginia Tech — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:15:36 EST

If you've noticed fewer butterflies fluttering around your garden lately, you're not alone. Many insect populations are in decline, and butterflies are no exception. According to Virginia Tech entomologists, they face a variety of challenges, such as habitat destruction, improper use or overuse of pesticides, and climate change.

Innovation at Work: Helping Iowa Farmers Uncover Greater Gains, Success with Sustainability

Iowa State University — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:20:12 EST

As a trusted partner, Iowa State University is helping Iowa farmers -- including AJ and Kellie Blair, fourth-generation farmers near Dayton, Iowa -- cultivate their future success through collaborative research.

Novel Biosensor Illuminates Plant RNA in Real Time

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 07:40:18 EST

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a first-ever method of detecting ribonucleic acid, or RNA, inside plant cells using a technique that results in a visible fluorescent signal.

Landscape Architect Major Plants Seeds for a Budding Future

Rutgers University-New Brunswick — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 08:20:09 EST

At Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Josh Kover finds himself adapting - much like how plants can adapt to their environment.? Kover's evolution took a dramatic turn four years ago. Shiftless during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maplewood, N.J., resident recognized a need in his community for a quiet and sustainable landscaping service while everyone was working from home.

From Flavonoids to Stilbenoids: CRISPR Unlocks a New Path for Natural Resveratrol

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:40:25 EST

A recent study showcases the power of CRISPR gene editing to significantly boost the production of resveratrol, a plant-derived compound with numerous health benefits. Researchers successfully targeted a key gene in grape cells, redirecting the plant's metabolic pathways to prioritize resveratrol production. As a result, engineered grape cells produced over four times more resveratrol than normal, providing a potential solution to the challenges of sourcing this valuable molecule. This innovative method could revolutionize the availability of resveratrol for use in supplements, medicines, and functional foods, and could also serve as a model for increasing the production of other beneficial plant compounds.

Nature's Time Machine: How Long-Term Studies Unlock Evolution's Secrets

Georgia Institute of Technology — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:35:40 EST

Georgia Tech scientists are revealing how decades-long research programs have transformed our understanding of evolution, from laboratory petri dishes to tropical islands -- along the way uncovering secrets that would remain hidden in shorter studies.

World-Renowned Experts in Tropical Plant Biodiversity Join WashU, Missouri Botanical Garden

Washington University in St. Louis — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 19:30:35 EST

Botanists Lucia Lohmann (left) and Toby Pennington will have joint appointments with both Washington University in St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

New Green Chemistry Extracts Valuable Compounds From Plant Waste

University of Adelaide — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:35:12 EST

Around 98 per cent of lignin created as a forestry by-product from plants is discarded, but a new enzyme could be the key to extracting high-value molecules from this waste using a green chemistry approach.

Decoding Fungal Virulence: The Role of Chromatin Structure in Postharvest Pathogens

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:20:22 EST

A recent study has shed light on the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of Penicillium expansum, the fungal culprit behind blue mold disease in fruits. By mapping chromatin accessibility at different growth stages, researchers identified key regulatory elements and a critical transcription factor, PeAtf1, which governs fungal growth, stress response, and pathogenicity.

Unlocking the Genetic Secrets of Olive Tree Flowering: A Key to Climate Adaptation

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:05:08 EST

A recent study has unveiled the genetic blueprint behind flowering time in olive trees, a crucial trait for fruit production that is increasingly under threat from climate change. By analyzing 318 olive genotypes from across the Mediterranean, researchers identified key genetic loci governing flowering time, shedding light on the complex polygenic control of this trait.

BPUM Model: Accurate Crop Identification 1-2 Months in Advance

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 07:35:53 EST

A recent study introduces a groundbreaking method for early crop identification, leveraging the Bayesian Probability Update Model (BPUM). This innovative approach combines historical planting data with real-time remote sensing observations, enabling accurate predictions of crop distribution 1-2 months ahead.

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American Chemical Society (ACS) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:20:13 EST

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'Too Much of a Good Thing': Overuse Is Making Bt Corn Less Effective Against Rootworm

Iowa State University — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:55:21 EST

Widespread planting of corn hybrids designed to combat corn rootworm, the crop's most damaging pest in the Corn Belt, is reducing both the technology's effectiveness and some farmers' profits, according to a new study of 12 years of field trials across 10 corn-growing states.

Traditional Breeding Falls Short in Boosting Soybean Photosynthesis

Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) Project — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:00:09 EST

A RIPE team from the University of Illinois has determined that improving a crucial component of soybean photosynthesis is unlikely to come from traditional breeding methods, and that gene editing could be the key to unlocking soybean potential. Their work was published in The Plant Journal