đ» The Week in Botany August 7, 2023
Itâs been a disappointing week. In a week when even cacti are struggling with the climate, I had hoped to launch a weekly round-up of the latest climate papers, using AI to help with speeding up the analysis. There were a few problems, like my computer breaking down, the AI breaking down and finally the paywall of a major publisher breaking down, meaning that I canât access a lot of the papers anyway. The biggest problem though is that it looks like it was a bad idea.
Climate changeâs effects on plants is simply too big a topic. It covers shifts in phenology or range, adaptation strategies, modelling approaches. Getting a coherent story out of all that isnât possible, unless the story is very shallow. Itâs not a waste of effort, I can still use the experience to improve our climate coverage. Itâs just a shame that what Iâve done is successfully found a way that doesnât work.
Something that is starting work is the system I use to trawl Mastodon for links. Most of the links below were shared on Twitter, but thereâs a few highlighted by Mastodon. Thereâs nothing from Threads yet. I donât know if people are sharing items and Iâm just not seeing them, or if no one is using Threads in that way yet. Once Threads has a working search system I should have a better idea.
The cough remains. If it doesnât get worse there should be another round-up of the links youâre sharing on social media, at the same time next week.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
On Botany One
Giant Tortoises are a Rewilding Success in the Galapogos Islands
Giant tortoises reintroduced to Galapagosâ Española Island are engineering the ecosystem by reducing trees, aiding cactus regeneration, and creating nesting grounds for the waved albatross.
Life on the Edge Can Be Fruitful for Plants
Plants at the edge of populations have to share genes with more distant neighbours to produce offspring, and that can have benefits.
When Dodder Attacks Soybeans, It Invites its Friends
The parasitic dodder weed doesnât just sap soybeanâs strength alone â it lets in fungal gatecrashers like Alternaria too, despite soybeanâs attempts to biochemically barricade its roots with flavonoids.
Getting to the bottom of plant nutrition
The use of human excrement as plant fertiliser is gaining popularity as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilisers.
Native Plants Can Bring Prairie Power to Green Roofs
Research found that combining native prairie plants and Sedum species on green roofs enhances stormwater capture, cooling, and thermal insulation compared to using Sedum alone.
News & Views
On Rabbits And Salad Bars in Suburbia
Do you have rabbit damage in your garden? Ready for a radical thought? It's not damage. It's nature. It's an animal using a plant to survive, and the plant was designed to be eaten.
Tropical trees use social distancing to maintain biodiversity
Tropical forests often harbor hundreds of species of trees in a square mile, but scientists often struggle to understand how such a diversity of species can coexist. In a study published in Science, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have provided new insights into the answer by uncovering a key characteristic of the spatial distribution of adult trees.
See also: New Scientist.
Ultros, a psychedelic action game about gardening in deep space
Design director MĂ„rten BrĂŒggemann explains why he set out to make a sci-fi game thatâs as much about cultivation as combat.
Plans to plant billions of trees threatened by massive undersupply of seedlings
The REPLANT Act provides money for the US Forest Service to plant more than a billion trees in the next nine years. The World Economic Forum aims to help plant a trillion trees around the world by 2030. Many US cities have plans to shade their streets with millions of trees. Major government and private funding is being invested in planting trees as a powerful tool to fight climate change, protect water, clean air, and cool cities. In short, trees are hot.
See also: Salon.
Mauricio Diazgranados Is a Botanist in a Hurry
For the first time, the New York Botanical Garden has a chief scientist who hails from the same region as so much of its collections.
Regenerative agriculture seen as answer to averting Africa's growing food crisis
More than 65% of Africaâs land is considered degraded, and the risk of further desertification grows by the day. Crops now wither in the once fertile fields of northern Ghana, as prolonged droughts dry up water courses, while the mountain forests of Kenya, known as its âwater towersâ, have been stripped back and denuded by agriculture and logging. In Sudan, the arid climate and poor irrigation mean that more than 500,000 hectares are now affected by salinisation.
Flower that thrives in Death Valley may hold secret to heat adaptation
Insights into how Death Valleyâs Tidestromia oblongifolia tolerates such high temperatures could help researchers to engineer crops that can survive global warming.
âBizarreâ string of plant thefts has Canadian gardeners beefing up security
A string of recent âbizarreâ plant thefts has some garden owners on edge in Canada as they look to increase security. Thieves â some caught on camera â have dug up plants and flowers from front lawns and also gone after trees, shrubs, soil and vegetables grown in community garden centres.
This bioelectronic device lets scientists map electrical signals of the Venus flytrap
The signals spread radially outward with no clear preferred direction.
Plant poachers damage forest preserves as demand for ramps and morels makes foraging more profitable
When you think about poaching, ramps are likely not the first thing that come to mind. But as foraging has grown in popularity, plants including ramps, a popular wild onion, and mushrooms such as morels are frequently targeted by poachers to sell to Chicago-area restaurants.
Scientific Papers
Transition to Self-compatibility Associated With Dominant S-allele in a Diploid Siberian Progenitor of Allotetraploid Arabidopsis kamchatica Revealed by Arabidopsis lyrata Genomes
A transition to selfing can be beneficial when mating partners are scarce, for example, due to ploidy changes or at species range edges. Kolesnikova et al. explain how self-compatibility evolved in diploid Siberian Arabidopsis lyrata, and how it contributed to the establishment of allotetraploid Arabidopsis kamchatica.
Anatomical and biophysical basis for graft incompatibility within the Solanaceae
Interspecies grafting is an economically relevant technique that allows beneficial shoot and root combinations from separate species to be combined. One hypothesis for the basis of graft compatibility revolves around taxonomic relatedness. To test how phylogenetic distance affects interspecific graft compatibility within the economically important Solanaceae subfamily, Solanoideae, Thomas et al. characterized the anatomical and biophysical integrity of graft junctions between four species: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), pepper (Capsicum annuum), and groundcherry (Physalis pubescens).
Are chromosome number and genome size associated with habit and environmental niche variables? Insights from the Neotropical orchids
The entangled relationship of chromosome number and genome size with species distribution has been the subject of study for almost a century, but remains an open question due to previous ecological and phylogenetic knowledge constraints. To better address this subject, Moraes et al. used the clade Maxillariinae, a widely distributed and karyotypically known orchid group, as a model system to infer such relationships in a robust methodological framework.
Is localized acquired resistance the mechanism for effector-triggered disease resistance in plants?
Jacob et al. propose that effector-triggered immunity is essentially a quarantining mechanism to prevent systemic pathogen spread and disease, and that the induction of localized acquired resistance is a key component of this mechanism.
ReadCube: https://rdcu.be/diE1c
Haplotype-resolved genomes of wild octoploid progenitors illuminate genomic diversifications from wild relatives to cultivated strawberry
Strawberry is an emerging model for studying polyploid genome evolution and rapid domestication of fruit crops. Jin et al. report haplotype-resolved genomes of two wild octoploids (Fragaria chiloensis and Fragaria virginiana), the progenitor species of cultivated strawberry. Substantial variation is identified between species and between haplotypes.
ReadCube: https://rdcu.be/diE1y
ERFVII action and modulation through oxygen-sensing in Arabidopsis thaliana
Oxygen is a key signalling component of plant biology, and whilst an oxygen-sensing mechanism was previously described in Arabidopsis thaliana, key features of the associated PLANT CYSTEINE OXIDASE (PCO) N-degron pathway and Group VII ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERFVII) transcription factor substrates remain untested or unknown. Zubrycka et al. demonstrate that ERFVIIs show non-autonomous activation of root hypoxia tolerance and are essential for root development and survival under oxygen limiting conditions in soil.
Differences in traitâenvironment relationships: Implications for community weighted means tests
LepĆĄ & de Bello review different approaches relating traits to the environment within the framework of the accepted dichotomy between species-level (observations are species) versus community-level (observations are community parameters) analyses. Between these families of analyses and their combinations, a great variety of methods exist that test different traitâenvironment relationships, each with different null hypotheses and ecological questions.
Soil organic matter dynamics mediated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi â an updated conceptual framework
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play an important role in soil organic matter (SOM) formation and stabilization. Previous studies have emphasized organic compounds produced by AM fungi as persistent binding agents for aggregate formation and SOM storage. This concept overlooks the multiple biogeochemical processes mediated by AM fungal activities, which drive SOM generation, reprocessing, reorganization, and stabilization. Wu et al. propose an updated conceptual framework to facilitate a mechanistic understanding of the role of AM fungi in SOM dynamics
Circadian regulation of metabolism across photosynthetic organisms
de Barros Dantas et al. examine the roles of circadian regulation in metabolic processes in source and sink organ structures of Arabidopsis. They also evaluate possible roles for circadian regulation in root exudation processes that deposit carbon into the soil, and the nature of the rhythmic interactions between plants and their associated microbial communities.
SeedArc, a global archive of primary seed germination data
To advance global understanding of the seed germination spectrum, FernĂĄndez-Pascual et al. are launching SeedArc, a global archive of primary seed germination data. SeedArc compiles primary seed germination data to synthesize the seed germination spectrum at a global scale.
Einkorn genomics sheds light on history of the oldest domesticated wheat
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum) was the first domesticated wheat species, and was central to the birth of agriculture and the Neolithic Revolution in the Fertile Crescent around 10,000 years ago. Rawat et al. generate and analyse 5.2-Gb genome assemblies for wild and domesticated einkorn, including completely assembled centromeres.
Running the numbers on plant synthetic biology solutions to global problems
Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering promise to deliver sustainable solutions to global problems such as phasing out fossil fuels and replacing industrial nitrogen fixation. While this promise is real, scale matters, and so do knock-on effects of implementing solutions. Both scale and knock-on effects can be estimated by âFermi calculationsâ (aka âback-of-envelope calculationsâ) that use uncontroversial input data plus simple arithmetic to reach rough but reliable conclusions. Van Gelder et al. illustrate how this is done and how informative it can be using two cases: oilcane (sugarcane engineered to accumulate triglycerides instead of sugar) as a source of bio-jet fuel, and nitrogen fixation by bacteria in mucilage secreted by maize aerial roots.
Careers
Assistant Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Kentucky
This position will develop a visionary research program focused on plant reproduction. The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to apply modern plant physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, and/or molecular genetics/genomics techniques to studies of plant reproduction (e.g., flowering, meiosis and gametophyte development, pollen biology, apomixis, doubled haploid formation, seed and fruit biology, seed dormancy, seed and seedling vigor, epigenetics, or evolution). The expectation is that the incumbent will conduct research at the forefront of the field of plant reproduction, bringing to bear a multidisciplinary approach. Opportunities exist for collaboration with a broad range of basic and applied plant scientists in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and University of Kentucky; accordingly, an ability to work at many different levels of plant biology is desirable.
Postdoctoral research project in plant structure & function, Montreal
This HFSP-funded collaborative project aims to analyze the 3D structure, architecture, development, and mechanics of the leaf mesophyll. The goal is to understand developmental processes and structural optimization that reconcile photosynthetic efficiency with mechanical stability of the plant leaf. Collaborators include engineers and evolutionary biologists.
Greenhouse Manager, Ohio
The Greenhouse Manger will: Provide greenhouse support, plant propagation and care for several faculty researchers in plant biology, and for the Food Institute and Farm. Manage and maintain teaching collections of plants in Boyd and Pearson Greenhouses for use in botany teaching labs. Ensure proper lighting, watering, temperature and humidity controls for plants used in teaching, research, and the university farm. Apply treatments for plant pests and diseases as required. Train and supervise student employees in the greenhouse. Order and maintain supplies needed for greenhouse operations (soils, containers, fertilizers, pesticides).
Research Associate on Plant-Microbe Interactions. London
We seek a Research Associate with expertise in plant-microbe interactions, microbial ecology, and omics/sequencing to investigate how microbes can be used to improve the growth of crops in controlled environments. The project will focus on the development of probiotics for lettuce grown under hydroponic conditions.
MRes Studentship: Genetic Engineering of Transgenic Barley Lines to Investigate Root Angle Regulation, Nottingham
We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our research team as a Master of Research (MRes) candidate in the field of plant biology. This position offers an exciting opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research aimed at unravelling the mechanisms underlying root growth angle regulation in plants.
Research Associate/Fellow (Fixed term), Nottingham
A Research Associate/Fellow is required to undertake research as part of a three-and-a-half-year BBSRC-funded grant titled: âDiving deeper: unravelling how plants regulate root growth angleâ. The successful candidate will employ genetic, molecular, and physiological approaches in conjunction with omics techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that govern root growth angle in cereal crops. This exciting project is a collaborative effort involving biologists, biochemists, and biophysicists, and it directly builds upon our previous work that identified a novel gene, Enhanced Gravitropism 1 (EGT1), which controls root angle in barley and wheat.
Senior Technician (Fixed term), Nottingham
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Technician to undertake research as part of two BBSRC-funded grants: a New Investigator Grant and a DSW Partner Grant. The focus of these grants is to jointly investigate the genetic control of root growth angle in barley and wheat. The successful applicant will employ molecular biology, genetics, and physiology approaches, along with omics techniques, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing root growth angle in cereal crops. The Senior Technician will collaborate closely with a Research Associate/Fellow as part of the project. This exciting project represents a collaborative effort involving biologists, geneticists, and biophysicists. It directly builds upon our previous work, which identified a novel gene called Enhanced Gravitropism 1 (EGT1) as the regulator of root angle in barley and wheat.
Graduate Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate, Exeter
The Centre for Ecology and Conservation wishes to recruit a Graduate Research Assistant or Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct historical research into marine forest assemblages. The successful candidate will lead a 12-month project into past ecological changes for relevant marine forest assemblages found in the marine coastal ecosystem of Punta Blanca, Tenerife. This research aims to understand the magnitude and drivers of ecological changes observed over the past decades, using historical sources and local ecological knowledge via interviews with local stakeholders. âMarine forestsâ is a term for marine biotic assemblages that contribute to benthic structural complexity and thus support the presence of other species, these include seagrasses, seaweeds, sponges, corals, and gorgonians, among others.
Research Laboratory Technician (Fixed Term), Cambridge
The Department of Plant Sciences is seeking to appoint a technician to carry out experimental work and support activities in the Algal Innovation Centre (AIC). The role holder is responsible to the director and manager of the AIC and will carry out experimental work in close collaboration with academic researchers and industry partners who use this facility.
Doctoral Researchers in Quantitative Forest Science and Livelihood Vulnerability, Helsinki
Nepal has a highly rural agrarian population. In the middle hill region, the rural areas are experiencing depopulation and feminization as men migrate overseas for work, leaving women, children and elderly behind. As a result, agriculture is abandoned or reduced and land returns to forest. In this project we will investigate the dynamics of forest regeneration, explore the dependency of rural households on regenerating forest as well as the risks posed by these forests for rural households, and use modern modelling techniques to analyze the potential benefits of forest management versus agroforestry across the middle hills. The project is exploring the potential for tree and cash crop species to generate income across varying contexts. Experience and interest in the following themes are necessary: vegetation science, botany (plant identification), ecology, ecosystem services (especially provisioning), and environmental niche modeling (species distribution modeling).
Assistant Professor in Crop Physiology and Environmental Science, Benguerir, Morocco
The PSP lab is seeking applications for a full-time Assistant Professor in the field of crop physiology and environmental science or related subjects that will complement PSPâs research and teaching programs: Plant physiology and biochemistry / Plant plasticity and adaptations to abiotic stress / Fertilizer industry, plant nutrition, and crop fertilization Soil-water-plant exchanges / Soil fertility mapping, phenotyping, and crop modeling