đ» The Week in Botany July 17, 2023
Hereâs another collection of the stories shared on Twitter. Thereâs nothing from Mastodon this week. There are plenty of interesting plant conversations going on there, but few shared plant links. This might change next week, as weâve had a big uptick in people following @botanyone@botany.social. Threads continues to be interesting people interspersed in a sea of âinspirationalâ quotes many of which make less sense than Inspirobot.
My plan for the next week is to spend more time writing about Botany and a LOT less time chasing bugs in programs. Reading what new stuff people have found is the fun part of the job. There will be another compilation of botanical stories at the same time next week, unless something dramatic happens. Until then, take care.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
On Botany One
New Research Sheds Light on Functional Strategies of Grass Species
Discover how the survival strategies of grass species, intertwined with climate and functional traits, could forecast the fate of ecosystems amid climate change.
Research Reveals Surprising Ecological Benefits of Non-native Bombax ceiba
The exotic Bombax ceiba tree emerges as an unlikely champion for urban biodiversity in Brazil, supporting numerous bird species and strengthening the human-nature connection.
The spider, the bamboo, and the frog
Itâs not just humans that use plants. Spiders might be carnivorous, but they still have uses for crafty arachnids.
Plants parade for passport picture
A survey invites the public to suggest plants and animals for illustrating Irelandâs passports, showing one way to raise appreciation for natureâs diversity.
News and Views
New Jersey Gardens Offer Solitude, Beauty, History
The New York metropolitan area is home to several renowned gardens, including the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. If you prefer walking through a small, unique garden with no admission charge and no one or few people nearby, consider the Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville, New Jersey, about 55 miles west of Brooklyn.
Researchers investigate floral development of two legume plants
The legume family (Fabaceae) is one of the largest groups of flowering plants. The Fabaceae are further divided into six subfamilies based on morphological and molecular data. Despite its diversity in floral architecture and morphology, the subfamily Caesalpinioideae has been understudied.
The key to why plants flower early in a warming world
Scientists have unveiled a new mechanism that plants use to sense temperature. This finding could lead to solutions to counteract some of the deleterious changes in plant growth, flowering and seed production due to climate change. The results are published in PNAS.
Explore 2 Gardens That Showcase Why Martinique Is âThe Island Of Flowersâ
Set in the heart of the eastern Caribbean Sea, Martinique is one of the most stunning island in the Lesser Antilles, blending the allure of a tropical paradise with a frisson of French flavour. Visitors canât help but be enchanted with its pristine white sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and cultural heritage. Yet, when arriving in Martinique, one characteristic immediately arrests the eye and asserts itself over all others: the resplendent green spaces that cover nearly every inch of the islandâs rolling hills.
Saplings from 766-year-old tree to be planted
Following the discovery of a 766-year-old chestnut tree in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır (TĂŒrkiye), the General Directorate of Forestry has initiated a tree planting project in which saplings from the seeds collected from the tree will be planted throughout the province.
Remembering 31-year-old botanist Gabriel Trujillo
This is tragic newsâGabriel Trujillo, 31-year-old botanist and PhD student at the University of California at Berkeley, was found dead on June 21, nine days after he was reported missing in the state of Sonora, Mexico, where he was conducting fieldwork for his dissertation.
Matariki: Choosing the perfect native plant for your garden
Living in symbiosis with nature is deeply ingrained in te ao MÄori. As we look for ways to revitalise the old while ringing in the new, why not consider bringing a native plant into your garden?
A desert plant and the moon could hold the key to humanityâs future
A risky space expedition could show how humans can put down roots 240,000 miles from home â and help sustain life on our own finite planet.
CRISPR-edited trees reduce the energy and water required to make paper
Genetically editing poplar trees reduces the resources required to harvest their wood's cellulose, which makes up paper.
Bilingual âtree walkâ in McKinley Park celebrates 60 years of supporting trees, clean air
Neighbors in the McKinley Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side and environmental advocates used a sunny Saturday morning to participate in a neighborhood walk showcasing the importance of tree lined communities in combating air pollution.
Back from the Dead: New Hope for Resurrecting Extinct Plants
Armed with new technology, botanists are proposing what was once thought impractical: reviving long-lost plant species by using seeds from dried specimens in collections. The challenges remain daunting, but researchers are now searching for the best de-extinction candidates.
Scientific Papers
Novel insights into orchid mycorrhiza functioning from stable isotope signatures of fungal pelotons
Zahn et al. results suggest an explicit fungal nutrition source of orchids associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi, whereas the low 13C enrichment in rhizoctonia-associated orchids and fungal pelotons hamper the detection of carbon gains from fungal partners. 15N isotopic pattern of orchids further suggests a selective transfer of 15N-enriched protein-nitrogen into orchids.
Interspersed expression of CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON2 and REDUCED COMPLEXITY shapes Cardamine hirsuta complex leaf form
How genetically regulated growth shapes organ form is a key problem in developmental biology. Bhatia et al. investigate this problem using the leaflet-bearing complex leaves of Cardamine hirsuta as a model.
Control of histone demethylation by nuclear-localized α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
The methylation state of histones affects chromatin structure and gene expression. Histone demethylase activity influences the distribution of these regulatory methylation marks. Huang et al. found that an enzyme called α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH) binds to and inhibits the activity of histone demethylases.
The effect of temporal changes in stamen position on reproductive success in flowers with many stamens: experimental manipulations of stamen position
Sanuki et al. examined the effects of stamen movement on male and female reproductive success in Anemone flaccida, which has many stamens per flower. They measured stamen movement, including temporal changes in anther-stigma and anther-anther distances.
Night-time warming in the field reduces nocturnal stomatal conductance and grain yield but does not alter daytime physiological responses
McAusland et al. present the results of 3âyr of field data using 12 spring Triticum aestivum genotypes which were grown in NW Mexico and subjected to an artificial increase in night-time temperatures of 2°C.
Fossil pollen resolves origin of the South African Proteaceae as transcontinental not transoceanic
Lamont et al. conclude that a gradual migration of the Proteaceae from North-West-Central Africa southeastâsouthâsouthwest to the Cape and its surroundings occurred via adaptation and speciation during the period 95â70 Ma. They caution that incorrect conclusions may be drawn from literal interpretations of molecular phylogenies that neglect the fossil record and do not recognize the possible confounding effects of selection under matched environments leading to parallel evolution and extinction of bona fide sister clades.
Plant environmental memory: implications, mechanisms and opportunities for plant scientists and beyond
Auge et al. summarize recent advances in the understanding of plant memory, discuss the ecological requirements for its evolution, outline the multilayered molecular network and mechanisms required for accurate and fail-proof plant responses to variable environments, point out the direct involvement of the plant metabolism and discuss the tremendous potential of various types of models to further our understanding of the plantâs environmental memory.
How woody plants adjust above- and below-ground traits in response to sustained drought
Rowland et al. focus on woody plants and synthesises the evidence for drought adjustment in a selection of key above-ground and below-ground plant traits. They assess whether evaluating the drought adjustment of single traits, or selections of traits that operate on the same plant functional axis (e.g. photosynthetic traits) is sufficient, or whether a multi-trait approach, integrating across multiple axes, is required.
Beyond the various contrivances by which orchids are pollinated: global patterns in orchid pollination biology
Orchidaceae show remarkable diversity in pollination strategies, but how these strategies vary globally is not entirely clear. To identify regions and taxa that are data-rich and lend themselves to rigorous analyses or are data-poor and need attention, Ackerman et al. introduce a global database of orchid reproductive biology.
ï»żMalus includes Docynia (Maleae, Rosaceae): evidence from phylogenomics and morphology
Docynia has been treated as a separate genus or merged into Cydonia or Docyniopsis. Liu et alâs phylogenomic evidence from 797 single-copy nuclear genes and plastomes confirmed the sister relationship between Docynia and Docyniopsis.
Phyllosphere microbiome induces host metabolic defence against rice false-smut disease
Mutualistic interactions between host plants and their microbiota have the potential to provide disease resistance. Most research has focused on the rhizosphere, but it is unclear how the microbiome associated with the aerial surface of plants protects against infection. Liu et al. identify a metabolic defence underlying the mutualistic interaction between the panicle and the resident microbiota in rice to defend against a globally prevalent phytopathogen, Ustilaginoidea virens, which causes false-smut disease.
Imaging of plant calcium-sensor kinase conformation monitors real time calcium-dependent decoding in planta
Changes in cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) concentration are among the earliest reactions to a multitude of stress cues. While a plethora of Ca2+-permeable channels may generate distinct Ca2+ signatures and contribute to response specificities, the mechanisms by which Ca2+ signatures are decoded are poorly understood. Liese et al. developed a genetically encoded FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer)-based reporter that visualizes the conformational changes in Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs/CPKs).
Evolutionary and ecological insights from Cytinus: A plant within a plant
Cytinus is a group of plants that grow within other plants: a parasitic life cycle that has evolved just four times in the plant kingdom. Cytinus species are externally invisible for most of their life, emerging from their hosts only to flower and set seed. Owing to this cryptic life cycle, the genus is poorly understood and is likely to include several hitherto undescribed species, particularly in threatened forest habitat in Madagascar.
Careers
Postdoctoral position in Plant Genetics and Genome Editing, Lausanne
Prof. Sebastian Soyk is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Genetics and Genome Editing to join his research group at the Department for Molecular Plant Biology (DBMV) at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). The Soyk lab investigates molecular mechanisms that regulate stem cell development in plants and how stem cell activities changed during crop domestication.
Farm Trials Coordinator, Sandwich, England
Although this role will be based at Pepperness, our Farm in Kent, you will be a part of the Leaf Lab team based in Cambridge, reporting remotely to our Head of Crop Optimisation. To streamline collaboration and knowledge sharing you will need to spend 4 days/month at the Leaf Lab. This is a 5-day working week. It may include working weekends or parts thereof. You will need to have the flexibility to work these when required.
PhD Researcher - Plant resistance to aphids in wild peppers, Wageningen
Pepper plants have severe problems with aphid infestations. Improving natural host plant resistance is one of the key pillars in integrated pest management where we aim to reduce the dependency on insecticides. In this PhD, a diverse panel of wild pepper plants will be studied for their natural resistance mechanisms against the green peach aphid. In your approach you will study aphid behaviour and population growth with both high-throughput and in-depth techniques and you will use transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of plant defenses.
Two PhD Researchers: Unravelling Drought Impacts on Tropical Forest Trees in Brazil, Wageningen
You will contribute to a better understanding of tree responses to drought at seasonal and multi-annual time scales, and across a rainfall gradient in the tropics. Specifically, you will help unravelling the roles of two possible mechanisms driving drought impacts on tree growth: (i) the low availability of sugars due to stomatal closure, impairing photosynthesis (source limitation) and (ii) the lack of cell multiplication and expansion due to low cell turgor pressure (sink limitation). You will study two widespread and abundant tree genera (Aspidosperma, Handroanthus) that form annual tree rings. You will also contribute to model development, and use process-based tree growth models.
Associate Professor in Synthetic Biology/Engineering Biology, Cambridge
We welcome excellent candidates who are taking a design-based bioengineering approach within plant biology. We seek candidates who will complement existing strengths in synthetic biology and bioengineering for improved photosynthesis and reduced agricultural inputs. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates who will contribute to teaching and research in plant development. This recruitment is part of a co-ordinated approach with the Department of Biochemistry to grow bioengineering in the School of Biological Sciences and benefits from strong links with the Departments of Engineering and Applied Mathematics.
Director of the Botanic Garden, Georgia, USA
By fostering cooperation among staff, the University, the community, and regional organizations, the Director will offer a comprehensive vision and ensure the effective execution of daily operations. This role will utilize expertise in biology and environmental science, organization management, fundraising and development, grant proposal composition, public outreach, and innovative thinking. The Director will demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the Garden's objective of honoring the ecological and cultural heritage of the coastal plain. Moreover, they are motivated to cultivate a collaborative and inclusive environment while embracing the multifaceted responsibilities associated with guiding an expanding organization in a thriving region.
Assistant Professor of Biology, Colorado
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) invites applications for biologist committed to excellence in undergraduate teaching to join the Biology Department at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning July 1, 2024. This is a tenure-track position with 12 paid months each year. A Ph.D. in biology with expertise in botanical evolution is required. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Research Fellow in Soil and Plant Science, Cranfield, England
The research project, âNitrogen Efficient Plants for Climate Smart Arable Cropping Systemsâ (NCS) involves 200 UK farms and 17 industry partners and is funded by Defraâs Farming Innovation Programme and Innovate UK. Within this project you will be responsible for investigating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, soil health and nitrogen benefits of legumes in rotations, specifically testing the resilience of legume-based rotations to climate change and the effects on GHG emissions. You will lead experimental work in this area, utilizing the unique CHAP glasshouse and growth room facilities at Cranfield and collaborating with participating farms across the UK. The work will complement other experimental approaches being conducted in field conditions led by Processers and Growers Research Organization, The James Hutton Institute and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Research Engineer, Plant Nanotechnology, Singapore
Positions are available for Research Engineers or Research Assistants in the Lew Lab led by Assistant Professor Tedrick Thomas Salim LEW at the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). In our lab, we combine approaches from nanotechnology, engineering, chemistry and plant biology to engineer new tools to study plants.
Doctoral Researcher in Tree Ecophysiology and Ecology, Helsinki
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher in Tree Ecophysiology and Ecology. The Doctoral Researcher will be appointed for a fixed-term 4-year contract (Start date: September 1, 2023 or as negotiated) to work in a project entitled: âLife after drought: towards a mechanistic understanding of tree resilience (DroughTRes)â and led by Docent Dr. Yann Salmon.
Assistant / Associate / Full Professor in Plant Science, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
We seek ambitious and outstanding scientists in different areas of Plant Science, which include but are not restricted to Photosynthesis, Biophysics, Plant Nutrition, Stress Physiology, Ecology, Plant-Microbe Interaction, Plant Pathology, Optogenetics, Quantitative genetics, Macro-Algal Biotechnology, Metabolism and Green Synthetic Biology. Successful candidates are expected to develop world-class research programs, teach postgraduate courses, and establish inter- and multidisciplinary collaborations within the Plant Science Program and the BESE Division and across Divisions, Research Centers and Initiatives at KAUST.
Research Associate in Plant Environmental Signalling, Bristol
The successful applicant will work on a BBSRC-funded project entitled âLight, temperature and circadian clock signal integration during leaf senescenceâ. This aims to dissect the molecular mechanisms underpinning light- and temperature-mediated control of postharvest leaf senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana, providing a molecular framework to develop novel approaches to increase crop shelf-life. The project is a collaboration between the labs of Professor Kerry Franklin (PI) at the University of Bristol and Professor Antony Dodd at the John Innes Centre (JIC, Norwich).
Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Dundee
We are recruiting for an exceptional individual to join us as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant with Professor Claire Halpin Group, Division of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, to work on a Horizon Europe project, BEST- CROP, aiming to boost photosynthesis and improve straw properties to produce novel crops for industrial biotechnology and the circular bioeconomy. This is a fixed-term appointment for 3 years.
Post-doctoral Research Associate: Arctic Terrestrial Ecology, Edinburgh
The goal of this PDRA position is to test how plant responses to climate change are playing out across tundra ecosystems. A specific focus will be on the productivity of vascular and non-vascular vegetation and their physiological responses to a changing climate working with data from sites around the circumpolar Arctic including in the Canadian Arctic and on Svalbard. The PDRA will estimate the relative importance of contrasting trajectories of productivity change â increased overall productivity, earlier growing seasons and/or asynchronous above- and below-ground productivity.