All Soil & Plant Science articles
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NewsResearchers see breakthrough in efficient biofuel production
Researchers have found ways to limit the toxicity to microbes generated by the biofuel butanol through fermentation of plant biomass, by manipulating the structure of microbe cell membrane at atomic level.
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NewsScientists reveal anti-bacterial role of plant metabolite
A study shows that a plant metabolite, erucamide, is able to target and disrupt a protein assembly of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, thus inhibiting their virulence. Understanding the metabolite’s molecular mechanisms could protect crops from infection.
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NewsCan Rhizobium + low P increase the yield of common bean in Ethiopia?
A study found that bean inoculation with Rhizobium alone or in combination with P application, can increase grain yield of two common bean cultivars in Ethiopia.
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NewsScientists probe how phytosiderophore regulates the rhizosphere dialogue between plants and microorganisms
DMA is a common phytosiderophore with the ability to activate the insoluble iron in soil, but has major limitations. A synthesized DMA analog, PDMA, is used to explore the response of rhizosphere microbes under the influence of phytosiderophores.
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NewsDiscovery of a common ‘weapon’ used by disease-causing fungi could help engineer more resilient food crops
The discovery of a powerful “weapon” used by many disease-causing fungi to infect and destroy major food crop staples, such as rice and corn, could offer new strategies to bolster global food security
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NewsA blueprint for making cereal crops more resistant to fungal disease
Researchers have uncovered the structural interactions between a type of barley immune receptor that helps the crop to fight against devastating fungal disease, powdery mildew and other plant pathogens.
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NewsHidden fungal allies strengthen defenses of black poplars and influence insect interactions
Endophytic fungi inside the leaves strengthen the chemical defenses of black poplars and influence the interactions between insect populations living on the trees.
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NewsResearch reveals hidden risks from plastic-coated fertilizers in soil
A study focuses on the microplastic pollution generated by polymer-coated, control-release fertilizers, highlighting the need for biodegradable alternatives.
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NewsScientists build robot to track plant-fungal trade networks, revealing nature’s underground supply chains
New research uses advanced robotics to track the hyper-efficient supply chains formed between plants and mycorrhizal fungi as they trade carbon and nutrients across the complex, living networks that help regulate the Earth’s atmosphere and ecosystems.
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NewsGenetic switch controlling microbiota impact could help control leaf growth in poor soils
A new study has identified a genetic circuit in plants that controls individual leaf growth and allows the plants to adapt to their environment. The findings could help the development of more drought-resistant crops.
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NewsFungi more vulnerable than bacteria in degrading alpine ecosystems
A new study provides the first evidence that alpine pioneer community degradation led to declines of 27% in fungal richness, 8% in bacterial richness and about 50% of endemic microorganisms.
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NewsBlocking plant immune responses gives colonizing bacteria a competitive advantage
Similar to pathogens, commensal bacteria of plant microbiota were found to possess the mechanism to suppress plant immunity that allows their competitive advantage over non-immunosuppressive bacteria amongst the root-associated bacterial community.
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NewsProfessor Cristobal Uauy appointed as Director of the John Innes Centre
Following an international search, Professor Cristóbal Uauy has been appointed as the next Director of the John Innes Centre.
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NewsBacterial cellulose promotes plant tissue regeneration
Researchers have successfully uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which bacterial cellulose patches stimulate the regeneration of plant wounds, offering potential applications in grafting, pruning, and ornamental flower cutting for enhanced plant healing.
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NewsBiochemists discover self-repair function in key photosynthetic protein complex
Receiving too much light can damage the photosystem II protein complex shared by lineages of cyanobacteria, algae and land plants and erode the photosynthetic efficiency of plants. Biochemists have gleaned new details about how photosystem II repairs itself.
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NewsResearchers glean photosynthetic insights from volcanic hot springs
With the use of mathematic modelling, scientists uncovered the mechanisms of specific algae, such as Cyanidioschyzon merolae, to survive in the extreme environment of acidic hot springs near volcanos.
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NewsFungi’s hidden power: How fungal biomass holds carbon in soil across ecosystems for millennia
A new study reveals a strong correlation between microbial biomass carbon and reactive mineral-associated carbon, indicating their significant contribution to the persistence and stability of soil carbon.
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NewsDrying and rewetting cycles substantially increase soil CO2 release
A study of forest and pastureland soils in Japan revealed that the amount of CO2 released from soil increases significantly due to the repeated drying and rewetting cycles (DWCs) expected to be caused by changes in precipitation patterns due to global warming.
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NewsCultivation of microalga for food production shows that two-stage process yields best results
A new study looking into cultivating the microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica for food production shows that temperature and light are key factors in the yield of key nutrients.
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NewsStudy yields new insights into the immune response of plants
Researchers have identified important components and mechanisms of the molecular machinery that transmits information about a pathogen encounter within the plant organism.