Domatia in a member of the mint family are caused by cell proliferation, not leaf rolling
Author - Erin Zimmerman
Erin Zimmerman
Delayed aluminium exclusion in signal grass is energy-dependent
The mechanism requires a day or two from exposure to exclude the metal from the intracellular compartment.
The SAUR41 subfamily of genes is involved in cell expansion and salt tolerance
The SAUR41 genes are ABA inducible and active during seedling establishment.
Rice chloroplasts become more spherical under salt stress
Though the cause isn’t clear, the chloroplasts may be reacting to carbon dioxide or light levels.
Diversification in Mediterranean firs occurred much earlier than expected
Mediterranean firs appeared millions of years earlier than was supposed, and likely through a single colonization event from Asia.
Venus flytraps meet post-capture energy needs with cyclic electron transport
A switch from linear to cyclic electron transport provides the extra boost needed until energy can be taken up from the insect itself.
Repetitive DNA is not behind genome size variation in Anacyclus
Plant genome size (GS) varies widely – by as much as a factor of 2500 in land plants alone. Outside of genome duplication (polyploidy), repetitive DNA is thought to be the main contributor to this variation. However...
Wave forces decrease seedling establishment in tidal marshes
Waves lead to greater root biomass and stem flexibility, but lower stress resistance overall.
Sodium chloride solutions not a good experimental substitute for sea water
Simulating seawater in the lab is more complicated than just getting the salt concentration right.
Distribution of Veronica polyploids is influenced by both habitat differentiation and historic glaciation
Species with higher ploidy levels prefer cooler, wetter habitats than diploids.
Sweetcorn a better target than other maizes for Zinc biofortification
Earlier consumption and less processing makes sweetcorn a better source of dietary zinc.
Consider alternative designs and trait integration level for better ecosystem analysis
To fully understand how an ecosystem fits together, consider how alternate designs may achieve the same end.
Lichen algae remodel their cell walls in response to drying
Lichen algae respond to desiccation with both a controlled collapse of their cell walls and a bit of biochemical remodelling.
Anaesthetic blocks trap closure and wounding response in Venus Flytraps
Diethyl ether renders flytraps unable to close their traps or respond to wounding using a mechanism with parallels in animals.
