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Entire landscapes are scanned by airborne hyperspectral imaging to detect early infection of individual olive trees by the pathogenic bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa. The disease can then be mapped before symptoms are visible from the ground.
Using an innovative combination of microfluidics and live imaging, the authors demonstrate that the inhibition of root growth by auxin happens in seconds—and so does not require transcription—and is dependent on TIR1/AFB receptors.
Oaks can live hundreds of years. Comparative genomics using a high-quality genome sequence provides new insights that may explain tree longevity. Samples from branches and corresponding acorns also help quantify heritable somatic mutations.
Seed shattering is eliminated to facilitate harvest during African rice domestication, and the SH4 gene is known to play a role. New evidence now suggests that another gene, SH3, also regulates shattering during the domestication of African rice.
Reproductive barriers mediated by endosperm defects prevent gene flow between species. New evidence from Capsella shows that the divergence of paternally expressed imprinted genes between species driven by transposable elements, contributes to this barrier.
Serotonin, a well-known neurotransmitter in animals, is also produced by plants. In rice, biosynthesis of serotonin through the cytochrome P450 CYP71A1 gene increases the susceptibility of plants by promoting growth of destructive insects.
Receptor BRI1 interacts with SERK co-receptors to initiate brassinosteroid signalling. BIR pseudokinases are negative regulators. Here, structural and biological data show that BIRs bind SERKs through a lateral interaction site.
Ancient fossil Cooksonia plants from the Czech Republic are among the largest known early polysporangiate plants from when vascular plants were colonizing the land. They were of sufficient size to support effective photosynthesis.
A new family of four receptor kinases in Arabidopsis named CIKs act as co-receptors to integrate all three known CLAVATA3 signalling pathways, to maintain stem cell homeostasis in the shoot apical meristem.
The mechanism underlying plant virus-induced disease recovery remains elusive. Now, it is found that recovery involves the loss of viral-silencing suppressor protein activity mediated by the RNA silencing pathways, which thereby establishes virus tolerance.
Systemin was the first peptide hormone discovered in plants almost 30 years ago. Here, the receptor for systemin is finally identified and is shown to be important in the response against insect herbivores.
In Clarkia species, petals have spots at specific positions, an important ecological trait that affects pollination. The evolution of this trait is explained by mutations in a single promoter that rewire a developmental transcription factor network.
The seed coat of many leguminous species has a powdery bloom containing hazardous allergens. In wild soybeans, the bloom is controlled by the BLOOM1 gene, a mutation in which abolishes bloom and elevates seed oil content in domesticated strains.
Fully enclosed, controlled-environment growth chambers can accelerate plant development. Such ‘speed breeding’ reduces generation times to accelerate crop breeding and research programmes, and can integrate with other modern crop breeding technologies.