Feature Channels: Agriculture

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A recent breakthrough in biotechnology promises to change the landscape of plant genetic engineering. Imagine a persistent invader—Agrobacterium—long used to deliver genes into plants. Despite its historical success, the journey has been fraught with setbacks, especially with crops that launch fierce immune defenses. But now, scientists have equipped this bacterial “invader” with powerful tools to conquer plant resistance, opening up new possibilities in agriculture and genetic research.

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A recent discovery has unveiled a key regulatory module in grapes that governs fruit set, a vital phase for determining yield and quality. This research sheds light on the molecular mechanisms influenced by N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea (CPPU), a plant hormone-like compound known for enhancing fruit set, and opens new doors for revolutionizing grape cultivation and productivity.

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A recent study has decoded the complete genome of Forsythia suspensa, a plant renowned for its medicinal value and decorative appeal. The research delivers a flawless, gap-free genome assembly, uncovering the complex architecture of centromeres vital to genetic stability. This advancement offers a detailed genetic map, setting the stage for future breakthroughs in ecological management and medical research.

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In a session of the 187th ASA Meeting, Michael Stocker of Ocean Conservation Research will present work examining the circumstances surrounding the whale deaths off the coast of New Jersey in the winter of 2022-23, which prompted concern that survey work in the area somehow contributed to their deaths.

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We are thrilled to announce that five of our journals include Fruit Research, Vegetable Research, Ornamental Plant Research, Grass Research and Forestry Research have been officially indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) of Web of Science. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to elevate the global visibility and academic impact of our journals.

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In a new study, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign evaluated far-ultraviolet C (far-UVC) light as a safe way to alleviate fungal contamination of corn and wheat and found this technology to be effective.

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A new program at Wayne State University supported by a four-year, $749,991 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will use data to study the future of agriculture and train students to better understand how to keep people fed in an ever-changing world.

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Over a typical two-year rotation of corn and soybeans, 40% of nitrous oxide emissions are in the fertilizer-free soybean year, according to new Iowa State University research. Winter cover crops and planting soybeans earlier could reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas by one-third while increasing yields.

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A new study has discovered that siderophores, molecules produced by certain bacteria, are instrumental in the microbiome's defense against Ralstonia solanacearum, a pathogen causing severe crop losses. The research indicates that siderophores significantly boost the inhibitory effects of Pseudomonas strains on the pathogen, particularly under iron-limited conditions, offering a new avenue for developing eco-friendly disease control strategies in agriculture.

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A research team has leveraged cutting-edge noninvasive phenotyping technologies to monitor plant stress across multiple vegetative organs.

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A research team reveals how a low-cost imaging phenotyping system successfully uncovers the mechanisms of quantitative disease resistance (QDR) in wild tomato species.

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Solis will provide end-to-end genomics services enabling better-informed decisions, resulting in the development of more productive and resilient plants and animals

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A few years back, a group of weed scientists showed that soil-applied herbicides are less effective against agricultural weeds in the context of our changing climate. Now, the same research group, led by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has shown the same is true of post-emergence (POST) herbicides.

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Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing, is a plant disease that has decimated citrus production in the U.S., particularly in Florida, California and Texas, the top three citrus-producing states. It affects almost all citrus species, including orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime trees. It has caused reduced yields, financial losses for producers and higher citrus prices for consumers.

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A University of Michigan virologist's take on the current situation

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The interplay between the genetic makeup of crops and the conditions in which they grow is difficult to untangle. A research team led by an Iowa State University professor aims to help breeders analyze the interactions to make crops more resilient and productive.