Brief Communications in 2015

Wheat stem rust is a devastating fungal disease, especially since the emergence of the virulent Ug99 lineage. An efficient resistance gene, encoding a CC–NB–LRR, is identified in a highly diverse locus of rye, and is effective against Ug99.

Auxin-binding protein ABP1 has been characterized as a secreted receptor for the hormone. Embryonic lethality of insertion mutant abp1-1 hinted at a central role in development. However, this lethality is in fact due to deletion of neighbour gene BSM.

Mimicry, deception and sensory exploitation of animals by plants is controversial, especially for seed dispersal. A field experiment in a South African nature reserve suggests that the large brown, round, strongly scented seeds of Ceratocaryum argenteum that emit many volatiles found to be present in herbivore dung, attract dung beetles that roll and bury them.

Transient assays and transgenic experiments demonstrate that sgRNA/Cas9 constructs targeting the bean yellow dwarf virus inhibit the accumulation of the virus and confer resistance in transgenic N. benthamiana plants.

Transient assays and transgenic experiments demonstrate that sgRNA/Cas9 constructs targeting the beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV) inhibit the virus accumulation and confer resistance in Arabidopsis and N. benthamiana.

Orchid seeds are conventionally thought to be wind dispersed. However, extensive observation with motion sensor cameras shows that birds such as the brown-eared bulbul eat and disperse the seeds of at least one orchid, Cyrtosia septentrionalis.