đ» The Week in Botany April 15, 2024
My fuzzy head last week meant that I forgot to wish people a happy Eid, if they celebrate. If I were still in Leicester then it would probably be much easier to keep track of it.
I also need to remember to mention the Plant Health Undergraduate Studentships 2024. There are twelve projects open to people who can work in the UK.
I'll be in Leicester on Friday, so there may be some disruption to posting on our social channels, but you'll get an email of what's getting shared on Mastodon, Bluesky, Twitter and LinkedIn at the same time next week. Until then, take care.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
Recently on Botany One
A Comparative Analysis for Predicting Wheat Yield in Rainfed Areas of Morocco
A new study comparing crop yield prediction models reveals insights into the effectiveness of different modeling in the face of climate change.
From the Seed Bank to the Field: What Storage Does to the Seeds of an Alpine Grass?
Seeds are usually stored before they are sown, but does this induce any kind of change in them? Chen and colleagues bring us a fascinating study of a Tibetan grass species to answer this question.
Harnessing the Power of Synthetic Data for Deep Learning Image Analysis
The Synavis framework provides a solution to overcome data scarcity for training deep learning biological image analysis models.
In AoBC Journals
The effect of global change on the expression and evolution of floral traits (OA)
Fusarium wilt constrains mungbean yield due to reduction in source availability (OA)
News & Views
The biggest horticultural event in the southern hemisphere has fresh ideas for your garden
The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the biggest horticultural event in the southern hemisphere. From aged timber fences to delicate layers of soil, this yearâs show gave Australian gardeners a lot to think about, no matter where they live.
Climate change is shifting plant growth zones. Hereâs what to know for your garden this year
With the arrival of spring in North America, many people are gravitating to the gardening and landscaping section of home improvement stores, where displays are overstocked with eye-catching seed packs and benches are filled with potted annuals and perennials.
The Scottish plant hunters unravelling the secrets of the jungle
On a small boat in a crocodile infested river, lashed by torrential rain and while battling a fever, plant detective Dr Axel Dalberg Poulsen was racing against time to find an enigmatic and elusive treasure.
Turkish cityâs endangered, endemic plant found in two new areas
Two new areas boasting the natural growth of the endemic plant species "TĂŒlĂŒĆah," which faces the threat of extinction, have been discovered in the KuĆadası district of TĂŒrkiyeâs western Aydın province, prompting conservation efforts.
Botany Manor Review
A laid-back game that doesnât ask you to do too much, simply grow strange plants and decompress.
Tree planting, a hot topicâŠ
Not all trees will cool the planet.
Flowers may be more ancient than dinosaurs â but scientists canât agree on when they evolved
The timing of flowersâ evolution is still a matter of debate between scientists, but most scientists are in one of two camps: Jurassic or Cretaceous.
Unseen and unregulated: âGhostâ roads carve up Asia-Pacific tropical forests
Slipping beneath the purview of environmental governance, construction of these âghost roadsâ typically precede sharp spikes in deforestation and represent blind spots in zoning and law enforcement, the study says.
Through gardens, these Native communities are cultivating a solution to climate change
As he peels back the husk of corn grown in his garden, Miko Brandon reveals deep red kernels hiding underneath. Brandon knows that unlike yellow and white varieties, this Chickasaw red corn will have a sweet but nutty flavor to it when cooked or made into cornmeal or bread. He has dreams of using it to cook up a feast for his family and friends in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
Scientific Papers
A new winter wheat genetic resource harbors untapped diversity from synthetic hexaploid wheat (OA)
The NIAB_WW_SHW_NAM population, a large nested association mapping panel, is a useful resource for mapping QTL from synthetic hexaploid wheat that can improve modern elite wheat cultivars.
HD-Zip proteins modify floral structures for self-pollination in tomato ($)
Self-pollinating plants are useful for agriculture because favorable traits can easily be passed on to offspring. Domesticated tomatoes achieve this anatomically by forming a cone around the male anthers, which ensures that pollen can easily reach the stigma. The anther cone is held together by a dense network of hairs called zipper trichomes. Wu et al. identified a set of homeodomainâleucine zipper (HD-ZIP) genes that regulate the formation of these trichomes.
Mismatch between conservation higher education skills training and contemporary conservation needs (OA)
This study uses survey data and content analysis of online module descriptions to examine skills and methods teaching in conservation higher education across the United Kingdom and Australia. Slater et al. found most conservation-specific modules aimed to develop disciplinary and communication skills, but fewer than half aimed to develop interpersonal or project management skills.
Homeologue differential expression in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway underlies flower colour variation in natural and synthetic polyploids of Nicotiana tabacum (Solanaceae) (OA)
Morphological variation, including differences in flower colour, exists between natural and synthetic allopolyploids of Nicotiana tabacum and their progenitors. McCarthy et al. use a comparative transcriptomic approach to investigate gene expression differences as well as homeologue bias in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway (FBP) in these accessions.
Divergence and reticulation in the Mexican white oaks: ecological and phylogenomic evidence on species limits and phylogenetic networks in the Quercus laeta complex (Fagaceae) (OA)
Morales-Saldaña et al. adopted an approach bridging micro- and macroevolutionary scales to resolve evolutionary relationships in a rapidly diversifying clade endemic to Mexico.
Houseplant leaf classification system based on deep learning algorithms (OA)
A houseplant leaf classification system utilizing deep learning algorithms is proposed, which has been improved to effectively classify and identify a variety of houseplant leaf types.
The role of priming and memory in rice environmental stress adaptation: Current knowledge and perspectives (OA)
This review highlights the effects of priming on rice abiotic stress tolerance and focuses on specific aspects of stress memory, its perpetuation and its regulation at epigenetic, transcriptional, metabolic as well as physiological levels.
Shade tree trait diversity and functions in agroforestry systems: A review of which traits matter (OA)
Isaac et al consolidate literature on Coffea arabica (coffee) and Theobroma cacao (cocoa) agroforestry systems to summarize the role of shade tree functional traits in three key ecosystem functions: soil fertility, microclimate modification and crop productivity.
Is self-incompatibility a reproductive barrier for hybridization in a sympatric species? (OA)
MartĂnez-Ramos et al assessed whether Opuntia cantabrigiensis, O. robusta, O. streptacantha, and O. tomentosa, were self-compatible and formed hybrid seeds in five manipulation treatments to achieve self-pollination, intraspecific cross-pollination, open pollination (control), interspecific crosses or apomixis, then recorded flowering phenology and synchrony.
Consequences of pollen defense compounds for pollinators and antagonists in a pollen-rewarding plant (OA)
Rivest et al combined field observations of the pollen-rewarding Lupinus argenteus with chemical analysis and laboratory assays to test three hypotheses for the presence of pollen defense compounds: (1) these compounds are the result of spillover from adjacent tissues, (2) they protect against pollen thieves, and (3) they act as antimicrobial compounds. We also tested whether pollen defense compounds affect pollinator behavior.
Careers
Plant Health Undergraduate Studentships 2024
Bioscience undergraduates can now apply to the Royal Society of Biology's paid summer research projects. Successful applicants will receive a stipend of ÂŁ380 per week and gain great research experience working with leading plant health researchers on 8-10 week placements. Twelve research projects are available, based in various institutions across the UK. Details of the projects, eligibility and links to apply can be found on the studentships webpage.
Horticultural Program Specialist, California
Under general supervision, oversees and maintains the horticultural resources of Fresno City College (FCC) including the botanical garden, greenhouse and koi pond; conducts walking tours of the garden and tree collection for the public and student groups; provides instructional assistance to faculty and students in biology, botany and adaptive horticulture courses of study; and performs related duties as assigned.
Plant Science Fellow, Morris Arboretum, Pennsylvania
The Plant Science Fellow is a joint position held between the Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania and The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. The Plant Science Fellow receives training and work experience in many aspects of managing both physical and virtual herbarium collections, and an opportunity to gain experience in botanical research.
Assistant Professor of Botany/Plant Ecology, Utah
The Department of Biology seeks to fill a full-time, Continuing Faculty Status (BYU's equivalent to tenure) track position in Botany/Plant Ecology. We seek a colleague whose research addresses basic questions in botany including (but not limited to) ecology, evolution, development and/or systematics. The qualified candidate is required to have a PhD and postdoctoral or comparable experience is preferred.
Assistant Professor in Plant Physiology, Dublin
The School of Natural Sciences and the Discipline of Botany seek to appoint a tenure track position of Assistant Professor in Plant Physiology. The successful applicant will have an established reputation in teaching and research in the field of Plant Physiology and will be expected to contribute to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in this field and in interdisciplinary curricular teaching, supervision and mentoring in the broader areas of ecology and biodiversity, global environmental change, sustainability, and environmental science.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Oxford
The Department of Biology is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate for 3 years. This post is financially supported by the UKRI through the Frontier Guarantee Programme to Dr Jani R Bolla. The work is to be conducted in his lab in the Department Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB. The postholder will support ongoing research that aims to unravel the molecular architecture of the chloroplastâs beta-barrel protein assembly machinery using structural tools.
Lecturer, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology / Genetics, Perth
In this position, you will undertake teaching and independent research in an area related to the core disciplines of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and/or Genetics. You will develop a vibrant research program supported by nationally competitive grant funding and/or industry engagement, and attracting and supervising Honours, Masters and PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
Research Associate / PhD Student / Postdoc (m/f/x), Dresden
The position requires collaboration in research and teaching at the Chair of Forest Utilization: scientific research on cellulose orientation and structure in plant cell walls, especially in different types of wood; further development of measurement and evaluation methods; supervision of the X-ray diffraction scanner also with regard to scientific cooperations and other (biological) materials; publication and presentation of research results; collaboration in the preparation and implementation of courses (exercises, seminars, lectures, supervision of student work in German and English) in degree programs such as the Bachelor's degree program in Forest Sciences and the Master's degree programs in Forest Sciences and Wood Technology and Wood Industry.
Bioinformatician/Computational Biologist, Brno
We are seeking a highly skilled bioinformatician / computational biologist with substantial expertise in plant genomics to contribute to a research project focusing on the in-depth analysis of genome structure and evolution in the genus Boechera (Brassicaceae). This role is essential for the three-year research project led by Dr. Terezie Mandakova and funded by the Czech Science Foundation.