Bacteria in innumerable numbers share a deep and integral association with bananas, but show apparently mutualistic benefits with no obvious adverse effect.
Genetic model organisms have revolutionized science, and with rapid advances in technology there is significant potential to launch more plant species towards model status. However, these new model organisms have to be carefully selected.
A paper in AoB PLANTS describes new methods for real-time monitoring of trace gases such as ethylene, nitric oxide and ethanol which play an important role in many areas of biology.