Feature Channels: Plants

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Newswise: The secret lives of bats reveal botanical mysteries
Released: 3-Feb-2022 8:05 PM EST
The secret lives of bats reveal botanical mysteries
University of South Australia

In a world first discovery, a team of researchers led by the University of South Australia have uncovered that blossom bats play a unique role in the pollination of the Fijian Dillenia biflora trees.

Newswise: Japanese Squirrels Can Consume 'Poisonous' Mushrooms
Released: 3-Feb-2022 11:35 AM EST
Japanese Squirrels Can Consume 'Poisonous' Mushrooms
Kobe University

Associate Professor SUETSUGU Kenji and independent photographer GOMI Koichi have observed a Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis) routinely feeding on well-known species of poisonous toadstool mushroom, including fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) and panther cap (Amanita pantherina), in Nagano prefecture, Japan.

Newswise: UK plants flowering a month earlier due to climate change
Released: 2-Feb-2022 5:05 PM EST
UK plants flowering a month earlier due to climate change
University of Cambridge

Climate change is causing plants in the UK to flower a month earlier on average, which could have profound consequences for wildlife, agriculture and gardeners.

Newswise: ‘Smart’ greenhouses could slash electricity costs
Released: 2-Feb-2022 10:50 AM EST
‘Smart’ greenhouses could slash electricity costs
University of Georgia

A new, internet-connected lighting system for greenhouses could sharply reduce a farmer’s electrical bill, according to a study by University of Georgia researchers.

Newswise: Sorghum and other drought-tolerant cereal crops can provide better nutrition and more sustainable agriculture
Released: 1-Feb-2022 1:30 PM EST
Sorghum and other drought-tolerant cereal crops can provide better nutrition and more sustainable agriculture
University of Delaware

New research from the University of Delaware examines how staple grains can be used as an effective food group for dietary shifts that can be culturally appropriate as well as environmentally sustainable.

Released: 1-Feb-2022 10:00 AM EST
Danforth Center Elects Three New Directors to Its Board
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center today announced the election of three new directors to its Board.

Newswise: Researchers discover locations of ancient Maya sacred groves of cacao trees
Released: 31-Jan-2022 2:05 PM EST
Researchers discover locations of ancient Maya sacred groves of cacao trees
Brigham Young University

For as much as modern society worships chocolate, cacao — the plant chocolate comes from — was believed to be even more divine to ancient Mayas. The Maya considered cacao beans to be a gift from the gods and even used them as currency because of their value.

Newswise: Leafy greens first dished up 3,500 years ago
Released: 28-Jan-2022 1:25 PM EST
Leafy greens first dished up 3,500 years ago
Goethe University Frankfurt

Over 450 prehistoric pots were examined, 66 of them contained traces of lipids, that is, substances insoluble in water.

Released: 28-Jan-2022 10:25 AM EST
Argonne ecologist Julie Jastrow inducted into AAAS
Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne ecologist Julie Jastrow has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Newswise: Cultivating the Microbiome of Populus Tree Roots
Released: 26-Jan-2022 7:05 AM EST
Cultivating the Microbiome of Populus Tree Roots
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Scientists can create synthetic communities of bacteria and other microbes to learn how they affect their plant hosts. New research presents a culture collection of 3,211 individual strains of bacteria from the root community of Populus trees. This huge new collection will help scientists study how microbes can assist plant hosts and may help improve these trees’ resistance to stresses.

Newswise: Toni Kutchan, PhD Elected First Female President of the Academy of Science St. Louis
Released: 25-Jan-2022 10:05 AM EST
Toni Kutchan, PhD Elected First Female President of the Academy of Science St. Louis
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Toni Kutchan, PhD, was elected President of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Science St. Louis.

Newswise: Green backyards help increase urban climate resilience: Here is how
Released: 24-Jan-2022 4:05 PM EST
Green backyards help increase urban climate resilience: Here is how
Pensoft Publishers

Green spaces in cities have a number of positive effects: they’re good for our physical and mental health, they’re good for the environment, and they can even help fight off the effects of climate change.

Newswise: Under the hood: How environment and genomes interact in plant development
Released: 24-Jan-2022 12:25 PM EST
Under the hood: How environment and genomes interact in plant development
Iowa State University

A new study from Iowa State University scientists could help to breed more resilient crops as well as shed light on mechanisms that play a critical role in plant growth. The study focuses on how phenotypic plasticity, or the way a given trait can differ as a result of environmental conditions, influences the growth of sorghum.

Newswise: Earth BioGenome Project begins genome sequencing in earnest
Released: 19-Jan-2022 12:25 PM EST
Earth BioGenome Project begins genome sequencing in earnest
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole, MA (January 19) -- A global effort to map the genomes of all plants, animals, fungi, and other eukaryotic life (organisms with a cellular nucleus) on Earth is entering a new phase as it moves from pilot projects to full-scale production sequencing. This new phase of the The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) is marked with a collection of papers published January 17 in Proceedings of the National Academies of Science describing the project’s goals, achievements to date, and next steps. Included among these are an ambitious effort co-led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of Connecticut (UConn) to obtain fundamental new knowledge of the organization, evolution, functions, and interactions of life in one of Earth’s least-understood regions: the deep ocean.

Released: 17-Jan-2022 8:00 AM EST
Making the invisible visible: tracing the origins of plants in West African cuisine
University of Bristol

A team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, in co-operation with colleagues from Goethe University, Frankfurt, has uncovered the first insights into the origins of West African plant-based cuisine, locked inside pottery fragments dating back some 3,500 years ago.

Newswise: Biologists Discover Particularly Dangerous Fungi That Affect Potatoes
Released: 15-Jan-2022 3:45 PM EST
Biologists Discover Particularly Dangerous Fungi That Affect Potatoes
Scientific Project Lomonosov

Russian biologists have studied strains of the plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani, which causes diseases in potatoes and other plants. Among them, three particularly dangerous strains to be not susceptible to the common fungicide pencycuron and can survive at high temperatures.

Newswise: Strong evidence shows Sixth Mass Extinction of global biodiversity in progress
Released: 14-Jan-2022 3:45 PM EST
Strong evidence shows Sixth Mass Extinction of global biodiversity in progress
University of Hawaii at Manoa

The history of life on Earth has been marked five times by events of mass biodiversity extinction caused by extreme natural phenomena.

Newswise: $10M project aims for more pest-resilient food options in Asia
Released: 13-Jan-2022 5:05 PM EST
$10M project aims for more pest-resilient food options in Asia
Cornell University

A new Cornell University-led project will accelerate the application of a proven biotechnology to enhance food and nutritional security in Bangladesh and the Philippines while protecting the health of farmers and the environment.

Newswise: Aphid ‘Honeydew’ May Promote Bacteria That Kill Them
Released: 13-Jan-2022 10:40 AM EST
Aphid ‘Honeydew’ May Promote Bacteria That Kill Them
Cornell University

The word ‘honeydew’ sounds benign, but the sugary waste product of aphids can promote growth of bacteria that are highly virulent to the pests, according to a new Cornell University study.

Newswise: Danforth Center Expands Innovation Team
Released: 13-Jan-2022 10:00 AM EST
Danforth Center Expands Innovation Team
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Elliott Kellner, PhD, has joined the Center as Senior Program Manager. As part of the Innovation Team, Kellner manages the Danforth Center’s Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) and Center for AgTech and Location Science Technologies (CATALST) programs.

Newswise: Time, More than Genes, Shapes the Poplar Tree Microbiome
Released: 7-Jan-2022 3:05 PM EST
Time, More than Genes, Shapes the Poplar Tree Microbiome
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Recent work shows that the plant microbiome—the microorganisms in a plant and its immediate environment—influences plant health, survival, and fitness. New research on the microbiome of several types of poplar trees found that the composition of the microbiome changed dramatically over time, and the trees’ genetic makeup proved to be less of a factor than researchers had expected.

Newswise: Assessing diversity to Improve soil health, pollinator habitat through prairie restoration
Released: 6-Jan-2022 10:05 AM EST
Assessing diversity to Improve soil health, pollinator habitat through prairie restoration
South Dakota State University

A group of grassland scientists will assess how the biodiversity of restoration mixes, specifically species richness, genetic composition and relatedness, may impact soil health and pollinator habitat.

Newswise: Urban gardens are a dependable food source for pollinators through the year, study suggests
Released: 5-Jan-2022 4:05 AM EST
Urban gardens are a dependable food source for pollinators through the year, study suggests
University of Bristol

Gardens in cities provide a long and continuous supply of energy-rich nectar from March to October, scientists at the University of Bristol have found.

Newswise: Giant Kelp Has Different Factors that Bear on Its Growth Dynamics, Say Researchers Using Novel Remote Sensing Data
Released: 4-Jan-2022 10:20 AM EST
Giant Kelp Has Different Factors that Bear on Its Growth Dynamics, Say Researchers Using Novel Remote Sensing Data
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The macroalga giant kelp, which is an iconic and important ecosystem-structuring species found off the coast of California and many other coastlines, can grow 100-feet long within 1-2 years.

Newswise: Scientists Identify Genes Key to Microbial Colonization of Plant Roots
Released: 23-Dec-2021 8:05 AM EST
Scientists Identify Genes Key to Microbial Colonization of Plant Roots
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Some microbes can form thin films called biofilms that give those microbes an advantage by protecting them from stresses such as a lack of nutrients. Some biofilms also benefit plants and other host organisms. New research has identified an enzyme in bacteria that is key to the formation of helpful biofilms on willow and cottonwood trees. The research could lead to advances in studies of microbes important to medicine and agriculture.

Newswise: Study shows common flower species holds promise for beneficial psychedelic drugs
Released: 21-Dec-2021 12:35 PM EST
Study shows common flower species holds promise for beneficial psychedelic drugs
Tulane University

The seeds of the common tropical vine contain compounds that could be useful for treating mental and physical diseases as well as promoting well-being, according to Tulane researchers.

Newswise: Desert shrubs cranked up water use efficiency to survive a megadrought. It may not be enough.
15-Dec-2021 4:15 PM EST
Desert shrubs cranked up water use efficiency to survive a megadrought. It may not be enough.
University of Utah

Shrubs in the desert Southwest have increased their water use efficiency at some of the highest rates ever observed to cope with a decades-long megadrought. That’s the finding of a new study from University of Utah researchers, who found that although the shrubs’ efficiency increases are unprecedented and heroic, they may not be enough to adapt to the long-term drying trend in the West.

Released: 20-Dec-2021 1:10 PM EST
Department of Energy Announces $30 Million for Plant Genomics Research to Facilitate Experimental Validation of Plant Gene Function
Department of Energy, Office of Science

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide up to $30 million for basic research that will lead to transformative approaches to determine and validate gene function in plant species relevant to the sustainable production of bioenergy and bioproducts.

Released: 16-Dec-2021 5:05 PM EST
Mitigating environmental impact of herbicides
Washington University in St. Louis

Research from the lab of Kimberly Parker at the McKelvey School of Engineering looks at the interactions of different herbicides and what they mean for herbicide drift.

Newswise: Khodakovskaya Inducted into Arkansas Research Alliance Academy
Released: 16-Dec-2021 3:50 PM EST
Khodakovskaya Inducted into Arkansas Research Alliance Academy
University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya, professor of biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been inducted into the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Academy of Scholars and Fellows. The induction of the new cohort of distinguished scholars and researchers took place during a Dec. 9 ceremony at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.

Released: 16-Dec-2021 11:55 AM EST
Green Tea Extract is not appropriate to treat any infectious disease, including COVID-19
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Two Harrisburg University of Science and Technology alumni and a professor examined the evidence that exists regarding the therapeutic efficacy of green tea extracts as an anti-infective. The study results indicate that currently, there is no conclusive evidence that green tea extract is appropriate to treat any infectious disease (including COVID-19

Released: 15-Dec-2021 2:35 PM EST
Department of Energy Announces $36 Million for Environmental Microbiome Research to Facilitate Predictions of Microbial Interactions and Behavior
Department of Energy, Office of Science

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide up to $36 million for basic research into microbial processes and community interactions in natural systems.

Newswise:Video Embedded unlocking-the-cotton-genome-space-bound-research-large-step-toward-feeding-earth-s-rapidly-growing-population
VIDEO
Released: 14-Dec-2021 11:15 AM EST
Unlocking the cotton genome: Space-bound research 'large step' toward feeding Earth's rapidly growing population
Clemson University

The team of researchers led by Clemson University’s Chris Saski, associate professor of systems genomics, are working to explore the cotton genome. The goal is to facilitate the ability to directly edit the genome of elite cotton varieties, quickly adding traits like disease resistance or drought tolerance without the need for the lengthy conventional breeding process that can take over a decade.

Released: 13-Dec-2021 11:15 AM EST
Climate-driven disease devastates seagrass health
Cornell University

In an oceanic omen for climate change’s intensifying effects, new research shows that seagrass suffers from a lesion-filled wasting disease through large swaths of intertidal meadows in the Pacific Northwest. The grasses’ once-vibrant plant root systems are deteriorating, too.

Released: 13-Dec-2021 7:05 AM EST
Department of Energy Announces $110 Million for Biosystems Design Research to Engineer Plants and Microbes to Safely Produce Renewable Fuels, Chemicals, and Novel Materials
Department of Energy, Office of Science

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide up to $110 million for basic research and technology development to design and engineer plants and microbes for the production of advanced biofuels, bioproducts, and biomaterials.

Newswise: Rutgers Study Unveils Carbon Mitigation Solutions to Combat Climate Change
Released: 7-Dec-2021 10:55 AM EST
Rutgers Study Unveils Carbon Mitigation Solutions to Combat Climate Change
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Increasing adoption of certain agricultural practices can help combat climate change, according to a new report by researchers from Rutgers and the University of Maine. The study explores how New Jersey’s plants and soils can help to absorb and store carbon dioxide from greenhouse gas emissions.

Released: 7-Dec-2021 10:05 AM EST
Danforth Center scientists develop an unprecedented three-dimensional X-ray microscope methodology to image plants at cellular resolution
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

New research led by Christopher Topp and Keith Duncan have pioneered X-ray microscope technology to image plant cells, whole tissues, and even organs at unprecedented depths with cellular resolution.

Newswise: Curio Genomics Joins the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium
Released: 7-Dec-2021 9:00 AM EST
Curio Genomics Joins the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium
International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium

Curio Genomics has joined the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) as a sponsoring partner, both organizations announced today

Newswise: New Moonshadow tomato packs flavorful punch, offers better shelf stability
Released: 6-Dec-2021 3:50 PM EST
New Moonshadow tomato packs flavorful punch, offers better shelf stability
Cornell University

A new high-flavor, shelf-stable grape tomato is the latest variety released from Cornell University aimed at small farms, organic growers and home gardeners.

Newswise: Getting to the Root of Plant-Soil Interactions: Optical Instrument to Give Clearest 3D Images Yet of Rhizosphere
Released: 3-Dec-2021 3:55 PM EST
Getting to the Root of Plant-Soil Interactions: Optical Instrument to Give Clearest 3D Images Yet of Rhizosphere
Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Tech scientists and engineers are building a new DOE-funded instrument that captures 3D images of plant-microbe chemical reactions underground in an interdisciplinary effort to develop biofuels and fertilizers — and help mitigate climate change.

Released: 1-Dec-2021 8:00 AM EST
One (soil) test to rule them all
American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

Research finds that a single test for phosphorus in soil can outperform multiple other tests. This could help farmers track their soil nutrients more easily and accurately.



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