All Soil & Plant Science articles – Page 9
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NewsUnearthing the plant’s arsenal against pathogenic fungi
A new study has shed light on the intricate mechanisms of nonhost resistance (NHR) in plants, a critical defense against a broad spectrum of pathogens.
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NewsMashed up purple marine bacteria make an excellent eco-friendly fertilizer
New research published in npj Sustainable Agriculture reports that biomass made from the purple photosynthetic marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is an excellent nitrogen fertilizer. Source: RIKEN Japanese mustard spinach grown in two inorganic nitrogen fertilizers (C1 and C2), and the biomass fertilizer at 1, 2, and 4 times ...
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NewsPaper-based biosensor offers fast, easy detection of fecal contamination on produce farms
Researchers are introducing a new biosensor technology to farms inspired by advances during the pandemic. The system delivered 100% accurate results within an hour of in-field sample collection on a commercial fresh produce farm.
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NewsCold climate wheat varieties could provide answers to blast threat
New research unexpectedly reveals that wheat varieties with resistance to another pathogen, powdery mildew, also confer protection against wheat blast.
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NewsNew approach to measuring ‘healthy microbiomes’ in nature and the gut
Focusing on four common diseases – diabetes, heart disease, depression and bowel cancer – new research provides insights into the importance of a healthy microbiome balance in the human gut and in the environment.
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NewsOverlooked pathway could be game-changer for ecosystem climate services
The potential for permanent carbon storage in ecosystems that use the oxalate-carbonate pathway (OCP) could be greater than previously estimated, according to a new study.
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NewsWild chimpanzees seek out medicinal plants to treat illness and injuries
The study combined behavioral observations of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) with pharmacological testing of the potentially medicinal plants they eat.
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NewsMicrobial agricultural inoculants market set to grow by $243.73 million from 2024-2028
The global microbial agricultural inoculants market size is estimated to grow by USD 243.73 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio, with rising concerns over use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture.
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NewsMycoviruses enhance fungicide effectiveness against plant pathogens
A mycovirus that infects plant pathogenic oomycete Globisporangium ultimum can increase the latter’s sensitivity to specific fungicides.
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NewsPowdery mildew loves city living - scientists investigate why
Weeds in the city had significantly more mildew than the weeds in the suburbs or countryside, discovers a team that tracked infestations of powdery mildew on common broadleaf weeds.
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FeaturesMicrobiology’s role in sustainable gastronomy
Designated on 21 December 2016 by the UN General Assembly, Sustainable Gastronomy Day is about the celebration of the food that sustains our lives regardless of culture and geology.
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NewsPlant bacteria deploy phage elements to wipe out the competition
A new study has found that plant bacterial pathogens are able to repurpose elements of their own phages to wipe out competing microbes, suggesting such elements could someday be harnessed as an alternative to antibiotics.
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NewsScientists identify key pathogen targets to tackle black rot in sweetpotato
A new study identifies 31 Ceratocystis fimbriata effector genes and suggests a biotrophic phase, in which the fungus lives off living sweetpotato storage roots before killing it, providing a new perspective on how the disease progresses.
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NewsSoil bacteria respire more CO2 after sugar-free meals
Researchers have tracked the pathways of a mixture of plant waste as it moves through bacteria’s metabolism to contribute to atmospheric CO2. Microbes respire three times as much CO2 from lignin carbons compared to cellulose carbons, they say.
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NewsNew 3D printed imaging device combines education and microbial research
Researchers have developed a 3D-printed imaging device for schools and research centres to study microbes. It enables schools to observe natural phenomena, while researchers will gain useful knowledge about the light-activated bacteria.
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NewsScientists discover genetic defense against Huanglongbing disease
A recent study has pinpointed two key enzymes in Citrus sinensis that play a crucial role in the plant’s defense mechanism against the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), a vector for the lethal huanglongbing (HLB) disease.
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NewsStudy finds antimicrobial resistance in soils across Scotland
Resistance to antibiotics has been found in the environment across Scotland, according to a new study.
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News2,000-year-old shipworm mystery solved - its destructive skills are down to bacterial symbionts
Scientists have discovered that a population of symbiotic microbes, living in an overlooked sub-organ of the shipworm gut called the ’typhlosole’, have the ability to secrete the enzymes needed to digest lignin—the toughest part of wood.
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NewsScientists discover gene for immunity against a disease that ravages rice and wheat crops
Researchers have discovered a gene in rice for resistance to the devastating pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae , challenging the findings of a study that remained the reference for 25 years.
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NewsRemarkable new plant species steals nutrients from underground fungi
A plant that steals nutrients from underground fungi, has been published as a new species. Thismia malayana is a mycoheterotroph, a plant that does not perform photosynthesis but acts as a parasite, stealing carbon resources from fungi on its roots.