Ecosystems
Study examines how well-timed cover crops can suppress weeds in California orchards
Experiments show a variety of cover crop management programs can produce weed-suppressing cover crops.
Ecosystems
Botanists investigate fairy circles in the desert
When plants in the Namib desert suffer from water stress, strange things happen.
Plants & People
Archaeologists race against the climate to preserve aboriginal art
Trees that have stood for thousands of years may soon collapse due to climate change. If they do, they’ll take irreplaceable aboriginal art with them.
News in Brief
An orchid gives assistance, forests reduced persistence, and weeds’ electrical resistance
Botanists uncover the reason for an orchid’s delicate shape, deforestation is probably worse than you thought, and a test of killing weeds without herbicide.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
Why do cats act so strangely around catnip?
It’s not food, so why would cats chew on catnip and silver vine? Scientists have found cats are improving the plants’ mosquito repellent by damaging the leaves in a specific way.
Growth & Development
A new wearable technology — for plants
In the future, some plants may wear monitors to keep track of water loss.
Close Encounters
Infectious bacteria force host plants to feed them
Not only do bacteria have tools to try to shut down plant defences, pathogens can also try to get the plant to direct water and food to help feed the attack.