đ» The Week in Botany January 23, 2023
Hereâs another collection of the stories youâre sharing on Twitter and Mastodon this week. Iâm still behind with the Careers section of the newsletter, but there are a few articles ready to go out next week, so Iâm hoping to get a bit more time to work on that over the next few days.
Sadly, Iâm unlikely to get a lot of free time today. The Office Manager has injured his leg, so Iâll have to make an early trip to the vet to see if we can do anything to help. Driving to the vet takes five minutes. Getting Stanley into his carrier so I can take him to the vet takes longer.
Assuming Iâm not in hospital with a magnificent number of cuts across my arms and hands, thereâll be another collection of stories with you at the same time next week. Until then, take care.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
On Botany One
Flowers play a key role in flight control for bumblebees
A bee can approach a flower from any direction, but markings on the flower help guide bees in the most effective way, like a natural air traffic control.
Does the fungus Botrytis cinerea break plants with a sledgehammer or a series of specialised tools?
The fungus Botrytis cinerea can infect many plants, but how can it get past so many different defences? Does it have a variety of tools or one highly effective tool?
An extraordinary book about trees (and people)
Nigel Chaffey reviews a book about Trees, but is there agreement about what a Tree is?
How does environment affect biodiversity? Did Humboldt get it right?
Modern botanists have revisited sites examined by Alexander von Humboldt. Have modern advances made the German polymathâs work irrelevant?
News & Views
Oikos: Special Issue and January Cover
We are thrilled to start the year with this Special Issue! Roots play critical roles in plant communities and ecosystemsâbut compared to leaves and stems, these hidden underground structures are still something of a scientific mystery. Our understanding of roots has beem further challenged by the fascinating (and complicated) interactions that they have evolved with soil microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobia, parasites, and pathogens.
Ni 'Science' ni 'Nature': los investigadores españoles dejan las revistas tradicionales por dos editoriales cuestionadas
La exigencia continua de publicar lleva a los cientĂficos a hacerlo cada vez mĂĄs en grupos como MDPI y Frontiers, criticados por parte de la comunidad cientĂfica por la laxitud de sus procesos editoriales: desde 2015 los estudios españoles aparecidos en estas cabeceras han crecido entre un 600 y un 1.800%.
A Spanish article on how scientists are moving from traditional science journals towards those published by MPDO and Frontiers, but some question standards at the new journals.
Change on the Range: Plant species loss from over-grazing will reduce rangeland carbon storage
Livestock grazing in rangelands supports the livelihoods of millions of people in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Unfortunately, over-grazing and climate change are threatening rangeland plant diversity, and species loss could affect the capacity of rangelands to store carbon.
Enjoying nature may lessen need for some medications, study finds
Going for a walk in a park or along a lake or a tree-lined space may reduce the need for medication for anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure or insomnia, a new study found.
A Women in Crop Science Conversation with Josie Clarke
Our Women in Crop Science community interview series kicks off 2023 with the inspirational Josie Clarke. I was keen to include Josie in our conversation series when I leant about her initiative Ability Agriculture during her recent research exchange to CIMMYT. She has developed and launched this alongside her day job as a PhD student in crop improvement at The University of Sydney, Australia. Ability Agriculture is a pioneering initiative to achieve greater awareness and inclusion for disabled people.
Nature and Mental Health: The Science
Most of us can relate to the feeling of relaxation that comes from spending time close to nature, but what exactly is it that causes this effect and can it be backed by science?
Spirit Mound Trust Announces The Grassland Research Grant Program
Grants will be awarded for research involving any topic related to North American grasslands (e.g., flora and fauna, natural history, cultural history). Preference will be given to research focusing on the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, especially if the 320-acre reconstructed prairie at Spirit Mound can be used as one of the study sites.
Kew Gardens botanist found rare plant extinct for 70 years with aims to kickstart return
The plant species was last collected in the wild in 1949, and has been considered extinct for 70 years.
5 ways digitising Kewâs specimens can help save the world
From combatting climate change to producing better medicines, here's five ways our multi-million pound Digitisation Project will help ensure the future of all life on Earth.
Can Science Finally Create a Decent Cup of Decaf?
Who cares about decaf coffee? I do. Iâm a slow caffeine metabolizer, like many millions of others. We folks with a particular type of CYP1A2 gene may adore a perfectly pressed single-origin Arabica but cannot drink a fully caffeinated cup without the caffeine accumulating too quickly, making our hearts beat like bass drums and our brains feel momentarily vaporized. But now thereâs a chance for us, the metabolically mismatched. A whole new kind of coffee may be on the horizon.
Argentine corn field planted with face of World Cup winner Messi
Lionel Messi has been immortalized in Argentina in tributes ranging from tattoos to murals after leading the national team to win the soccer World Cup. Now his face can be seen from the heavens too - on a specially designed corn field.
Odd parasitic plant with fleshy flowers identified as new species
A review of hydnora plants has identified one new species based on preserved specimens and reinstated two others, bringing the total number to 10.
Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest provider are worthless, analysis shows
Investigation into Verra carbon standard finds most are âphantom creditsâ and may worsen global heating.
ChatGPT listed as author on research papers: many scientists disapprove
At least four articles credit the AI tool as a co-author, as publishers scramble to regulate its use.
The key ingredients of an academic paper
âWriting is not easy. I LOVE writing, but this is after many years of trying, doing, getting feedback, rewriting, and getting more feedback. Bizarrely, I was never taught how to write, and I have the impression that itâs still not generally taught very well, because a lot of students hate writing, and because of the common â but easy to avoid â mistakes that they make.â
PhD training is no longer fit for purpose â it needs reform now
If researchers are to meet societyâs expectations, their training and mentoring must escape the nineteenth century.
Scientific Papers
Landscape management strategies for multifunctionality and social equity
Increasing pressure on land resources necessitates landscape management strategies that simultaneously deliver multiple benefits to numerous stakeholder groups with competing interests. Accordingly, Neyret et al. developed an approach that combines ecological data on all types of ecosystem services with information describing the ecosystem service priorities of multiple stakeholder groups.
The discovery of rubisco
Rubisco is possibly the most important enzyme on Earth, certainly in terms of amount. This review describes the initial reports of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylating activity.
Exotic alleles contribute to heat tolerance in wheat under field conditions
Global warming poses a major threat to food security and necessitates the development of crop varieties that are resilient to future climatic instability. By evaluating 149 spring wheat lines in the field under yield potential and heat stressed conditions, Molero et al. demonstrate how strategic integration of exotic material significantly increases yield under heat stress compared to elite lines, with no significant yield penalty under favourable conditions.
Thismia andicola sp. nov. (Thismiaceae): a new species from the northern Andes in Colombia
Knowledge on the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia (Thismiaceae) in the neotropics is scarce, where the majority of species are known from Brazil, with 13 currently accepted species, of which seven are endemics. All the 15 known species of the genus in the Americas, except T. americana, inhabit forests below 1300 m a.s.l. Two species of Thismia are known from Colombia, T. panamensis from the ChocĂł biogeographical region and T. glaziovii from the Amazonian region. Here we describe a third Colombian species, T. andicola sp. nov. distinguished by having outer surface of the floral tube light blue and densely punctate with sky-blue metallic dots, inner tepals 4.6â5 mm long and stigma obovoid, covered adaxially by regularly distributed simple uniseriate multicellular trichomes.
Sustainable seed harvesting in wild plant populations
Seed harvesting from wild plant populations is key for ecological restoration, but may threaten the persistence of source populations. Consequently, several countries have set guidelines limiting the proportions of harvestable seeds. Bucharova et al. use high-resolution data from 298 plant species to model the demographic consequences of seed harvesting.
Navigating the pitfalls of mapping DNA and RNA modifications
Kong et al. focus on common (yet not always widely recognized) pitfalls that are shared among frequently used mapping technologies and discuss strategies to help technology developers and users mitigate their effects. Although the emphasis is primarily on DNA modifications, RNA modifications are also discussed.
Macroevolution of protective coloration across caterpillars reflects relationships with host plants
use 1808 species of larval Lepidoptera to explore macroevolution of protective coloration strategy. We find that colour and pattern evolve jointly in caterpillars, similar to an array of species across the animal kingdom, while individual elements of coloration evolve closely with diet ecology. Consistent with key tenets of plant defence and plantâherbivore coevolutionary theory, conspicuous colours are associated with herbaceous host plantsâthought to be defended by toxinsâwhile camouflage colours and patterns are associated with woody plants and grasses. Contrary to theory, dietary specialization is not associated with conspicuous coloration.
Stabilization of membrane topologies by proteinaceous remorin scaffolds
In plants, the topological organization of membranes has mainly been attributed to the cell wall and the cytoskeleton. Additionally, few proteins, such as plant-specific remorins have been shown to function as protein and lipid organizers. Root nodule symbiosis requires continuous membrane re-arrangements, with bacteria being finally released from infection threads into membrane-confined symbiosomes. Su et al. found that mutations in the symbiosis-specific SYMREM1 gene result in highly disorganized perimicrobial membranes
Widespread spring phenology effects on drought recovery of Northern Hemisphere ecosystems
The time required for an ecosystem to recover from severe drought is a key component of ecological resilience. The phenology effects on drought recovery are, however, poorly understood. These effects centre on how phenology variations impact biophysical feedbacks, vegetation growth and, ultimately, recovery itself. Using multiple remotely sensed datasets, Li et al. found that more than half of ecosystems in mid- and high-latitudinal Northern Hemisphere failed to recover from extreme droughts within a single growing season.
New perspectives on the molecular mechanisms of stress signalling by the nucleotide guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), an emerging regulator of photosynthesis in plants and algae
The nucleotides guanosine tetraphosphate and guanosine pentaphosphate (together (p)ppGpp) are found in a wide range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms where they are associated with stress signalling. Mehrez et al. discuss recent research highlighting the role of (p)ppGpp signalling as a conserved regulator of photosynthetic activity in the chloroplasts of plants and algae, and the latest discoveries that open up new perspectives on the emerging roles of (p)ppGpp in acclimation to environmental stress.
MYB12 is part of a feedback loop regulating cell division orientation in the root meristem vasculature
Wybouw et al. use a forward genetic approach to identify new factors of the TMO5/LHW pathway, we discovered a novel function of the MYB-type transcription factor MYB12. MYB12 physically interacts with TMO5 and dampens the TMO5/LHW-mediated induction of direct target gene expression as well as the periclinal/radial cell divisions. The expression of MYB12 is activated by the cytokinin response, downstream of TMO5/LHW, resulting in a novel MYB12-mediated negative feedback loop that restricts TMO5/LHW activity to ensure optimal cell proliferation rates during root vascular development.
To tolerate drought or resist aphids? A new challenge to plant science is on the horizon
RamĂrez et al. examine the latest scientific advances regarding variation in plant resistance to aphids under drought, emphasizing underlying mechanisms and functional trade-offs. They conclude that plant tolerance to drought should be incorporated into aphid resistance studies, and that possible cross-tolerance between aphid resistance and drought tolerance conferred by these traits should be examined.
Carbon uptake in Eurasian boreal forests dominates the high-latitude net ecosystem carbon budget
Watts et al. provide new estimates of recent (2003â2015) vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Reco), net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE; RecoâââGPP), and terrestrial methane (CH4) emissions for the Arctic-boreal zone using a satellite data-driven process-model for northern ecosystems (TCFM-Arctic), calibrated and evaluated using measurements from >60 tower eddy covariance (EC) sites.
Careers
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genetic Diversity of Tetraploid Wheat at DISTAL, University of Bologna in Italy
Title: âStudy of the genetic diversity of tetraploid wheats with structural and functional genomics techniquesâ A 2-year research grant, further renewable for two years, is available at the Agricultural Genetics and Genomics research group at DISTAL, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum â University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Research Assistant (Praedoc) (m/f/d) with 50 % part-time job limited to 4 years, Berlin
The project will also characterize the defense-related roles of genes that we recently identified in an RNAseq experiment to depend on the functions of both NUPs for full gene expression. The proposed studies will utilize a combination of molecular, biochemical, (epi)genetic/genomic and cell biological approaches. The project involves the self-directed implementation and evaluation of biochemical, genetic/genomic, molecular and cell biological experiments as well as the conceptual development of the research project. The position includes teaching and serves for the scientific qualification of the candidate (PhD/Dr. rer. nat.).
PhD position in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of plant:pathogen interaction, Brussels
The PhotoBiocatalysis Unit at the CPBL department (https://cpbl.sciences.ulb.be/en) ULB Brussels, is offering a PhD position to characterize the biochemistry of plant:pathogen interaction. Recently the group discovered a completely new plant immunity mechanism controlled by the external applications of enzymatically oxidized oligosaccharides. The discovery had been published in prestigious journal of Nature family, Communication Biology 2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02226-7 and the candidate is exhorted to study it before applying.
Research Associate in Molecular Genetics (Fixed Term), Cambridge
Applications are invited for postdoctoral research associate in molecular genetics, working with David Baulcombe and his group in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge. The positions are BBSRC funded for 12 months, starting as soon as possible.
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Forest Genetics, Umea
An appointment as Senior Lecturer in Forest Genetics with focus on breeding of conifers in boreal ecosystems is vacant at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology at SLU, UmeÄ.
Postdoctoral Researcher Role of Strigolactones in Striga Infection and Microbiome Recruitment, Amsterdam
You will investigate the effect of changes in the composition of the maize strigolactone blend, through natural variation and genetic modification, on Striga infection and microbiome recruitment. We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 15 months, with a probationary period of 2 months. The preferred starting date is 1 March 2023.
Group Leader Position at The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia
Over the next two years, we aim to recruit three outstanding and highly motivated early-career scientists to lead research groups that make ground-breaking discoveries on any aspect of inter-organismal interactions that impact plant health. One position is available immediately.
Assistant or associate professor crop sensing, Wageningen
Within the chair group Crop Physiology, we offer an assistant or associate professor position (tenure track) in the domain of crop sensing. The position includes teaching, research, general management tasks and services to society.
Associate or Full Professor of Plant Genome Engineering, Nijmegen
Radboud University's Faculty of Science is looking to expand its research and education portfolio into the area of technology. A new research line on crop biotechnology will be initiated in the biological sciences, with a focus on translating biological insights into technologies for the advancement of both plant science and agriculture. You will be expected to perform internationally competitive research on genome engineering linking rapid developments in the fundamental understanding of genome behaviour with a clear vision on technology application in the crop breeding sector.