Close Encounters
Cannabis plants may have evolved cannabinoids to prevent herbivores getting the munchies
A study shows how cannabis plants may be the source of new pesticides, but there is a catch.
Cells, Genes & Molecules
How Gene Duplication Led to the Evolution of Nectar Spurs
Scientists studied how genes are turned on and off during flower development in a group of plants with special spur structures on their flowers, finding evidence that duplication of a certain gene helped the evolution of these spurs for collecting nectar.
Computational Models
Increasing yield prediction accuracy
Researchers find combining multiple types of models improves crop yield predictions, outperforming single models.
Close Encounters
How Serapias Orchids Outsmart Self-Pollination
Scientists reveal how Serapias orchids ensure their cross-pollination through a special flower morphology interacting with pollinators in a particular manner, without the need for pollen masses changes as in many other orchids.
Ecosystems
Harmonizing global water stress research
Plants use and lose water through a process called evapotranspiration, which varies considerably across biomes due to a diverse set of factors. Understanding the intricacies of evapotranspiration is pivotal in a climate change scenario, especially in the context of rising drought events worldwide.
Plants & People
The Scary Side of Botany: 10 weird plants with frightening features
Pumpkins, the hallmark of the most terrifying night of the year, are not the only botanical species that give rise to dreadful feelings. Let’s discover some creepy, freaky, greedy plants that seem spawned from horror stories.
Computational Models
Weathering the Storm: Understanding Maize Lodging Resistance
A new model identifies the morphological features that determine stalk bending strength.
Plants & People
Smart crops for a changing world: novel insights from the Italian plant science community
After the summer break, the Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics celebrated the 66th edition of its annual congress in sunny Bari, a beautiful city located in the heel of Italy’s boot. Want to know more about “Climate-smart plants to feed the future”? Don’t miss this post-conference blog post.
Close Encounters
Unlocking the Tiny Secrets to Grow the World’s Largest Flowers
Since germinating Rafflesia seeds has brought so many headaches, Dr Jeanmarie Molina and her team have analysed the genes expressed on its seeds to draw up a roadmap for their propagation and conservation.
Growth & Development
Are Giant Tomatoes the Future of Climate-Resilient Crops?
Researchers in Brazil found a special part of tomato genome that controls the size of not just the fruit but also the leaves and stems. This discovery could help making tomato crops more resilient to different environments.
Reviews
A guide to the flora of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir
This visually stunning book presents a white-background approach to capturing the unique flora of Mexico’s Sierra San Pedro Mártir, including many endemic and endangered species, in exquisite photographic detail.
Close Encounters
The Choreography of Nature: How Plant-Pollinator Interactions Unfold in a Day
“From dawn’s first light to twilight’s embrace, every hour tells a new story about plants and pollinators.”