All Soil & Plant Science articles
-
NewsGene-edited soil bacteria could provide third source of nitrogen for corn production
If corn was ever jealous of soybean’s relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, advancements in gene editing could one day even the playing field. A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows that gene-edited bacteria can supply the equivalent of 35 pounds of nitrogen from the air during early corn ...
-
NewsUprooting Cassava Disease: scientists identify causes of two devastating diseases
In a series of studies, researchers have established the pathogens and the first diagnostic tests for two diseases: Cassava Frogskin Disease and Cassava Witches’ Broom Disease.
-
NewsBacterial toxin offers hope to tackle soybean nematode pest
A new study reveals how genetically equipping soybean plants with bacterial toxin Cry14 could revolutionize the fight against the microscopic soybean cyst nematode. This approach has been implemented successfully to prevent SCN from feeding on soybean roots.
-
NewsStudy of hemp microbiomes may lead to more sustainable farming methods
A new study of hemp microbes may help scientists create special mixtures of helpful microbes to make hemp plants produce more CBD or have better-quality fibers.
-
NewsResearch aims for better control of widespread tomato spotted wilt virus
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have received two grants to develop better control and understanding of tomato spotted wilt virus, one of the top 10 most economically important plant viruses in the world.
-
NewsMicrobial cell factories may help get to the root of understudied plant molecules
A team of researchers has developed a method to produce a special class of plant hormones, known as strigolactones, at unprecedented levels using microbial cell factories.
-
NewsSoil fungus mechanism yield slow but effective control of nematodes
For the first time, researchers have been able to understand how the soil fungus 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢 eliminates nematodes with the help of natural products and could thus also help agriculture.
-
NewsBacterial gene deployed in new trees to combat devastating citrus greening disease
Scientists are testing a new type of citrus tree, deploying a bacterial gene that can fight off the tiny insects responsible for citrus greening.
-
NewsStudy reveals root-lesion nematodes in maize crops - and one potential new species
A new study has lifted the lid on five species of root-lesion nematodes living in maize crops across New Zealand - and suggested the existence of a hitherto-unsuspected cryptic species.
-
NewsBlueberries beware: Powdery mildew spreading across the globe
A new study pinpoints the worldwide spread of a fungus that taints blueberry plants with powdery mildew, a disease that reduces blueberry yield and encourages the use of fungicides to combat disease spread.
-
NewsScientists uncover key step in how diazotrophs ‘fix’ nitrogen
There are only two ways of fixing nitrogen, one industrial and one biological. To better understand a key component of the biological process, researchers took a multi-pronged approach.
-
NewsPlant cells gain immune capabilities when it’s time to fight disease
New research reveals how plant cells switch roles to protect themselves against pathogens. When a threat is encountered, the cells enter a specialized immune state and temporarily become PRimary IMmunE Responder (PRIMER) cells.
-
NewsAgricultural scientists call for removal of more than 120 ‘phantom agents’ from pathogen regulatory lists
Wiping “phantom agents” from a list of suspected plant pathogens would improve agricultural efficiency and food security by updating regulations on international shipment of pathogen-free plant materials destined for countries where they are needed.
-
NewsParasite ‘matchmakers’ genetically alter plant cells to attract insects
Researchers have revealed how parasitic phytoplasmas manipulate plant biology to act as matchmakers, boosting male insect appeal by modulating hosts to attract more reproductive females.
-
NewsNew study suggests RNA present on surfaces of leaves may shape microbial communities
Biologists have shown that the surfaces of plant leaves are coated with a diverse array of RNA molecules, suggersting this may play a role in shaping the microbial communities that inhabit them, potentially influencing plant health and interactions within their environment.
-
NewsThese bacteria perform a trick that could keep plants healthy
Researchers have shown that some types of soil bacteria can influence a plant’s balance of growth and defense. The bacteria produce an enzyme that can lower a plant’s immune activity and allow its roots to grow longer than they would otherwise.
-
NewsDual activation of soybean resistance against Phytophthora sojae by pectin lyase and degraded pectin oligosaccharides
A study elucidates the mechanism by which pectin lyase, secreted by Phytophthora sojae activates plant immunity, thereby offering a theoretical foundation for further exploration of the role of pectinase in pathogen-plant interactions.
-
FeaturesNature’s pesticides: unleashing the potential of microbial interactions
Discover how scientists leverage knowledge of the microbial interactions that impact plant and animal health.
-
NewsEvolutionary study reveals the toxic reach of disease-causing bacteria across the plant kingdom
The capacity of bacteria to spread disease across the plant kingdom may be much more widespread than previously suspected, according to a comparative evolutionary analysis, using the diversity of Pseudomonas syringae bacteria.
-
CareersRomy Moukarzel: a year as a Junior Editor with Letters in Applied Microbiology
A year since we launched our Junior Editor programme with Letters in Applied Microbiology, Dr Romy Moukarzel, Lecturer in Plant Protection at Lincoln University New Zealand, reveals her experiences.
