🌻 The Week in Botany May 22, 2023
It’s going to be a busy week this week, not least because the Royal Society of Biology is holding its Summer Conference on Thursday. It’s online and free, so I’ll be attending. This year the focus is on Citizen Science. I’ll be interested to hear the talks, as I’m always worried I’ll muck up projects with my incompetence when I take part. If you’re interested you can get more details at their website.
The deadline for the Macroalgae in a Changing World Special Issue of Annals of Botany is coming up on June 2. That’s the end of next week, so paper will need to be in fast. Hoopy froods will also know that Towel Day is coming up on Friday.
There’ll be another email with you at the same time next week. Until then, take care.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
On Botany One
Plant Conservation: Not One [species] Less
What would the world be like if not a single plant species were lost? The expert Richard T. Corlett recently reviewed challenges and opportunities of plant conservation programs, with some tips to achieve the “zero extinction for land plants” goal.
Can botanists help keep a vital ally against desertification growing in the desert?
One way to preserve plants suffering from rising temperatures is to relocate them in new areas that have become suitable for them. But when a plant grows in the sands of a harsh desert, you don’t want that habitat to expand.
Coffee Plants Adapt Leaf Traits in Response to Fungal Disease, Study Finds
The study provides valuable insights into plant-pathogen interactions with implications for agriculture, ecology, and climate change resilience.
Introducing our new Botanical Pills
Small doses of plant science to help with some of the more confusing articles.
A global fern species needs local solutions for conservation
Researchers explore how climate change and human activity impact the distribution and survival of a unique fern species.
News & Views
Chile's firefighting goats protect a native forest from deadly blazes
In the southern Chilean city of Santa Juana, hit hard by wildfires earlier this year, locals have a special taskforce helping fight blazes: a herd of goats.
Ban soil imports to save native plant and animal species, say conservationists
Pests and diseases such as the fungus ash dieback are arriving in the UK through potted plant or sapling imports.
Which fruits and vegetables are best to plant for the environment
Venture into my backyard and you’ll see a kale patch, a riotous row of Cascadia snap peas and some straggly tomatoes that, except for one banner August, succumb each year to San Francisco’s foggy summers.
Cycads: the primeval plants getting rarer – and harder to protect
Here before the dinosaurs, plants now face extinction due to illegal trade and vanishing tropical forests.
Plant cells use mechanical cues to regenerate damaged tissues, shows study
Plants have an impressive ability to regenerate damaged tissues, but how they do it is not fully understood. Now, researchers from Japan have discovered the mechanisms involved in this superpower.
Sustainable agriculture is building peace in Colombia, finds research
In areas of Colombia once controlled by guerillas, conflicts over land continue and deforestation has risen considerably. But it's in these same areas that researchers have found that farmers implementing sustainable land use systems, like agroforestry driven by cocoa (one of the key ingredients of chocolate), has contributed to reducing conflicts.
For a Community Food Forest, Consider a Creative Location
For healthy food and a wealth of other tangible and intangible yields, here are some offbeat places to plant a forest garden.
Study: Wildfire spread risk increases where trees, shrubs replace grasses
Across the United States over the past decade, an average of over 61,000 wildfires have burned some 7.2 million acres per year. Once a wildfire starts spreading, the firefighting task is exacerbated by issues like spot fires, where winds carry lofted sparks and start new fires outside of the original fire perimeter. The greater the potential spot fire distance, the more difficult wildfires are to monitor, control and suppress.
I love plants
“My academic journey has been nothing short of cosmopolitan. I’ve had the opportunity to study in various parts of India – from Kolkata to Bangalore, Allahabad, and finally, Pune, where I completed my PhD. Despite the challenges of moving around so much, I consider myself lucky to have had the chance to experience different cultures and academic environments each of these places had to offer.
Study finds pollinators are attracted to humidity, not just scent
Humidity is as important as scent in attracting pollinators to a plant, new Cornell-led research finds, advancing basic biology and opening new avenues to support agriculture.
Sleeping beauties: the evolutionary innovations that wait millions of years to come good
Some organisms truck along slowly for aeons before suddenly surging into dominance – and something similar often happens with human inventions, too. But why?
Scientific Papers
The evolution of plasticity at geographic range edges
Phenotypic plasticity enables rapid responses to environmental change, and could facilitate range shifts in response to climate change. What drives the evolution of plasticity at range edges, and the capacity of range-edge individuals to be plastic, remain unclear. Usui et al. propose that accurately predicting when plasticity itself evolves or mediates adaptive evolution at expanding range edges requires integrating knowledge on the demography and evolution of edge populations.
Carnivory on demand: phosphorus deficiency induces glandular leaves in the African liana Triphyophyllum peltatum
Triphyophyllum peltatum, a rare tropical African liana, is unique in its facultative carnivory. The trigger for carnivory is yet unknown, mainly because the plant is difficult to propagate and cultivate. This study aimed at identifying the conditions that result in the formation of carnivorous leaves.
Uncovering the transcriptional regulatory network involved in boosting wheat regeneration and transformation
Genetic transformation is important for gene functional study and crop improvement. However, it is less effective in wheat. Liu et al. employed a multi-omic analysis strategy to uncover the transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) responsible for wheat regeneration. RNA-seq, ATAC-seq and CUT&Tag techniques were utilized to profile the transcriptional and chromatin dynamics during early regeneration from the scutellum of immature embryos in the wheat variety Fielder.
ReadCube: https://rdcu.be/dcA0h
A new species of Argyreia (Convolvulaceae) from Yunnan, China
Argyreia subrotunda, a new species from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species resembles A. fulvocymosa and A. wallichii, but differs from these in the flowers with an entire or shallowly lobed corolla, as well as smaller elliptic bracts, lax flat-topped cymes and shorter corolla tubes. An updated key to the species of Argyreia from Yunnan province is also provided.
Date palm cultivation: A review of soil and environmental conditions and future challenges
Alotaibi et al. review: (1) the current status of date palm cultivation, (2) the key environmental and soil-related factors influencing its cultivation and productivity, and (3) the challenges under global change in addition to assessing the future potentials for improvements and sustainability.
The evolution of extant South American tropical biomes
This review explores the evolution of extant South American tropical biomes, focusing on when and why they developed.
The HOS15-HDA9 complex associates with HYL1 to modulate miRNA expression in response to ABA signaling
Park et al. show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENE15 (HOS15)-HISTONE DEACETYLASE9 (HDA9) complex is a conditional suppressor of miRNA biogenesis, particularly in response to ABA. When treated with ABA, hos15/hda9 mutants show enhanced transcription of pri-miRNAs that is accompanied by increased processing, leading to over-accumulation of a set of mature miRNAs.
Multiple Leaf Sample Extraction System (MuLES): A tool to improve automated morphometric leaf studies
The measurement of leaf morphometric parameters from digital images can be time-consuming or restrictive when using digital image analysis softwares. The Multiple Leaf Sample Extraction System (MuLES) is a new tool that enables high-throughput leaf shape analysis with minimal user input or prerequisites, such as coding knowledge or image modification.
Fuels for ROS signaling in plant immunity
Wu et al. review ROS signaling and the regulation of RBOHs in the plant immune system with a focus on NADPH regulation to achieve ROS homeostasis. They propose an idea to regulate the levels of NADPH as part of a new strategy to control ROS signaling and the corresponding downstream defense responses.
The involvement of allosteric effectors and post-translational modifications in the control of plant central carbon metabolism
Hartman et al. review the basic concepts of allosteric regulation of enzymes involved in plant carbon metabolism, comprising photosynthesis and photorespiration, starch and sucrose synthesis, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Additionally, they revisit the latest results on the allosteric control of the enzymes involved in these pathways.
Nematodes as suppressors and facilitators of plant performance
Plant–nematode interactions are mainly considered from the negative aspect with a focus on plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), which is justified considering the agronomic losses caused by PPNs. Despite the fact that PPNs are outnumbered by nonparasitic free-living nematodes (FLNs), the functional importance of FLNs, especially with regard to plant performance, remains largely unknown. Topalović & Geisen provide a comprehensive overview and most recent insights into soil nematodes by showing direct and indirect links of both PPNs and FLNs with plant performance.
A redundant transcription factor network steers spatiotemporal Arabidopsis triterpene synthesis
Plant specialized metabolites modulate developmental and ecological functions and comprise many therapeutic and other high-value compounds. However, the mechanisms determining their cell-specific expression remain unknown. Nguyen et al. describe the transcriptional regulatory network that underlies cell-specific biosynthesis of triterpenes in Arabidopsis thaliana root tips.
ReadCube: https://rdcu.be/dcA1v
Careers
Instructor II/Assistant Professor - Horticulture, St. Louis
Formal course contact teaching of 15 credit hours of horticulture courses (courses include but are not limited to Soils, Plant Identification, Landscape Management, Plant Propagation, Turf Management, Landscape Design, Integrated Pest Management, Native Landscaping Practices, Urban Tree Management) face to face varying among day and evening. Faculty are also required to hold a minimum of 10 office hours per week for meeting with students.
Research Fellow, Coventry
Working with the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Centre (ECHTC) at the University of Warwick and Dr Charlotte Nellist at NIAB-EMR the first aim will be to knock out the specific gene at the orthologous locus of retr01 in Brassica oleracea using CRISPR-Cas. Working with the commercial seed company, the second aim will be on phenotyping of current and development of further B. oleracea lines possessing retr01 by conventional means.
Research Associate in Plant Biochemistry and Physiology, Manchester
We are seeking to appoint an experienced researcher with expertise in plant physiology or biochemistry, to work on a project to develop crops with increase stress tolerance.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Edinburgh
We are looking for an excellent PDRA with a passion for plant development and genetics to join our inclusive team in the Plant Shape Lab. The PDRA will be working on a new project uncovering the rules defining the base-to-tip pattern in maize leaves.
Potato Breeding & Trials Research Project Support Officer (60% FTE), Abergwyngregyn
Applications are invited for the above 36 month fixed-term, part time (0.6 FTE) post working jointly in The School of Natural Sciences and the BioComposites Centre on a project aimed at transforming potato production through reduced inputs. The role is to support the potato breeding and field trials component of the project at Bangor University led by Dr Katherine Steele (School of Natural Sciences).
Chief Scientist, London
Rainforest Builder is an integrated Nature Tech company focused on the restoration of tropical forests at landscape scale. We are on a mission to restore a million hectares of rainforest in sub-Saharan Africa, sequestering hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 and restoring native biodiversity. The Chief Scientist is one of the most senior roles at Rainforest Builder, responsible for all the company’s R&D activities, working alongside the founders to lead Rainforest Builder’s approach in restoring one million hectares of degraded land to tropical forest.
Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Ormskirk
You will manage and teach modules on the Ecology and Conservation and Biology undergraduate degrees plus the Plant Science and Genetics programmes subject to relevant expertise. You will also make a significant contribution to the Conservation Management MSc. A key aspect of your role will be to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects, acting as a personal tutor across all years. It is also expected that you will develop and maintain your own research programme. You are also expected to spend a few weeks per year in China as part of the team delivering the department’s modules overseas.
Senior/Research Associate Plant Physiologist, Lancaster
The ideal candidate will have a genuine interest and the curiosity to pursue new research avenues in Rubisco, photosynthesis and sustainable wheat production. With training and support, you will be responsible for leading research on the regulation of Rubisco synthesis and degradation. In collaboration with project partners, we will assess how this regulation impacts on photosynthetic efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and source-sink strength interactions in wheat. You will lead the molecular, biochemical, and physiological characterisation of dynamic photosynthetic traits in wheat germplasm grown in the field and in controlled environment conditions throughout key phases of development. You will design and carry out experimental and computational work, analyse data, present results in oral and written form and lead the preparation of scientific manuscripts.
Research Associate, Cambridge
Applications are invited for a Research Assistant position in the group of Dr Sarah Robinson at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU). The aim of the Robinson lab is to investigate plant development, particularly from a mechanical point of view. We are looking for someone who is excited about plant development.
Research Assistant (Urban Farming/ Plant Biology), Singapore
The Research Assistant is expected to conduct research experiments independently under the direction of the Senior Research Fellow (SRF) and PI. He/she will be actively involved in plant phenotyping and will be required to take care of the vegetable crops under study. The candidate will be working in the laboratory as well as in the field. In addition, the candidate is expected to assist the SRF in data collection and preliminary analyses of the collected data. He/she will also be required to work on the procurement and provide other technical and administrative support for the research project as necessary.
Research Assistant (Biological Sciences), Singapore
The successful candidate will work with CHEW Fook Tim under a project on Genetic Improvement of Indoor Farming Crops.
Research Assistant (Biological Sciences), Singapore
The successful candidate will work with Dr. Lim Jun Ying on an ecological study aimed at understanding how habitat structure, plant taxonomic and functional diversity shape the diversity of insect communities in Singapore.
Research Group Leader, Cambridge
We are seeking to appoint a Group Leader, with imaginative research ideas to advance our understanding of plant development, who can both contribute to and benefit from the Institute's environment. It is critical that the appointee actively engages in the Sainsbury Laboratory's collaborative ethos. It is also central to the Institute that Group Leaders actively assist all members of their team in career progression and excellent mentoring is expected. We are looking for applicants with experimental plant development experience who are excited to be part of our interdisciplinary research environment. Applicants should have excellent promise for, or a proven record of research achievement in the field, and provide strong evidence of their potential to make original and significant contributions to fundamental plant development research.
Grant-Funded Researcher A/B - School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Adelaide
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher specialising in agronomy to join a dynamic multidisciplinary team that is working towards identifying the next frontier in dryland farming systems in Australia’s Southern Grains Region (SGR). This opportunity addresses a significant new investment for the grains industry made by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). The overarching aim of the project is to better understand the drivers of profitability and sustainability in farming systems within the SGR.
Grant-Funded Researcher A/B - School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher specialising in agricultural systems modelling to join a dynamic multidisciplinary team that is working towards identifying the next frontier in dryland farming systems in Australia’s Southern Grains Region (SGR). This opportunity addresses a significant new investment for the grains industry made by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Research assistant: Environmental Physiology of Lettuce, Wageningen
Within vertical farming, tipburn is a marked issue that can significantly decrease yields and profit for these high intensity operations. The prevailing theory is that tipburn is caused by a calcium deficiency in the tips of newly emerging leaves. Furthermore, it is thought that, because calcium moves passively within the plant through the transpiration stream, tipburn occurs because the young inner leaves of a lettuce plant do not sufficiently transpire. However, this theory has not yet been sufficiently tested in a rigorous model. We are developing a physiological model that has the capacity to predict tipburn, but experiments are quite large and time consuming, so we need a dedicated research assistant to maintain ongoing experiments. Your tasks include setting up, conducting, maintaining and harvesting lettuce plants from climate chambers; building and maintaining experimental equipment (instrumentation); and organizing data.