Dong et al. identify and characterise the cassava TLP gene family, MeTLP, at the genomic level.
Category - Cells, Genes & Molecules
William Salter
Gene copy number is associated with phytochemistry in Cannabis sativa
THCA and CBDA were thought to have a simple mode of inheritance; however, a recent study by Vergara et al. describes that in fact multiple gene copies are involved in their production.
Distribution of Veronica polyploids is influenced by both habitat differentiation and historic glaciation
Species with higher ploidy levels prefer cooler, wetter habitats than diploids.
Erin Zimmerman
Sweetcorn a better target than other maizes for Zinc biofortification
Earlier consumption and less processing makes sweetcorn a better source of dietary zinc.
Early Lateral Root Development Is Driven by Thirst
Roots are critical for plants to find water and nutrients. They can also be expensive to grow, so a plant needs to send them in the right direction. How do they do this? A new paper by Daniel von Wangenheim and...
Dale Maylea
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.
Scientists find critical receptor that allows plant cells to pass stress signals
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is well-known for its role in cells as acting almost like currency for energy storage. Research by Elsa Matthus and colleagues shows that it can also play an important role outside the cell...
Fi Gennu
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.
A diversity of lipid composition in the seeds and fruits of the palm family
Palms are vitally important due to their high vegetable oil production, which can occur in both fruits and seeds. The full range of lipid storage and composition, however, hasn’t been well understood across this large...
Resistance to the herbicide 2,4-D is complex in wild radish
Resistance to 2,4-D in wild radish is complex and appears to vary in its mechanism from one population to the next, but new research suggests that lower receptivity at the plasma membrane is part of the answer.
How do plants perceive damage to themselves?
Plants use receptor proteins on the surface of their cells to recognise danger signals from pathogens. A paper recently published by Li, Wang and Mou in Plant Physiology discusses recent work that finds...
Alun Salt
Potato-associated bacteria can act as bodyguards
Bacteria found with potatoes can help protect their hosts against late blight. The aid comes from their volatile emissions.
Aquaporins and apoplastic barriers in nutrient-limited barley
Aquaporins can change their activity reversibly, if exposed to a change in nutrients.
Is auxin behind adventitious root formation in petunia cuttings?
Yes, but you'll need nitrogen and somewhere dark.
