A study published in New Phytologist explores the critical role of the plant hormone ethylene in promoting resistance of tomato fruits against Botrytis cinerea, a fungus that causes grey mold in tomato plants. Tomato is a widely consumed edible fruit which is a good source of several vitamins and minerals. »
Researchers from Australia's national science agency produced a gene-screening platform to help understand plant pathogen virulence evolution. The novel method may help develop pathogen-resistant crops in the future. Breeding of crops that are disease-resistant is crucial to boost agricultural productivity. However, this process is affected by the quick evolution of »
Nanjing Agricultural University scientists explored using gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to minimize arsenic build-up in rice grains. Environmental Science and Technology journal reports their findings. Rice, the top staple for many countries, is exposed to inorganic arsenic in the soil. Reducing the build-up of arsenic in rice grains is vital in »
China Agricultural University and its partners unveiled two genes that confer natural variation in maize pollen fertility. Their findings are published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal. Understanding the regulation of pollen fertility in natural populations has been a mystery for scientists. To dig deeper into this mystery, the researchers explored »
Scientists from India identified that the Chlorella thermophila (CT) microalgal strain possesses antimicrobial activity against pathogens that cause bacterial rice blight. The microalgae can also help with wastewater treatment. Rice is a food staple for over 65% of the world's population, so it is necessary to have a huge supply »
Researchers from Lorestan University and partners found that the knockout of the StNRL1 gene in potatoes enhances resistance to late blight and susceptibility to early blight in the leaves of potatoes. The findings of this study provide significant insights into the genetic approaches to control late blight disease in potatoes. »
Scientists have discovered a novel gene in rice that promotes root development and provides tolerance to abiotic stresses. The gene can be utilized as a molecular marker to develop rice that is tolerant to extreme environmental conditions. Root architecture and function are essential for plants to obtain water and nutrients »
Chlorophyll plays a pivotal role in photosynthesis, which is why plants have evolved to have high chlorophyll levels in their leaves. However, making this pigment is expensive because plants invest a significant portion of the available nitrogen in both chlorophyll and the special proteins that bind it. As a result, »
Through genetic linkage maps, multi-environmental phenotype data, and transcriptome studies, researchers from the Institute of Cotton Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences discovered a gene that regulates fiber quality and yield traits in cotton. Their findings are published in the Journal of Advanced Research. Upland cotton is the »
Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have developed SpeedFlower, a robust, first-ever speed breeding protocol for rice that will achieve 4 to 5 crops of rice in one year, which is almost double of what has been possible in current breeding programs. SpeedFlower focuses on optimizing light spectrum, »
Bioscientists from Joint BioEnergy Institute developed strains of sorghum that can grow tall, strong, and healthy with very little water. This highly benefits farmers in producing large quantities of crops with minimal costs. According to the researchers, sorghum does not have the best ability to regenerate in the plant tissue »
