The Week in Botany August 4, 2025
I’ve made slight change in how we work recently, thanks to a suggestion from one of our social media followers. She’d made a complaint that we use Canva, who are leaning heavily into AI. One of the reasons we do that is that it gets us limited access to the Getty image bank, which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. But it did get me thinking about how we could improve things.
One answer is that you might have noticed we’re using a lot more photos sourced through iNaturalist. In many cases it’s a better choice than standard stock photos. The identification of the research grade material is likely to be more secure, but there’s another advantage. I can also search by location so, for example, a story about grasses on a remote subantarctic island can feature photos from that actual island. That story will be out later today.
I thought it was a well-known site, but I had to explain iNaturalist to my manager earlier this week. The most recent blog post about the app itself was in 2017, so it may be time to revisit that. Sadly, neither of us could come up with an explanation for LinkedIn.
There will be another email of the papers and the news stories you’re sharing on Mastodon and Bluesky next week. Until next time, take care.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
On Botany One
The Chemical Lives of Trees: Why No Two Are Exactly Alike
Individual trees carry their own chemical signatures and they may be rewriting the rules of how ecosystems work.
Duarte Figueiredo: Uncovering How Seeds Begin
Botany One interviews Dr Duarte Figueiredo, a Portuguese Developmental Biologist interested in the formation of seeds.
Cryptanthus bahianus: The Flower That Defies Its Genus
The exception that proves the rule: Cryptanthus bahianus takes the sweet route, not the aromatic one.
…and last’s week’s Week in Botany with a project to spotlight women's role in botany, an interview with Ana Bedoya and her work on aquatic plants, and why flowers are about more than pollinators.
News & Views
Academic poaching: when other PIs steal your trainees
There are many toxic behaviors in academia, but one we rarely talk about is #AcademicPoaching. Have you ever been a victim?
What U.S. science stands to lose without international graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Neuroscience in other countries will strengthen—at the United States’ expense—as rising visa restrictions and rejections block many international students from enrolling at U.S. institutions and dissuade others from applying.
Mentoring beyond the academic career
I started training grad students about three decades ago. You won’t be surprised to learn that at the time, I had very little idea how the heck to do that.
From LUCA to Lily: 12 perspectives for teaching about plants
The other day I was talking to a friend about the need to demystify plants, so that teachers feel as confident in their teaching of plant biology as they do about animal biology. I wonder if sometimes we teach plants too much in isolation, so it’s not always clear how plants relate to other organisms (other than as food).
Why Did National Geographic Disappear Its Own Documentary About A Queer Climate Scientist?
It wasn’t just me who couldn’t find any answers about why the film has vanished. Crew members who worked on the project, scientists and athletes who were featured in it, and organizers at venues that had planned to screen For Winter have all been left without any clear explanation.
Critics of de-extinction research hit by mystery smear campaign
Several researchers who have been critical of Colossal Biosciences’ plans to revive extinct animals say they have been targeted by online articles trying to discredit them.
Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End
America’s run as the premier techno-superpower may be over.
Researchers Determine Coelacanth Faked Own Extinction To Escape Massive Gambling Debt
The Onion uncovers where many missing species may have gone.
‘Best job in the natural world’: seed collector enlisted as modern-day Darwin to document the world’s plants
Newly appointed expedition botanist Matthew Jeffery feels ‘daunted’ but inspired by his unique globetrotting role collecting wild species.
Landmark project to turn mistletoe into climate-proof plant tech
A pioneering Essex plant biologist has been awarded a landmark grant to turn parasitic mistletoe into a living tool to help a warming world.
This Week in Botany
5 Years Ago: Buckleria paludum, the caterpillar that has a taste for danger
10 Years Ago: Botanists on the move
15 Years Ago: Carnivorous plants prefer to kill in broad daylight
Scientific Papers
Translational insights into abiotic interactions: From Arabidopsis to crop plants (FREE)
Understanding crop plants responses to abiotic stress is increasingly important in this changing climate. Roeder et al asked experts how discoveries in Arabidopsis thaliana have translated into advancements in abiotic crop stress resilience. The theme is that core regulatory networks identified in Arabidopsis are conserved in crops, but the molecular regulation varies among species.
Maize and wild relatives show distinct patterns of genome downsizing following polyploidy (FREE)
Snodgrass et al use publicly available genome assemblies from the Tripsacinae subtribe of grasses to investigate the patterns and timing of fractionation relative to the outgroup sorghum, which does not share the allotetraploidy event. Their results show the majority of fractionation following polyploidy occurred in a common ancestor of modern species and that one subgenome is preferentially retained, in keeping with previous studies of maize.
Unlocking expanded flagellin perception through rational receptor engineering (FREE)
Using diversity analyses, AlphaFold modelling and amino acid properties, key residues enabling expanded recognition were mapped to FLS2’s concave surface, interacting with the co-receptor and polymorphic flg22 residues. Synthetic biology enabled engineering of expanded recognition from QvFLS2 (Quercus variabilis) into a homologue with canonical perception.
Combined generalist and host-specific transcriptional strategies enable host generalism in the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea (FREE)
To investigate how variation and plasticity contribute to generalism, Singh et al studied the generalist necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea that infects more than 1,500 plant species. Using a cross-infection matrix of 72 B. cinerea isolates infected on 57 plant genotypes distributed across 15 eudicot species, they identified general and host-dependent fungal components of lesion formation.
Protocol for capturing the RNA-binding proteome from plants using orthogonal organic phase separation (FREE)
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate many processes related to RNA biogenesis, localization, half-life and function. Sánchez-Camargo et al present a protocol for the en masse isolation of RBPs cross-linked to RNA and provide a strategy for proteomics analysis.
WALLFLOWER, an Arabidopsis receptor-like kinase, is polarized in root epidermal cells where it represses cell elongation impacting root waving (FREE)
When roots are grown on the surface of a substrate, growth occurs with an undulating trajectory known as root waving, which is likely due to a combination of gravity and touch responses. However, the cellular and molecular details behind root waving, remain obscure. Pérez-Henríquez et al identified WALLFLOWER (WFL), a transmembrane receptor kinase that influences the shape of waves during root growth.
miR825-5p-regulated TNLs govern Arabidopsis resistance to Tetranychus urticae and Pieris brassicae (FREE)
Rosa-Diaz et al studied how the Arabidopsis miR825-5p differentially modulates certain TNLs (MRT1, MRT2, and MIST1), triggering defensive responses against the sucking acari Tetranychus urticae or the chewing insect Pieris brassicae.
Reconsidering space-for-time substitution in climate change ecology ($)
Ecologists often leverage patterns observed across spatial climate gradients to predict the impacts of climate change (space-for-time substitution). Evans et al highlight evidence that this can be misleading not just in the magnitude but in the direction of effects, explain why, and make suggestions for improving the reliability of ecological forecasts.
Ancient hybridization underlies tuberization and radiation of the potato lineage (FREE)
Interspecific hybridization may trigger species radiation by creating allele combinations and traits. Cultivated potato and its 107 wild relatives from the Petota lineage all share the distinctive trait of underground tubers, but the underlying mechanisms for tuberization and its relationship to extensive species diversification remain unclear. Through analyses of 128 genomes, including 88 haplotype-resolved genomes, Zhang et al revealed that Petota is of ancient hybrid origin, with all members exhibiting stable mixed genomic ancestry, derived from the Etuberosum and Tomato lineages ca. 8–9 million years ago.
Pantropical tree rings show small effects of drought on stem growth ($)
Rings provide a wealth of information on how trees have responded to past environmental change. However, a relative lack of tree-ring data from the tropics limits inferences on these globally important ecosystems. Zuidema et al. compiled tree-ring data from 150 species in sites spanning the tropics and subtropics to determine how tropical trees have responded to drought since 1930.
In AoBC Publications
Beyond the Grant–Stebbins model: floral adaptive landscapes and plant speciation (FREE)
The impact of shade on whole-plant carbon allocation in a dominant East African tree sapling (FREE)
Rare Variants in Crops: Theoretical Insights and Emerging Detection Strategies (FREE)
Needle length in pines as a key trait regulating hydraulic resistance (FREE)
Careers
Note: These are posts that have been advertised around the web. They are not posts that I personally offer, nor can I arrange the visa for you to work internationally.
Senior Editor for Journal of Applied Ecology
We are seeking an ecologist who is highly motivated in publishing excellent applied ecology to join the team of Editors of Journal of Applied Ecology. The Editor will work with other members of the journal team to promote the aims of the journal, commission and evaluate submissions, and plan and implement strategies that will enhance its profile, expand its reach, and better serve its community of authors and readers.
Handling Editor, in silico Plants
Annals of Botany Company invites applications for the position of Handling Editor for in silico Plants, an open access, online-only journal published by Oxford University Press. We are seeking two Handling Editors. One with expertise in ecosystem and/or evolutionary modeling / mathematical theory and application of AI to these.
Research Associate - Moyroud Group (Fixed Term), Cambridge
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the group of Dr Edwige Moyroud at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University. The successful candidate will conduct fundamental research aimed at investigating the mechanisms responsible for cell fate specification and differentiation during petal development using Hibiscus trionum as a model system. The post holder will combine genetic analysis and functional investigations in planta with a range of imaging techniques (including CryoSEM and confocal microscopy) to investigate the mechanisms allowing candidates genes previously identified by the Moyroud lab to specify distinct cell shapes across the petal epidermis.
Research Fellowships 2026, Cambridge
St John’s College, in the University of Cambridge, invites applications for up to four Research Fellowship awards, tenable for up to four years from 1 October 2026. These prestigious awards offer a rare opportunity to devote yourself to independent research in a stimulating and supportive academic environment. We place great importance on the intellectual contribution our Research Fellows make to St John’s, and on creating the conditions to accelerate their progress towards outstanding academic careers.
Assistant Senior Tutor: Academic, Cambridge
Lucy Cavendish College, a modern Cambridge College committed to widening participation and nurturing talent from all backgrounds is seeking a motivated and strategic individual to join our leadership team as Assistant Senior Tutor: Academic (AST: Academic). This is an opportunity to shape the academic life and postgraduate culture of a forward-thinking and rapidly evolving Cambridge College. Our community is intellectually curious, inclusive, and ambitious — and this role is central to driving forward our vision.
Research Associate (Fixed Term), Cambridge
We are recruiting for a postdoctoral researcher to be based in the laboratory of Prof. Jim Haseloff at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge. The appointee will help develop new approaches to bioproduction in the model liverwort plant Marchantia polymorpha.
Junior Laboratory Technician, Cirencester
The Junior Laboratory Technician will assist in providing high-quality technical and laboratory support for the new Land Laboratories and Experimental Barn at the Royal Agricultural University.
Researcher in Plant Molecular Biology (M/F), Strasbourg
The successful candidate will work on bacterial infections in Arabidopsis, conducting a broad range of genetic and molecular analyses including PCR, qPCR, genetic crosses, and phenotypic assessments. They will perform standard molecular biology techniques such as cloning and RNA and DNA extraction, as well as carry out epigenomic and transcriptomic experiments to investigate how chromatin modifications influence plant defense.
M/F Doctorate in plant cell biology, Lyon
Cell division in plants relies on the formation and precise insertion of a cell plate, a process that is still poorly understood. Preliminary data suggest that the phosphatase SAC9, regulating the phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P₂, plays a central role in defining the insertion site of this plaque. This project aims to elucidate how SAC9 and membrane lipids interact with key players in intracellular trafficking, such as Rab-E GTPases and the TRAPPII complex, to guide the cell plaque to the plasma membrane. Combining genetics, advanced imaging and biochemical analyses, this thesis will explore the lipid and protein mechanisms governing this process essential to plant development.
PhD position (m/f/d) Mountain Forest Management, Munich
You will conduct research on the effects of different forest management regimes on the protective function of forest ecosystems. The work is embedded in a collaborative project coordinated at the Technical University of Munich and conducted across research groups, with other PhD students working on related topics of natural hazard management in mountain areas. You will specifically use remote sensing and simulation modelling in combination with empirical data to assess how forests under different management regimes protect against natural hazards.
Group Leader - Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg
The Genome Biology Unit at EMBL invites original scientists to establish and lead their independent research group to explore bold, high-impact questions in genome biology. Our Unit is at the forefront of understanding how molecular information (DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites) is regulated, integrated, and reshaped within cellular and organismal systems across diverse biological contexts. Using a blend of cutting-edge experimental and computational approaches, we strive to decode and model complex biological processes—from single-cell dynamics to ecosystem-level interactions.
Director at Max Planck, Munich
Max Planck directors enjoy comprehensive academic freedom and excellent working conditions, enabling them to pursue innovative research projects.
Postdoctoral Scientist (f/m/d) - in the field of metabolomics, Gatersleben
Our lab is currently seeking to recruit a metabolomics postdoc for a DFG-funded international project. In collaboration with partners form UK and USA, the project aims to biochemically characterize growing plants and their interaction with the microbiome. For this, metabolomics combined with AI/ML will be used for deriving greater biological insights from LC-MS data.
Wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter (m/w/d) als Species Survival Officer für Orchideen, Stuttgart
A job at a Centre for Species Survival, where you’ll need to speak more Germain than I do.
Exploring Raffinose Family Oligosaccharide (RFO) metabolism and signalling to develop superior legumes, Leuven
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD fellow passionate about plant biochemistry, sugar metabolism, and enzyme structure-function relationships. The project will combine:
Wet lab techniques: plant drought responses, RNAseq, mutagenesis, heterologous expression, sugar quantification, prebiotic tests, enzymology.
Dry lab approaches: phylogeny, enzyme modeling, sugar docking, molecular dynamics, structural biology.
Postdoc in Process Intensification for Cellular Agriculture, Wageningen
Are you passionate about the future of sustainable food production and eager to contribute to the fast-developing field of cellular agriculture? We are seeking a mission-driven individual to join our team as a Postdoc in Process Intensification for Cellular Agriculture, with a focus on Bioprocess design of a Scale-out Production Methodology.
Associate Senior Lecturer in plant physiology with focus on plant embryo development, Umeå
This recruitment is part of an excellence initiative – SLU Futures – which aims to attract and support promising young researchers within the strategic themes of Future Sustainable Plant Production Systems, Resilient Ecosystems, and One Health. The objective of the initiative is to create conditions for successful research in future-oriented, strong academic environments through long-term employment. Read more here https://www.slu.se/slu-futures
Benchmarking biodiversity outcomes for nature positive urban development 2× PhD, Perth
This interdisciplinary project at Curtin University presents a unique opportunity to measure the on-ground ecological and social impacts of nature positive urban development and use these outcomes to inform the creation of best-practice targets the development industry urgently needs. Working on two high-profile case studies with established industry, state and local government partners provides a direct route for research impact. In addition, the ecological and socio-economic findings from the before-after data collection will advance knowledge across the fields of urban ecology, urban planning, and design.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Crop Biotechnology, Brisbane
This exciting opportunity for a three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the UQ’s Centre for Crop Science as part of the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC initiative, focusing on developing tropical grasses with low methanogenic properties to help combat agricultures impact on our environment. This position contributes to a six-year project entitled "Low Emission Tropical Grass Solutions for Cattle Feed" led by researchers at UQ in collaboration with Barenbrug Australia.
PhD and MSc opportunities in Biodiversity Sciences, Montreal
The Community & Quantitative Ecology Lab and the Canada Research Chair in Spatial Ecology and Biodiversity at Concordia University is inviting applications for MSc and PhD positions in Biodiversity Sciences. Our research explores the ecological processes that shape biodiversity patterns across space and time, integrating conceptual frameworks with applied studies.