Botany One

#PlantScience from #CellBiology to #Ecosystems, or what we call #Botany. Weblog of the Annals of Botany Company, a charity dedicated to promoting the study of #plants.

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Last Notes

2024-10-10 03:30:01

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Plant species with more active nectar-producing glands attracted more ants, particularly dominant ant species. However, this increased ant presence didn't result in less leaf damage for nearby plants that were less attractive to ants. The authors attributed the lack of indirect effects to the low levels of herbivory on the plants tested and the ants’ small foraging areas.

2024-10-10 03:30:01

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Unlike previous studies on pollination, this research found limited indirect effects among plants sharing protective ants, challenging previous assumptions about plant-ant interactions. This result suggests that the impact of shared mutualistic partners can vary greatly depending on the specific type of interaction and the organisms involved.

2024-09-20 19:30:01

Scenic Deception Blinds Tourists to New Zealand's Crisis 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/3eknpq
Invasive wild conifers are spreading rapidly across New Zealand, but many visitors fail to recognise the ecological threat they pose.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-20 19:30:01

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Invasive conifers are reshaping New Zealand's native grasslands, but many visitors fail to recognise the threat. Lovelock and colleagues surveyed 231 tourists at popular sites, revealing low awareness of this botanical invasion. Their study highlights a critical challenge: how to garner public support for controlling these fast-spreading trees when many, especially international visitors, view them as attractive additions to the landscape.

2024-09-20 11:30:02

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Mikwa, E.O., Wittkop, B., Windpassinger, S.M., Weber, S.E., Ehrhardt, D. and Snowdon, R.J., 2024. Early exposure to phosphorus starvation induces genetically determined responses in Sorghum bicolor roots. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137(220). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04728-4 (OA)

2024-09-20 11:30:01

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Researchers grew sorghum seedlings in paper pouches with nutrient solutions under controlled greenhouse conditions. They used two treatments: optimal phosphorus and phosphorus-deficient. Root system images were captured at 21 and 42 days after germination using a high-resolution camera. Advanced software, RhizoVision Explorer, analysed these images to extract detailed root architecture traits.

2024-09-20 11:30:01

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Mikwa and colleagues studied nearly 300 sorghum varieties, finding that roots grow longer and thinner when phosphorus is scarce. This allows plants to explore more soil and scavenge limited nutrients efficiently. Understanding these adaptations could help breed crops that thrive with less fertiliser, addressing concerns about dwindling phosphorus supplies and future food security.

2024-09-20 11:30:01

Sorghum Roots Adapt to Thrive in Low-Phosphorus Soils 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/4pm1a7
New research reveals how sorghum roots change shape to scavenge for scarce phosphorus, potentially helping breed more resilient crops.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief
Scientists have discovered how sorghum roots adapt to low-phosphorus conditions, potentially paving the way for more resilient crops.

2024-09-20 11:30:01

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The study revealed significant adaptations in sorghum root architecture under phosphorus-deficient conditions. Roots grew longer and produced more tips, while becoming thinner to cover more area efficiently. These changes were observed as early as 21 days after germination, with variations among different sorghum varieties. The researchers identified four distinct root system types, suggesting genetic control over these adaptive responses.

2024-09-20 09:30:01

Team Leader Facility Greenhouse Horticulture
https://botany.fyi/398h9j
As a team leader of the facility management of the Business Unit Horticulture, you are responsible for the smooth operation of the greenhouse complex at the location in Bleiswijk.
#PlantSciJobs @npub1tys…w6t6

2024-09-20 03:30:01

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Ellis TJ, Ågren J. 2024 Adaptation to soil type contributes little to local adaptation in an Italian and a Swedish ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana on contrasting soils. Biol. Lett. 20: 20240236. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0236 (OA)

2024-09-20 03:30:01

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This study builds on previous research showing Arabidopsis thaliana's adaptation to local climates. While some plants adapt to extreme soil conditions, these findings suggest a broader soil tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. The results contrast with studies showing soil adaptation in other Arabidopsis thaliana populations, highlighting the complexity of plant-environment interactions.

2024-09-20 03:30:01

Plant Genes Favour Climate Over Soil 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/h6t1gw
Climate shapes plant adaptation more than soil type in Arabidopsis thaliana.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief
What drives plant adaptation: soil or climate? A new study in Biology Letters by Ellis and colleagues tackles this question using Arabidopsis thaliana from Italy and Sweden. Through a reciprocal transplant experiment, they discovered that climate, not soil type, is the primary force behind plant adaptation.

2024-09-20 03:30:01

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“[T]he relative importance of adaptation to climate and to soil is still incompletely known. We suggest that this is an important gap to fill for understanding and predicting the consequences of environmental change for species distributions, local adaptation and the management of declining species.”

2024-09-20 03:30:01

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They grew Italian and Swedish Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes at both native sites, using soil from each location. The team transplanted 2,080 seedlings, ensuring a robust sample size. They tracked plant survival, fruit production, and seed count. By comparing plant performance across different site-soil combinations, the researchers could isolate the impacts of climate and soil type on plant fitness and adaptation.

2024-09-19 19:30:01

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By analysing 201 plant species from 88 studies, they discovered that these plants exhibit remarkable flexibility in attracting pollinators. This research not only enhances our understanding of plant-pollinator interactions but also has implications for managing invasive species and preserving biodiversity.
The study revealed a staggering diversity of pollinators visiting exotic plants: 964 animal species from 94 families and 12 orders.

2024-09-19 19:30:01

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The global spread of exotic plants poses significant ecological and economic challenges. This study provides insights into how these plants establish themselves in new environments through pollination flexibility. By attracting both native and exotic pollinators, these plants can thrive in diverse ecosystems.

2024-09-19 19:30:01

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Chitchak, N., Hassa, P., Traiperm, P. and Stewart, A.B., 2024. Who pollinates exotic plants? A global assessment across native and exotic ranges. Global Ecology and Conservation, 54, p.e03185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03185 (OA)

2024-09-19 19:30:01

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While bees dominated, flies, beetles, butterflies, and birds also played significant roles. Intriguingly, plants often attracted similar pollinators in both native and exotic ranges, particularly at the order level. However, geographic distance negatively correlated with pollinator similarity, suggesting that exotic plants can adapt to new environments by attracting novel pollinators when necessary.

2024-09-19 19:30:00

Exotic Plants Attract Diverse Pollinators Worldwide 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/33fom3
Exotic plants show pollination flexibility, attracting both native and exotic pollinators across their global distribution.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief
Exotic plants are spreading globally, raising concerns about their ecological impact. A study by Chitchak and colleagues sheds light on this issue, examining the pollination of exotic plants worldwide.

2024-09-19 11:30:01

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These nutrient shifts could impact bee growth, development, and overall fitness in future climate scenarios.
Researchers used the BIFoR-FACE facility in Staffordshire, UK, to study oak pollen under climate change conditions. They compared pollen from trees exposed to ambient CO2 levels with those under elevated CO2 (+150 ppm) over five years. The team analysed 12 elements in pollen-bearing flowers, including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and various minerals.

2024-09-19 11:30:01

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This study is the first to examine tree pollen's elemental composition under elevated CO2. It adds crucial evidence to our understanding of climate change impacts on plant-pollinator interactions. By revealing how pollen quality, not just quantity, may shift, the research highlights a new threat to bee nutrition.

2024-09-19 11:30:01

Climate Change Reshapes Oak Pollen, Threatening Bee Nutrition 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/cvg74r
Elevated carbon dioxide alters oak pollen nutrients, potentially limiting phosphorus availability for bees in future climates.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief
Climate change is reshaping our world in unexpected ways. A recent study by Filipiak and colleagues reveals a hidden impact: rising CO2 levels are altering the nutrient composition of oak pollen.

2024-09-19 11:30:01

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The study uncovered significant changes in oak pollen under elevated CO2. Sulfur, potassium, and iron levels decreased, while phosphorus became more scarce for bees. Two bee species, Osmia bicornis and Apis mellifera, showed different responses to these changes. O. bicornis faced potential phosphorus limitations, especially in high-CO2 conditions. For A. mellifera, both phosphorus and sulfur could become limiting factors.

2024-09-19 11:30:01

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“This area of research is still in its infancy, thus it is important to continue investigating how eCO2 and the resulting changes in the stoichiometry of floral rewards (pollen and nectar) will affect the health and fitness of bees, their interactions with plants, the functioning of bee populations and communities, and ultimately the ecosystem services they provide.”

2024-09-19 11:30:01

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This change could have far-reaching consequences for bees, which rely on pollen for food. Using a sophisticated CO2 enrichment facility, the researchers found that elevated CO2 reduced key nutrients in oak pollen, potentially limiting bee nutrition. These findings highlight the complex challenges facing pollinators in a changing climate.

2024-09-19 09:30:01

Research Assistant in Plant Biology (Fixed Term)
https://botany.fyi/22xdjf
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position in the research group of Dr Katharina Schiessl at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University. The Schiessl Group investigates plant organs of diverse forms and functions in the context of plant microbe-interactions.
#PlantSciJobs @npub1tys…w6t6

2024-09-19 06:30:00

Just as intense sunlight can damage human eyesight, excessive light exposure can damage critical components of photosynthesis. A recent study aims to better understand how plants protect their photosynthetic function from excess light.
📰 https://botany.fyi/98og2p
🔬 https://botany.fyi/nljx8y

2024-09-19 05:30:01

An ancient African tree is providing a new 'superfood' but local harvesters are barely surviving
https://botany.fyi/20bq4f
The baobab tree is known as the “tree of life” and its fruit is feeding a growing global market for natural food and beauty products.
#Botany

2024-09-19 03:30:01

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The model explored star temperatures from 2300K to 5800K, representing cool M-dwarfs to Sun-like stars. By varying antenna size and absorption peaks, they determined the most efficient configurations for each stellar environment.
This study builds on recent experiments showing some organisms can grow under simulated M-dwarf light. It provides a theoretical framework explaining why certain life forms might thrive or struggle in these conditions.

2024-09-19 03:30:00

How Could Plants Grow Under the Light of Different Suns? 📝 🧵 https://botany.fyi/gme4ig
Different stars could dramatically influence how photosynthesis evolves on distant planets.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief
Life on other planets might reveal itself through its waste. Biosignatures could give away the existence of plant-like beings on other worlds. But how would photosynthesis work under different stars? Chitnavis and colleagues model how different stars could shape this process.

2024-09-18 23:30:00

Weak link or strong foundation? Vulnerability of fine root networks and stems to xylem embolism (OA)
https://botany.fyi/p3ew4t
Harrison Day et al. measured fine root and stem xylem vulnerability in 10 vascular plant species from the major land plant clades (five angiosperms, three conifers, a fern and lycophyte), using standardised in situ methods (Optical Methods and MicroCT).
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-09-18 19:30:01

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They shared their knowledge about flytrap collecting and ranked different threats to the plants. The researchers then carefully studied the workshop conversations to find important patterns and issues in the illegal trade.
Venus flytraps are well-known carnivorous plants, but their illegal trade is not well understood. This study helps fill that knowledge gap. Despite laws and readily available cultivated plants, people still collect wild flytraps illegally.

2024-09-18 19:30:01

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However, while illegal collecting remains a threat, habitat destruction and fire suppression pose greater risks to Venus flytrap populations.
To understand Venus flytrap poaching, researchers gathered plant experts for a workshop. They asked questions, held discussions, and used activities to map out how the illegal trade works. Participants included scientists, conservation workers, and government staff.

2024-09-18 19:30:01

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“Although this research was focused on a single species from a monotypic genus, these findings for one of the most globally recognizable and sought-after carnivorous plants provide important insights that can inform interventions related to similarly high-demand wildlife species, including other carnivorous plants, that are traded internationally.”

2024-09-18 19:30:01

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Margulies, J. D., Trost, B., Hamon, L., Kerr, N. Z., Kunz, M., Randall, J. L., Shew, R. D., Shew, D. M., Starke, L., Suiter, D., & West, Z. (2024). Expert assessment of illegal collecting impacts on Venus flytraps and priorities for research on illegal trade. Conservation Biology, 38, e14320. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14320 (OA)

2024-09-18 19:30:00

How Venus Flytraps Disappear into the Underworld 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/5psgvb
Researchers trace the perilous journey of nature's most captivating carnivorous plant from the bog to the black market.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-18 19:30:00

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Venus flytraps, native to the Carolinas, are threatened by illegal collecting for the horticultural trade. Margulies and colleagues studied this issue, revealing a complex network of collectors, nurseries, and buyers. While habitat loss is the primary threat, illegal harvesting significantly impacts smaller populations. Various actors, from local opportunists to specialist collectors, drive this illicit market.

2024-09-18 13:30:00

Experts call for urgent action as invasive species threatens Brazil mangroves
https://botany.fyi/5pw6iy
The Sonneratia apetala plant is native to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, yet biologists have found hundreds of specimens permeating the mangroves in the south of Brazil.
#Botany

2024-09-18 11:30:01

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This study challenges long-held views on Arisaema pollination. Previously, these plants were thought to exclusively trap and kill their pollinators. However, the discovery that S. yokoyamai escapes and uses A. urashima as a nursery reveals a more complex relationship. This finding bridges the gap between deceptive and mutualistic pollination strategies. It also highlights the importance of examining pollinators' full life cycles in flowers.

2024-09-18 11:30:01

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The findings reveal A. urashima flowers as both lethal snares and nurturing nurseries, depending on the pollinator species, showcasing a complex ecological interplay.
Researchers examined 313 A. urashima flowers, collecting trapped insects. They incubated 416 inflorescences to observe emerging insects. In controlled experiments, they introduced S. yokoyamai into A. urashima spathes, monitoring escape rates and behaviour with video cameras.

2024-09-18 11:30:01

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Suetsugu's team discovered a remarkable twist in A. urashima pollination. Adult Sciophila yokoyamai gnats can enter the flower, deposit eggs, and then successfully escape - a feat unique among the plant's visitors. Their larvae then develop in the decaying blooms, with multiple adults later emerging. This contrasts with other gnat species, which perish in the plant's trap.

2024-09-18 09:30:01

Post Doctoral Fellow - Plant & Environmental Sciences
https://botany.fyi/8br8i7
A postdoc position is available in the Crop Ecophysiology laboratory (https://cropecophysiologylab.myportfolio.com) at Clemson University, Clemson, SC, for a year.
#PlantSciJobs @npub1tys…w6t6

2024-09-18 07:30:02

The enduring world forest carbon sink ($)
https://botany.fyi/9gpy7e
To provide a ground-based long-term assessment of the contribution of forests to terrestrial CO2 uptake, Pan et al synthesized in situ forest data from boreal, temperate and tropical biomes spanning three decades.
ReadCube: https://rdcu.be/dUdAS
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-09-18 03:30:01

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Advanced statistical techniques, including random forest modelling and mixed-effects models, were used to analyse relationships between bacterial communities, plant genetics, and various climate factors, particularly drought-related metrics.

2024-09-18 03:30:01

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“Drought not only plays a major selective role in A. thaliana populations”, but it is also known to affect the ability of plants to withstand pathogen attack. An important question will be whether different background microbiomes in plants that are more likely to experience drought in the wild will help or hamper defense against pathogens.”

2024-09-18 03:30:01

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New research across Europe reveals significant variation in bacteria living on Arabidopsis thaliana plants. This large-scale study found that drought conditions strongly influence which bacteria colonise plants. The findings show complex relationships between climate, plant genetics, and microbial communities.

2024-09-18 03:30:01

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Researchers found the microbes by collecting A. thaliana samples from 267 locations across Europe between February and May 2018. They sequenced the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA to identify bacterial species present on the plants. DNA extraction and sequencing were also performed to analyse plant genetics.

2024-09-18 03:30:01

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The study identified two distinct bacterial communities on A. thaliana: one prevalent in Northern Europe, the other in Southern Europe. Drought severity emerged as the strongest predictor of which bacterial community a plant harboured. Both plant genetics and drought directly influenced bacterial composition, with 10% of core bacteria affected by drought and 20% by host genetic factors associated with drought tolerance.

2024-09-18 03:30:00

Drought Shapes Plant Microbe Communities Across Europe 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/jyx4si
Drought strongly influences which bacteria colonise wild plants, revealing interplay between climate, plant genetics, and microbial communities.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-09-17 21:30:01

Forest staff deployed to protect gregariously flowering Strobilanthes species
https://botany.fyi/ivgwgz
The blooming of the Strobilanthes species, believed to be Strobilanthes kunthiana has been reported from two parts of the Nilgiris – near Udhagamandalam and Kotagiri, officials said,
#Botany

2024-09-17 19:30:01

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The study reveals striking disparities in how historic gardens are recognised and protected worldwide. Only a fraction of countries have specific legal provisions for these sites, with most lumping them under broader heritage categories. Notably, the botanical elements - the bit that makes them gardens - are explicitly recognised by only four countries in their legal frameworks.

2024-09-17 19:30:01

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The researchers employed a comprehensive approach to analyse historic garden identity. They studied documents from UNESCO, ICCROM, and ICOMOS. National cultural heritage laws were examined, with particular attention to garden-related terminology. They also conducted a review of scientific literature, exploring various aspects of garden identity. This multi-pronged strategy allowed for a broad understanding of how historic gardens are perceived and categorised globally.

2024-09-17 19:30:01

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Historic gardens have only recently gained recognition as cultural heritage. Before the 1960s, they were primarily viewed as scenic backdrops to monuments. The shift from 'maintenance' to 'management' in conservation documents reflects a growing appreciation of gardens as repositories of intangible heritage. However, the study reveals that botanical elements, despite being fundamental to garden identity, are often undervalued in legal and literary frameworks.

2024-09-17 19:30:01

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“The analysis highlights the need for more focus on international regulations, scientific literature, national laws on the identity of historic gardens, and the few countries with a dedicated category and legal structure for them… In the literature, the knowledge of the floristic detail to accurately reflect the culture of the garden at its origin is often under looked…

2024-09-17 19:30:01

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"The significant role of plants in defining and maintaining the identity of historic gardens indicates a need for clearer recognition in heritage frameworks.”
Hosseini, Z., Bartoli, F., Pontrandolfi, M.A., & Caneva, G. (2024). Identity of a historic garden: The view of the international literature and committees on the role of the botanical elements. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 101, 128501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128501 ($)

2024-09-17 19:30:00

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Hosseini and colleagues examine the complex world of historic gardens, examining how these living artefacts are recognised and protected globally. By analysing international regulations, national laws, and academic literature, they uncover significant gaps in the understanding and preservation of garden heritage. Their findings reveal a need for a more comprehensive approach to safeguarding these irreplaceable cultural landscapes.

2024-09-17 19:30:00

Capturing the Soul of Historic Garden Landscapes 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/g7wa7y
Historic gardens blend nature and culture, creating living monuments that challenge current preservation approaches.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-17 11:30:06

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“Ultimately, we envision a paradigm shift toward open-source foundation models that are continuously trained and improved with new remote sensing data, citizen science observations, and data modalities as they become available. Achieving this from public airborne or satellite imagery and growing citizen science observations will make biodiversity monitoring more accessible, thus advancing local and global nature conservation goals.”

2024-09-17 11:30:06

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Gillespie and colleagues developed a deep learning model, Deepbiosphere, using a modified convolutional neural network architecture to fed with combined aerial imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program with over 650,000 plant observations from citizen scientists across California. The model was trained to predict the presence of 2,221 plant species. Its performance was compared to traditional modeling approaches like MaxEnt and Random Forest.

2024-09-17 11:30:06

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Gillespie, L. E., Ruffley, M., & Exposito-Alonso, M. (2024). Deep learning models map rapid plant species changes from citizen science and remote sensing data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(37), e2318296121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2318296121 (OA)

2024-09-17 11:30:06

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Plant biodiversity is changing rapidly due to habitat destruction and climate change. Traditional methods lack the spatial and temporal resolution to detect these rapid changes for individual species. Deepbiosphere's approach, combining deep learning with remote sensing, offers new possibilities for high-resolution biodiversity monitoring.

2024-09-17 03:30:01

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The authors found that heat stress dramatically reduced pollen tube survival by up to 77% and slashed seed production by a staggering 87%. Surprisingly, extreme heat eliminated the usual quality differences between cross- and self-pollination. These findings suggest that heatwaves severely compromise both pollen quantity and quality, potentially disrupting plant mating systems and limiting reproductive success in both agricultural and wild plant populations.

2024-09-17 03:30:01

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By comparing heat-stressed plants to those grown under normal temperatures, they could see the impact of extreme heat on various aspects of plant reproduction.
The study examines both pollen quantity and quality. By demonstrating how extreme heat disrupts plant mating systems, the research underscores the urgent need to understand and mitigate the effects of rising temperatures on plant reproduction.

2024-09-17 03:30:01

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The researchers identified the damage heatwaves do by exposing Brassica napus (canola) plants to simulated heatwaves of 35°C for 72 hours during flowering. They then conducted hand pollination experiments using both cross- and self-pollen from plants under the same temperature conditions. The team measured key reproductive metrics, including pollen tube growth, pollen production, and seed set.

2024-09-16 19:30:01

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They found that the diversity and floral display within garden plots strongly influenced bee visitation. However, the floral resources in the surrounding area (50m radius) did not significantly impact garden bee visitors. The authors also say that developed land use in the surrounding 2km had an effect, but it was relatively minor.

2024-09-16 19:30:01

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It’s easy to say that we should help pollinators, but can you really make a difference? Eldridge and colleagues examined the effects of floral resources and urban land-use on bee visits to gardens in eastern Tennessee. They found that the garden floral display was the strongest predictor of bee visits. They state: “This finding is promising for anyone wishing to promote pollinator populations by providing more floral resources."

2024-09-16 19:30:01

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Their experiment involved planting four 3×2m garden plots with different plant families at five sites. They then surveyed the bees in the gardens and surrounding 50m area weekly for 5 weeks, and analysed the effects of the local flowers and landscape on both bee quantity and diversity.

2024-09-16 19:30:00

How Garden Design Affects Bee Visitors 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/inntcz
It’s local floral display drives bee abundance in gardens, more than the surrounding landscape.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-16 15:30:01

Plant-Driven Assembly of Disease-Suppressive Soil Microbiomes
https://botany.fyi/1eop0k
Plants have coevolved together with the microbes that surround them and this assemblage of host and microbes functions as a discrete ecological unit called a holobiont. This review outlines plant-driven assembly of disease-suppressive microbiomes.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-09-16 13:30:01

The amazing flowers growing in pavement cracks and why you shouldn’t pass them by
https://botany.fyi/5u22fu
In spring and summer flowers pop up spontaneously in lawns, playgrounds, fields and even cracks in the pavement. But what do you see: weeds or wildflowers?
#Botany

2024-09-16 11:30:02

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Ghamkhar, K., Hay, F. R., Engbers, M., Dempewolf, H., & Schurr, U. (2024). Realizing the potential of plant genetic resources: the use of phenomics for genebanks. Plants, People, Planet, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10570

2024-09-16 11:30:02

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“The integration of phenomics into genebank practices marks a significant leap forward in the preservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. By bridging the gap between genotypic information and phenotypic traits, phenomic technologies equip genebanks with a powerful toolset to unlock the hidden potential within their vast collections.”

2024-09-16 11:30:02

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In the face of climate change and growing global food demands, scientists are turning to advanced technologies to unlock the potential of the world's seed banks. A recent study by Kioumars Ghamkhar and colleagues, published in the journal Plants, People, Planet, highlights how the emerging field of phenomics is transforming genebanks – repositories that safeguard the genetic diversity of crops.

2024-09-16 11:30:02

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Phenomics, which involves the comprehensive measurement and analysis of plant traits, is enabling researchers to rapidly assess and catalogue the characteristics of vast seed collections. The researchers found that this technology significantly enhances the identification of valuable genetic traits, with AI capable of detecting correlations that often elude human observation.

2024-09-16 11:30:02

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This can aid finding suitable genotypes for crop improvement programs. Additionally, the study highlights how AI-powered phenomics optimizes conservation strategies within genebanks by predicting seed viability and genetic integrity.

2024-09-16 11:30:02

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The findings stem from an international workshop organized by the International Plant Phenotyping Network in September 2022. The workshop combined expert presentations with interactive sessions, including surveys of participants' priorities. This collaborative approach yielded insights into the most promising phenomics technologies and their potential applications in genebank management.

2024-09-16 11:30:01

Harnessing Plant Diversity with Cutting-Edge Phenomics Technology 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/ewwfdz
New technology helps preserve and use plant genetic resources for future food security.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-16 03:30:01

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One of the claims the authors make is that thermogenesis is extremely old, possibly dating back over 200 million years. They point to the existence of thermogenesis in cycads, gymnosperms and angiosperms, flowering plants. They say that while heat doesn’t remain in the fossil record, they can study current thermogenic plants and comparing their features with those of the fossil records.

2024-09-16 03:30:01

Afterglow of Plant Warmth Illuminates Pollination Millions of Years Later 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/ohcg10
Thermogenesis in plants may have driven insect pollination for over 200 million years, shaping plant-insect relationships.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-16 03:30:01

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Some plants have the ability to raise their temperature above that of the surrounding air, an ability called thermogenesis. In a review article published in Nature Plants, David Peris and colleagues examine the origin of thermogenesis and conclude it may have played a crucial role in developing the co-associations between plants and their pollinating insects in the distant past.

2024-09-16 01:30:01

Assistant Professor - Controlled-Environment Agriculture
https://botany.fyi/mcil6y
Utah State University invites excellent scientists to apply for an opportunity to pursue basic and applied science towards the development and optimization of controlled environment production systems.
#PlantSciJobs @npub1tys…w6t6

2024-09-13 15:30:00

Regulation of Bacterial Growth and Behavior by Host Plant (OA)
https://botany.fyi/yiun57
Nakagami et al summarize how plants use physical barriers, control common goods such as water and nutrients, and produce antibacterial molecules to regulate bacterial growth and behavior.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-09-09 11:30:01

Sharing Memories Can Help Us See Plants Differently 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/j6jdxy
Plants play a bigger role in our lives than we often realize, and art can help us put that into evidence.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief
In a new study, McGinn, Donlon and Kacprzyk explored how art can help people connect with plants in meaningful ways. They found that allowing people to share their personal plant memories can reveal surprising insights into how we perceive the botanical world.

2024-09-09 09:30:01

Senior Research Technician
https://botany.fyi/9kplc6
The McDonald laboratory at the University of Birmingham is seeking a motivated person to fill the role of laboratory technician as part of a funded BBSRC Pioneers project. This role is full time and fixed term for 1-year.
#PlantSciJobs @npub1tys…w6t6

2024-09-06 03:30:01

Algae Perform Photosynthetic Manoeuvres In The Dark 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/mqybh1
Arctic microalgae can grow in light levels 100 times lower than previously thought.
Hoppe and colleagues discovered that Arctic microalgae can photosynthesize and grow in incredibly dim light, challenging our understanding of ocean productivity. Their findings suggest that marine life in polar regions and deep waters may be more active than we realized.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-09-05 03:30:01

Herbaria Hold Hidden Treasures for Biodiversity Research 📝 🧵
https://botany.fyi/iwadcm
Old plant specimens hold the key to understanding Canada's diverse plant life better than smartphone apps.
#Botany #PlantScience #InBrief

2024-08-16 07:30:01

Characteristics of free air carbon dioxide enrichment of a northern temperate mature forest (OA)
https://botany.fyi/mt10hv
New data from BIFoR FACE experiment shows successful CO2 enrichment in mature UK forest.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-08-15 05:30:01

What a bioluminescent petunia had to teach me
https://botany.fyi/olhwkp
I bought a glowing plant. It led me down a rabbit hole of radiant mushrooms, 19th century experiments and a modern rivalry between scientists in Russia and the Americas.
#Botany

2024-07-31 21:30:00

They turned a junk-filled L.A. yard into a weird and wonderful habitat garden
https://botany.fyi/163lsa
If a wildlife show wanted to film in the middle of Los Angeles, Casa Apocalyptica — a dizzying jungle of native plants, abundant wildlife, soothing water and salvaged debris — would be a great place to land.
#Botany

2024-07-31 01:30:01

Assistant Professor of Plant Evolution
https://botany.fyi/x998sg
This is a full-time, academic year (9-month) tenure track position with 45% teaching, 45% research, and 10% Service, at Montana State University.
#Botany #PlantScience #PlantSciJobs

2024-07-30 11:30:01

Giant Seeds of an Extant Australasian Legume Lineage Discovered in Eocene Borneo (South Kalimantan, Indonesia) (OA)
https://botany.fyi/7ayhqq
The seeds represent the only known fossil relative of Castanospermum, the oldest legume fossils from Malesia, and one of the largest fossil angiosperm seeds.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-07-23 19:30:01

Ants may buffer the Janzen–Connell effect in a tropical forest in Southwest China (OA)
https://botany.fyi/2a09i1
Zhou et al found that associations with ants positively influenced seedling survival and adult growth, and also, species with extrafloral nectaries experienced weaker conspecific negative density dependence compared with species without extrafloral nectaries.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-07-23 05:30:01

Half of Kew tree species at risk of death owing to climate crisis, study finds
https://botany.fyi/wj1ezg
Botanical gardens lost 400 trees during 2022 drought, prompting research into potential loss in coming decades.
#Botany

2024-07-21 10:47:56

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@npub1700…8tth So it's not just me? I had worried I'd started over-dunking my ginger nuts.

2024-06-03 09:34:42

Do orchid seeds fare better in freezers than we thought? #Botany https://botany.one/2024/06/do-orchid-seeds-fare-better-in-freezers-than-we-thought/

2024-05-24 03:30:01

Pursuing the greenery: assessing plant-related content in the new Spanish curricula for compulsory education ($)
https://botany.fyi/sybk82
This study presents an analysis of the new national curricula for primary and compulsory secondary education in Spain, and of the regional curricula for its largest region, Castilla y León. Biodiversity is identified as a key issue to be reinforced; despite being included, curricula fail to associate it with knowledge on plant taxonomy.
#Botany #PlantScience

2024-05-15 12:08:41

Daniela Boanares: “We Need to Understand Plants if We Want to Thrive on this Planet” #Botany https://botany.one/2024/05/daniela-boanares-we-need-to-understand-plants-if-we-want-to-thrive-on-this-planet/

2024-05-13 08:00:10

Kelsey Byers: “See the world through the plant’s perspective!” #Botany https://botany.one/2024/05/kelsey-byers-see-the-world-through-the-plants-perspective/

2024-04-24 09:30:02

Mother trees and socialist forests: is the ‘wood-wide web’ a fantasy?
https://botany.fyi/RfJ2f4
In the past 10 years the idea that trees communicate with and look after each other has gained widespread currency. But have these claims outstripped the evidence?
#Botany