š» The Week in Botany November 25, 2024
This week has a little difference. Usually the scanners I use anonymise everything, but this week I can credit the people who first shared an item, if it came from Bluesky. Itās the first time since the take-over of Twitter that compiling the newsletter has got a little bit easier.
Also this week, thereās an announcement for microgrant open worldwide, which I would have missed if my new feeds hadnāt been working. You can find that just above the careers section. With social media becoming a bit more open again, I can start rethinking how to work with it.
Thereāll be another collection of the botanical stories and papers youāre sharing on Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads next week. I should also mention LinkedIn, which was more active for us than Twitter this week. Until next week, take care.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
On Botany One
Agnes Dellinger: Unlocking Flowersā Secrets
Botany One interviews Dr. Agnes Dellinger to learn more about how she became interested in the interaction between plants and pollinators.
Ancient Gardens Show Maori Farmersā Mastery
New evidence reveals sweet potato was a key crop for Aotearoa / New Zealandās first farmers 700 years ago.
News & Views
ā¬Plant Biologists and How to Find Them?
Dr Joanna Kacprzyk and Dr Rainer Melzer from the School of Biology and Environmental Science at University College Dublin, Ireland want to know how you got into Botany. Can you help by filling out their survey?
Should plants invest in highly nutritious pollen?
Surprisingly, how pollen protein levels relate to male and female components of plant reproductive success is not well-known.
Like āold Twitterā: The scientific community finds a new home on Bluesky
After recent changes to Elon Muskās X, a gradual migration turns into a stampede.
Denmark will plant 1 billion trees and convert 10% of farmland into forest
Danish lawmakers on Monday agreed on a deal to plant 1 billion trees and convert 10% of farmland into forest and natural habitats over the next two decades in an effort to reduce fertilizer usage.
We rated the urban forests of 8 global cities ā only Singapore passed the 30% canopy test
Can you see three trees from your home, school or workplace? Is there tree canopy cover shading at least 30% of the surrounding neighbourhood? Can you find a park within 300 metres of the building?
The science of plant communication
Plants might appear the quiet, silent and solitary type of organisms but they have a complex way of communicating which is interesting and important for their survival.
Satellite Photo Captures Sacred Volcano Surrounded by āGoblin Forestā
The Landsat 8 satellite captured an exquisite image of the snow-capped Mount Taranaki in New Zealand surrounded by an eerie dark green forest of goblin-like trees.
Shocking news about pollen
Could static electricity be loading pollen onto butterflies and moths?
Planting Clues: How Plants Solve Crimes By David J. Gibson ā Review
In this book, Professor Gibson effectively argues that forensic botany could be used much more often than it is, and bolsters his argument with many fascinating examples, from the earliest uses of dendrology (the scientific study of trees) to identify the Lindbergh babyās kidnapper in the 1930s to the modern role of plant taxonomy in preventing the poaching of endangered orchids and other coveted plants.
āIt was a botanical dream come true to make the promo video for the @uconn.bsky.social Botanical Conservatory! Learn about their collections, meet their scientists, & take a moment for some plant appreciation š±š Hope it entices you to visit someday!ā
Scientific Papers
PTGS is dispensable for the initiation of epigenetic silencing of an active transposon in Arabidopsisā¬
Small interfering (si)RNAs and post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) are believed to mediate the initiation of transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) by guiding the first deposition of DNA methylation. To determine how this silencing installation works, Trasser et al took advantage of ĆVADĆ (EVD), an endogenous retroelement in Arabidopsis, able to recapitulate true de novo silencing with a sequence of PTGS followed by a TGS.
@etiennebucher.bsky.social
From gardens to neighbourhoods: Characterizing the climate adaptation contribution of the garden landscape in Flanders ($)
Wittemans et al developed a garden parcel map from spatial datasets for Flanders (Belgium), allowing us to identify over 2.4 million domestic garden parcels covering more than 12āÆ% of Flanders. By quantifying the regional garden coverage, their study demonstrates the strategic potential of gardens in climate adaptation.
ā»ļø ā¬The art of growing plants for experimental purposes: a practical guide for the plant biologist (OA)
The aim of many experiments is to compare the phenotype of different species or genotypes in a specific environment, or to study plant performance under a range of suboptimal conditions. Poorter et al aim to bring together the minimum knowledge necessary for a plant biologist to set up such experiments and apply the environmental conditions that are appropriate to answer the questions of interest.
@smwadgymar.bsky.socialā¬
Automating field-based floral surveys with machine learning (OA)
Sookhan et al have developed a way to automatically count and identify flowering plants using drones and artificial intelligence, making habitat surveys faster.
TIPPo: A User-Friendly Tool for De Novo Assembly of Organellar Genomes with HiFi Data (OA)
Xian et al introduce TIPPo, a user-friendly, reference-free assembly tool that uses PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) long-read data and that does not rely on genomes from related species or nuclear genome information for the assembly of organellar genomes.
@plantevolution.bsky.social
Multiple genotypes of a quarantine plant pathogen detected in New Zealand indigenous plants located in a botanical garden overseas ($)
Visnovsky et al used molecular diagnostic tools for the detection of Xylella fastidiosa in a collection of New Zealand indigenous plants grown in a X. fastidiosa-infected Californian area to determine if any species were infected with this bacterial pathogen and to help inform biosecurity responses.
Meta-analysis reveals globally sourced commercial mycorrhizal inoculants fall short (OA)
Meta-analysis of 302 globally sourced AMF inoculant trials. Only 12% of commercial products both boosted crop growth and had effective root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi.ā¬
@lizkoziol.bsky.socialā¬
Abandoned Railways Support Greater Functional and Phylogenetic Plant Diversity Than Adjacent Grassy Meadows in Agricultural Landscape ($)
Dylewski et al evaluated the taxonomical, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, along with the community composition of plants, in 25 sites along abandoned railway lines and 25 reference sites in adjacent semi-natural grasslands. They found no significant difference in species richness and Shannon diversity between grasslands and abandoned railway vegetation, but we observed distinct differences in functional and phylogenetic diversity.
Accelerated succession in Himalayan alpine treelines under climatic warming ($)
Sigdel et al examined how interactions and successional strategies of the early-successional birch (Betula utilis) and the late-successional fir (Abies spectabilis) affected treeline dynamics by combining plot data with an individual-based treeline model at treelines in the central Himalayas.
ReadCube: https://rdcu.be/d1fp5
Drought-tolerant wheat for enhancing global food security ($)
Adoption of the new wheat varieties will increase crop diversity in rain-fed agriculture and ensure sustainable improvements in crop yields to safeguard the worldās food security in drier environments.
ReadCube: rdcu.be/d0BSL
In AoBC Publications
Plant Biology Exploratory Research Microgrant
This Plant Biology Exploratory Research Microgrant program seeks to empower those who wish to live in a world where plant biological research, naturalism, and education become an exciting aspect of personhood, where the tools and materials necessary to conduct meaningful research are globally accessible, such that anyone and everyone can participate meaningfully in the exploration of our living world. This is an international grant open to global applicants.
Submission Deadline: December 25, 2024
@atinygreencell.bsky.socialā¬
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.
PhD: Uncovering how ABA dynamics in Arabidopsis, wheat and rice respond to low humidity to control water loss, Sheffield
This project will map the dynamic leaf ABA accumulations at low humidity in the model plant Arabidopsis and two major global crops, wheat and rice ā providing us with a crucial map of stress responses under dehydration.
Research Assistant / Research Associate (Fixed Term), Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is looking for a post-doctoral researcher to join an ERC/UKRI funded project exploring the convergent evolution of iridescent flowers across the Angiosperms. The post-doc will join a team tackling this question from molecular, morphological and ecological angles.
Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in School of Biological Sciences, (Fixed Term), Cambridge
The Managers of the Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Fund invite applications for up to four Fellowships which would be held in Departments of the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Cambridge from 1 October 2025 (or otherwise by negotiation). Fellows are required to pursue their research on a full-time basis in Cambridge.
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World (Sensor CDT), Cambridge
Based in the University of Cambridge, we are looking for aspirational, enthusiastic, and talented students with a demonstrable interest in conducting interdisciplinary sensor research. The Sensor CDT bridges world-leading expertise and infrastructure across science and technology, and we train students to become future industrial and academic leaders in cutting-edge sensor development.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Edinburgh
A Postdoctoral Research Associate position in alga synthetic/engineering biology is available in the laboratory of Dr Attila Molnar at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh. We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to take a lead role in contributing to the development of systems for precise nuclear regulation of the plastome in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Doctoral Researcher in Plant Genetics, Helsinki
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences invite applications for the position of a Doctoral Researcher in Plant Genetics. The doctoral researcher will be employed full-time for a fixed term of two years in the research group of assoc. prof. Roosa Laitinen. Roosa LaitinenĀ“s research group utilizes both global and local accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant resilience to changing environments.
PhD candidate to study and engineer plant specialized metabolite biosynthesis, Leiden
The chemical diversity of plants, which produce hundreds of thousands of specialized metabolites (i.e. natural products), has been a rich resource for medicine and other valuable compounds. Understanding the biosynthesis of valuable metabolite on a molecular level enables us to advance their engineering and improve cultivated plant systems.This PhD projects explores new bioactive metabolites and aims to study their biosynthesis to create engineering tools for their production.
Sviluppo di infrastrutture digitali e servizi web per la aggregazione e gestione di dati di biodiversitĆ vegetale in Italia, Bologna
The activity will encompass the creation and management of databases and web services to store, manage, and share plant biodiversity data. It will include the development of RESTful APIs to allow for access to the data in a machine to machine environment, making them available for scientific research. The researcher will also have to design and implement web portals to allow intuitive data exploration and visualization. It will be also explore the possibility of making national aggregators interoperable with international aggregators, such as GBIF.
Tenure Track in Crop Physiology at Aarhus University, Denmark (re-advertisement)
Aarhus University invites applications to a Tenure Track position in crop physiology. We are looking for a successful candidate with a strong research profile within food crop physiology, who would like to work with a highly engaged and motivated staff in an innovative and dynamic working environment.
Researcher Greenhouse Technology, Energy and Climate, Wageningen
In this role you will contribute to the energy transition in Dutch greenhouse horticulture and shape a sustainable future. As part of our ambitious research program, youāll work on making the sector more sustainable. In the coming years, Dutch greenhouses must eliminate fossil energy use, stop emissions, and actively support a circular economy.
Researcher in Soil and Farming Systems, Wageningen
As a researcher, you play a key role in carrying out research projects within the Soil Quality and Farming Systems team of our Open Field Crops business unit. You are responsible for the practical coordination of large-scale field experiments around Lelystad, primarily focused on arable farming and open-field vegetable cultivation.
Professor & Head, Department of Agricultural Biology, Colorado
Colorado State University seeks an engaged, innovative, and visionary leader and accomplished scientist to catalyze new initiatives and collaborations, identify strategic priorities, and provide leadership in research, scholarship, education, and outreach/extension. Opportunities exist for the successful candidate to continue an active role in research, teaching and/or engagement.
Professor and Head - Plant and Microbial Biology, Minnesota
The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities invites applications for the position of Professor and Head to start fall 2025.
Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tucson
The University of Arizona is accepting applications for an Assistant Professor position (tenure track) to begin in August 2025. We seek a candidate in the broadly defined area of the Genomics of Resilience. We welcome those using ecological and evolutionary genomic approaches to understand how species adapt to rapid change and stress in the environment, including stressors caused by climate change, urbanization, species translocations, and more.
Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Urban Forest Accessibility ā Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track)
The Department of Forest Resources Management at the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a tenure-stream position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the field of Urban Forest Accessibility. The successful applicant will create a strong research program in urban forest accessibility integrating observations, technologies, and analytical approaches to examine urban forest benefits and reduce accessibility barriers across scales. The successful applicant is also expected to play a key role in undergraduate and graduate teaching in urban forestry.