Open Sesame! The Tiny Doorway That Wakes a Seed
New research shows that Dodonaea viscosa seeds rely on a tiny slit to let water in, and understanding how it opens could help germinate them.
Carlos A. Ordóñez-Parra
109 posts
Carlos (he/him) is a Colombian PhD candidate at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil). He works as an Editor at Botany One and a Communications Officer at the International Society for Seed Science. Follow him at @caordonezparra.bksy.social.
© 2026 Botany One. Published with Ghost
Fire Signals and Dry Soils: How Cerrado Seeds Time Their Germination
By testing how seeds respond to drought and smoke together, scientists uncover how plants in Brazil’s Cerrado survive the harsh mix of fire, dry spells and unpredictable rain.
Pedro F. Cruz-Júnior: Finding Life After Fire and Drought
Botany One interviews Pedro Firme da Cruz-Júnior, a PhD student who aims to understand how smoke and water stress shape seed germination and early plant development in one of the world’s most diverse savannas.
The Cerrado’s Secret Carbon Stores at Risk
Newly revealed peatlands in the Cerrado hold millennia of carbon, but shifting water and climate regimes could turn them from allies into threats.
What Tiny Orchid Seeds Reveal About Their Evolution
New research on Central African orchids reveals that even the smallest seeds can preserve clues about how plants evolved and adapted over time.
The Invisible Cost of Seed Ageing
Researchers found that ageing Brassica napus seeds lose not only vigour, but also microbial diversity, raising new questions about how we store seeds for the future.
Jeanmaire Molina: "Biodiversity Matters"
Botany One interviews Dr Jeanmaire Molina, a plant biologist fascinated with "plants that challenge the definition of plant life", specially the record-breaking Rafflesia.
The Week in Botany April 20, 2026
This week: mentoring the next generation of plant scientists, a Kelp Quest, the botanical power of cellphone snapshots, and more.
Jason Cantley: "Plants Changed How I see the World"
Botany One interviews Dr Jason Cantley, an evolutionary botanist linking fieldwork, phylogenetics, and conservation, with a strong commitment to mentoring students in plant science.
Adriana Romero-Olivares: "Fungi Are Both Charismatic and Mysterious"
Botany One interviews Dr Adriana Romero-Olivares, who is intrigued by fungi and the key role they have for ecosystem functioning.
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