All Soil & Plant Science articles – Page 7
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News‘Invasional mutualism’ between honey bees and myrtle rust pathogen
Newresearch has found that the Western honey bee - an introduced species to Australia - and the devastating, invasive plant fungus known as myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) may have formed a mutually beneficial relationship known as an ’invasional mutualism’.
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NewsResearch outlines strategy to protect Amazonian cocoa against witches’ broom
A new study evaluated 25 cocoa cultivars and identified two with superior performance. Both demonstrated a greater ability to maintain high productivity in mineral-poor soils and when attacked by the witches’ broom fungus. Production increased by up to 32% compared to more susceptible varieties.
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NewsProtected areas that help wildlife often do little for the soil fungi that plants depend on
Scientists built the most comprehensive models ever of the ranges of 2,858 important fungal species and compared them with the world’s protected landscapes. More than half of these critical underground organisms are less protected than if conservation areas had been drawn at random.
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NewsCorn diseases cost farmers $13.8 billion from 2020 to 2023
Corn diseases cost farmers an estimated $13.8 billion USD from 2020 to 2023, according to a new multiyear analysis led by plant disease specialists from across the United States and Ontario, Canada.
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NewsClimate warming causes bleaching in key Arctic lichen, study finds
Long-term climate warming is causing a bleaching effect in a key Arctic lichen species, according to new research. Prolonged warming caused significant bleaching in the dominant lichen species Cetrariella delisei, reducing its ability to photosynthesise and grow.
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NewsStudy reveals hidden diversity of algae in farmland
Researchers discovered unexpectedly strong seasonal variation in algae in the surface soils of farmland. Xanthophyceae were the most abundant when it was colder, at the time points in spring and autumn; whereas Cyanobacteria and green algae were prevalent shortly before crop harvest in summer.
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NewsAgricultural azoles drive clinical azole resistance in Candida tropicalis via inducing aneuploidy
To define the causal role of agricultural azole fungicides in driving clinical azole resistance in the major human opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida tropicalis, researchers conducted a systematic study integrating experimental evolution, genomic characterization, and transcriptomic profiling.
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NewsFarming with fish: A natural boost for soil phosphorus
Researchers have uncovered new evidence that rice fish coculture can improve soil nutrient cycling—particularly P—without relying on fertilizers. This reveals that introducing fish into rice paddies enhances the composition and function of phoD-harboring bacteria, which are known to facilitate P mineralization.
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NewsResearchers develop experimentally validated AI model to predict the virulence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus
A research team has developed DeepTYLCV, an accurate and interpretable artificial intelligence model for predicting the virulence of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV). DeepTYLCV uses viral genome-derived sequence information, enabling the model to identify mild and severe strains before symptom-based confirmation.
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NewsFungus-powered farming: Bigger harvests, better taste
Researchers have identified a natural, eco-friendly way to significantly increase agricultural yields while also improving the quality and taste of produce. The study focuses on an extract derived from the yeast-like fungus Pseudozyma aphidis.
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NewsBiodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes
Researchershave created biodegradable, “wearable” sensors for plants to monitor their health, made from carbon ink and screen-printed onto transparent cellulose acetate bioplastics. They can monitor temperature, humidity, dehydration, biomarkers, diseases, nutrient levels, and the presence of pesticides.
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NewsTiny molecules unlock big gains in soil health
By adding lignin- and humus-based small molecules (LSMs and HSMs) to straw-amended soils, researchers observed remarkable gains in the formation of stable mineral- and particulate-associated carbon, driven by shifts in microbial communities and enhanced cross-trophic interactions.
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NewsNo-till, new rules: Soil microbes thrive in conservation farming
Long-term conservation tillage (CT) is transforming the way soil microbes responsible for nitrogen fixation behave and interact. Compared to conventional tillage, CT fosters a less competitive yet more robust microbial ecosystem, with soil depth and nitrogen levels playing pivotal roles.
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NewsDoes agriculture and climate affect feeding activities of soil animals?
An international research team has shown that soil animal communities have greater trophic diversity in agricultural ecosystems and in tropical regions. Animals that feed on microorganisms – such as nematodes, springtails and mites – had higher trophic diversity than those that feed on dead organic matter or live as predators.
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NewsProtists and bacteria form secret alliance to stop fusarium wilt
Scientists have uncovered how phagotrophic protists team up with beneficial bacteria to suppress watermelon Fusarium wilt. Through microbial sequencing and ecological network analysis, they found that nutrient imbalance disrupts these partnerships, allowing the fungal pathogen to spread.
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NewsInvasion, restoration, and the surprising season for soil life
Microbes beneath our feet quietly orchestrate the health of ecosystems, but their seasonal rhythms remain a mystery—especially in coastal wetlands. A new study uncovers a surprising twist: microbial diversity and interaction networks are richer and more intricate in winter than in summer.
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NewsSoil science reimagined: From farmland to the final frontier
A new perspective offers a compelling call to reimagine the future of soil science. The article outlines a conceptual framework for “nontraditional soil science,” encompassing diverse fields from urban engineering to forensic soil analysis and planetary exploration.
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NewsStudy reveals how strawberries and raspberries were ambushed by fungal parasites
Plant diseases often arise when the pathogens that cause disease are introduced into new territories where native plants don’t recognize the pathogen and therefore may have minimal defenses against it. But how often does the reverse happen?
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NewsSelf-renewing bacteria offer new hope for heavy metal cleanup
Scientists have revealed a powerful bacterial defense strategy against Cd toxicity. The team found that Stenotrophomonas sp. H225 sheds Cd-laden cell wall fragments and rebuilds new protective layers through a process involving the mtgA gene.
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NewsThawing Arctic soil awakens only half of soil microbes, new study reveals
A study shows that even after months of thawing, around half of the microorganisms in High Arctic soils remain dormant. This challenges the assumption that warming uniformly boosts microbial activity and carbon release from thawing permafrost.