All Soil & Plant Science articles – Page 4
-
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.
-
NewsWhat a century-old grapevine reveals about a disease that plagues wine country
Researchers used bacterial DNA from a 120-year-old herbarium specimen to reconstruct the history of Pierce’s disease in California.
-
NewsDeadly mould strains highly likely to acquire resistance to new drugs
Scientists have identified strains of one of the world’s most dangerous fungal pathogens, already resistant to our most effective antifungal drugs, which are also five times more likely to acquire resistance to desperately needed new treatments in development. Source: Ufficio Comunicazione, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e ...
-
NewsResearchers develop model to evaluate food safety control strategies for produce industry
You’ve probably heard of product recalls involving lettuce, spinach, or other leafy greens. Consuming these popular vegetables are among the main causes of food poisoning, affecting thousands of people every year. Leafy greens can become contaminated with pathogenic E. coli or other bacteria through splashes of soil or contaminated irrigation ...
-
NewsHidden threats to soil revealed in sewage sludge research
Hidden threats from the agricultural use of contaminated sewage sludge could be contributing to already diminished poor soil health, according to a new report.
-
NewsMore attention should be paid to the health of deep soil in low-yield farmland
A recent study identified that a higher soil health index in low-yielding fields may be an important factor to maintain wheat yield as food demand grows rapidly.
-
NewsNew collaboration aims to optimize nutrient uptake and tolerance to environmental stress with crop boosting fungi
A joint program to develop methods to accelerate and optimize the in vitro growth of AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) for more sustainable agriculture has been announced.
-
NewsHistoric outbreaks of coffee wilt disease linked to gene transfer from another fungus
The fungus that causes coffee wilt disease repeatedly took up segments of DNA from a related fungal pathogen, which contributed to successive outbreaks of the disease.
-
NewsDo soil microbes affect flowers’ ability to attract bees?
New research reveals that certain soil microbes can help plants grow bigger flowers, therefore attracting more bees.
-
NewsNew study discovers the mechanism for fungal colonization of plant roots
Scientists have discovered how the beneficial root fungus Serendipita indica successfully colonizes plant roots of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
-
NewsAntibiotics from bacteria could counter biotic stress in crops, replacing synthetic chemicals
Actinomycetes-derived antibiotics and other metabolites could be deployed to mitigate biotic stress in crops, potentially replacing synthetic chemicals as chemo-control agents against phytopathogens, a new review suggests.
-
NewsClimate impacts on European soils predicted by scientists
New research has revealed how tiny soil microbes are impacted by extreme weather events, offering new insights into the risks posed by climate change.