Plant Sciences

Credit: Karina Puikkonen/Colorado State University If the climate continues warming as predicted, spruce beetle outbreaks in the Rocky Mountains could become more frequent, a new multi-year study led by Colorado State…

Humans carried the plant, used to make barkcloth, as they colonized new islands across OceaniaCredit: A. Seelenfreund The migration and interaction routes of prehistoric humans throughout the islands of Oceania can be retraced using…

Could more heat tolerant, non-preferred algae could revive bleached coral communities even if the relationship is less efficient?Credit: Tingting Xiang Palo Alto, CA--What factors govern algae's success as "tenants" of their coral hosts…

An international research consortium mapped the global distribution of tree-root symbioses with fungi and bacteria that are vital to forest ecosystems. The study was featured on the cover of Nature Some fungi and bacteria live in close…

Credit: Greg Spyreas, Michael Jeffords and Susan Post CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Dominant, non-native plants reduce wetland biodiversity and abundance more than native plants do, researchers report in the journal Ecology Letters. Even native…

Credit: Photo courtesy Nancy Holm CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Biochar may not be the miracle soil additive that many farmers and researchers hoped it to be, according to a new University of Illinois study. Biochar may boost the agricultural yield…

Credit: 2019 KAUST A new platform for speeding up and controlling the evolution of proteins inside living plants has been developed by a KAUST-led team. Previously, this type of directed evolution system was only possible in viruses,…

The sweet, starchy orange sweet potatoes are tasty and nutritious ingredients for fries, casseroles and pies. Although humans have been cultivating sweet potatoes for thousands of years, scientists still don't know much about the protein…

Credit: Kobe University Plants are susceptible to stress, and with the global impact of climate change and humanity's growing demand for food, it's crucial to understand what causes plant stress and stress tolerance. When plants absorb…

Credit: Karla Jarecke Wetlands are an important part of the Earth's natural water management system. The complex system of plants, soil, and aquatic life serves as a reservoir that captures and cleans water. However, as cities have…