đ± TWiB January 24, 2022
I've blogged about job adverts and accessibility this week. It's timely as we'll be advertising for another editor soon. The job description will probably look similar to last time. This time though, I want to write a guide on how to tell us our job description is wrong and we should hire you instead if, for example, you have a master's degree and job outside academia.
I'd like to get that written by the end of February. The hope is that publicly saying it will shame me into making it happen, if I get to February 27 and haven't made progress. The exact details of the position will need to be confirmed with the Annals of Botany Company, who fund us, but it would be good to get the job advertised sooner rather than later. If you're interested in working with us, it's time to get the CV polished.
I hope you have a great Dydd Santes Dwynwen, and I'll be sending another email around the same time next week.
Alun (webmaster@botany.one)
In Botany One
Morphological characterisation of trichomes â www.botany.one Can we use electron microscopy and statistical analyses to better classify the trichomes of the large plant genus Solanum?
Hawkmoths prefer for the young to eat with the competition â www.botany.one Food is critical for larvae development, so a good insect should lay her eggs away from other competition for food. That's why scientists were surprised that female hawkmoths chose plants hosting competitors when laying eggs.
This plant book is amazing â www.botany.one
Nigel Chaffey reviews a book that considers not only how plants have nourished the body, but also the soul.
We won't be retweeting some job adverts. Here's why. More and more people are using images to get round character limits on Twitter, but some people are getting left behind.
Interactive effects of Phosphorus and salinity â www.botany.one It's not enough to have phosophorus in the soil, plants have to be able to use it. A new study examines how salinity interacts with the ability to take up phosphorus.
News & Views
coveR: an R Package for processing digital cover images of tree canopies | Canopy photography â canopyphotography.wordpress.com
"I [Francesco Chianucci] created a new R package âcoveRâ to allow full processing of cover images in R. The package allows step-by-step analysis of cover images, while accessing the intermediate image and analysis outputs."
Celebrating our Machair â scotlandsnature.blog Itâs fitting that even English speakers use a Gaelic word for a habitat that is such an icon of the GĂ idhealtachd.
Benthamiana rhapsody. â kamounlab.medium.com How benthi â this wild tobacco plant from the Australian outback â became a model experimental system that is accelerating research and saving lives.
Space and time: how to better understand biological processes in plants â globalplantcouncil.org If the perspective of space and time is not properly applied to plant research, the understanding of biological processes is limited as well as the response to the threats that endanger the life of plants worldwide. This is one of the main conclusions of an article published in the journal Trends in Plant Science by Professor Sergi MunnĂ©-Bosch, from the Faculty of Biology, the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) and the Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA) of the University of Barcelona.
Key mechanism of photosynthesis elucidated â globalplantcouncil.org Some plants master a special form of solar energy utilization that offers great advantages under warm conditions. A recent study now provides new insights into an enzyme that plays a central role in this so-called C4 photosynthesis. The work, led by the University of Bonn, also involved researchers from Argentina, Canada and the University of DĂŒsseldorf. It has been published in the journal The Plant Cell.Â
Small gardens as vital as big ones for conserving bees, says study Many urban gardens rich in pollinator-friendly plants and provide food all year round, find Bristol researchers
The people who believe plants can talk â www.bbc.com While many gardeners believe talking to their plants encourages them to grow, there is a war of words in the scientific world about whether plants are listening, or even talking back.
False banana: Is Ethiopia's enset 'wondercrop' for climate change? â www.bbc.co.uk Scientists say the plant enset, an Ethiopian staple, could be a new superfood and a lifesaver in the face of climate change.
Arctic Pea Cultivation Possible According to New Research - Green Harvest Was Taken at 69°N â www.nordgen.org There is potential for commercial pea cultivation in parts of the northern Nordic region and green harvest of peas is possible above the Arctic Circle. That is one of the conclusions from NordGenâs research project Arctic Pea.
Bush Tomato Fools Bees With âFakeâ Female Pollen Consider it an act of botanical bluffing. The unisexual Australian bush tomato has both beautiful purple and yellow male and female flowers, but cross-pollination between each sex by bees is necessary for the plant's survival. Bucknell University research has now found that while both the male and female flowers produce pollen, the females somehow "fool" bees by producing a less-wholesome or "fake" pollen that looks like its male counterparts but lacks the same nutritional reward.
Scientific Papers
PĂ©rezâdeâLis et al. characterized the space-for-time association in the tree rings of three conifer species by examining the duration, overlapping, inter-tree synchronicity and interannual stability during cell enlargement and wall thickening across regular tree-ring sectors (portions of equal tangential width). Increasing the number of sectors had a stronger effect on enhancing time-series resolution for enlargement- than for wall-thickening-related traits, which would nevertheless produce more reliable intra-annual chronologies as a result of the more similar calendars across trees and years in wall thickening.
Huang et al. argue that low-oxygen-induced changes to cellular ion homeostasis and operation of membrane transporters may be critical for cell fate determination and formation of the lysigenous aerenchyma in plant roots and shaping the root architecture and adventitious root development in grasses. They summarize the existing evidence for a causal link between tissue-specific changes in oxygen concentration, intracellular Ca2+ and K+ homeostasis, and reactive oxygen species levels, and their role in conferring those two major traits enabling plant adaptation to a low-oxygen environment. They conclude that, for efficient operation, plants may rely on several complementary signalling pathway mechanisms that operate in concert and âfine-tuneâ each other.
A toolkit to rapidly modify root systems through single plant selection
Rambla et al. present a useful framework to rapidly modify root traits in elite germplasm. In this wheat exemplar, a single plant selection (SPS) approach combined three main elements: phenotypic selection (in this case for seminal root angle); Maerker Assisted Selection using KASP markers (targeting a root biomass QTL); and speed breeding to accelerate each cycle.
Photosynthesis: Oxygen overload A structure that helps algae photosynthesize when carbon dioxide levels are low may also play a role during hyperoxia conditions.
Sixteenth-century tomatoes in Europe: who saw them, what they looked like, and where they came from
van Andel et al. show that the earliest tomatoes in Europe came in a much wider variety of colors, shapes and sizes than previously thought, with both simple and fasciated flowers, round and segmented fruits.
Intracellular bound chlorophyll residues identify 1 Gyr-old fossils as eukaryotic algae â www.nature.com
Sforna et al. report a new integrative methodology using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence and absorption. They evidence bound nickel-geoporphyrins moieties in low-grade metamorphic rocks, preserved in situ within cells of a ~1 Gyr-old multicellular eukaryote, Arctacellularia tetragonala. They identify these moieties as chlorophyll derivatives, indicating that A. tetragonala was a phototrophic eukaryote, one of the first unambiguous algae.
Impacts of global change on the phyllosphere microbiome
Zhu et al. aim to provide a synthesis of current knowledge of the complex interactions between plants and the phyllosphere microbiome under global changes and to identify future priority areas of research on this topic.
Flooding causes severe crop losses in many parts of the world. Genetic variation in flooding tolerance exists in many species; however, there are few examples for the identification of tolerance genes and their underlying function. Meng et al. conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 387 Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accessions. Plants were subjected to prolonged submergence followed by desubmergence, and seven traits (score, water content, Fv/Fm, and concentrations of nitrate, chlorophyll, protein, and starch) were quantified to characterize their acclimation responses. These traits showed substantial variation across the range of accessions. A total of 35 highly significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified across the 20 GWA data sets, pointing to 22 candidate genes, with functions in TCA cycle, DNA modification, and cell division.
Activation of the plant mevalonate pathway by extracellular ATP â www.nature.com The mevalonate pathway plays a critical role in multiple cellular processes in both animals and plants. In plants, the products of this pathway impact growth and development, as well as the response to environmental stress. A forward genetic screen of Arabidopsis thaliana using Ca2+-imaging identified mevalonate kinase (MVK) as a critical component of plant purinergic signaling.
Genetic basis and dual adaptive role of floral pigmentation in sunflowers
Todesco et al. analyse the genetic and environmental factors that underlie patterns of floral pigmentation in wild sunflowers. While sunflower inflorescences appear invariably yellow to the human eye, they display extreme diversity for patterns of ultraviolet pigmentation, which are visible to most pollinators. We show that this diversity is largely controlled by cis-regulatory variation affecting a single MYB transcription factor, HaMYB111, through accumulation of ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing flavonol glycosides in ligules (the âpetalsâ of sunflower inflorescences). Different patterns of ultraviolet pigments in flowers are strongly correlated with pollinator preferences.
Linking root exudation to belowground economic traits for resource acquisition
The concept of a root economics space (RES) is increasingly adopted to explore root trait variation and belowground resource-acquisition strategies. Much progress has been made on interactions of root morphology and mycorrhizal symbioses. However, root exudation, with a significant carbon (C) cost (c. 5â21% of total photosynthetically fixed C) to enhance resource acquisition, remains a missing link in this RES. Wen et al. argue that incorporating root exudation into the structure of RES is key to a holistic understanding of soil nutrient acquisition.
Plants protect themselves from herbivores by optimizing the distribution of chemical defenses â www.pnas.org Plants, as a whole, are well stocked with chemical defense compounds that function in protection against herbivores and pathogens. Within individual plants, however, there is extensive variation in the amounts of chemical defenses among different organs, tissues, and developmental stages. For example, defense compounds are typically present in greater concentrations in young compared to old leaves and in reproductive compared to vegetative organs. These patterns have been rationalized by various theories, chief among them the optimal defense theory, but this theory has proved very difficult to test until a recent report from Hunziker et al. (1).
Careers
Understanding the effects of changing temperatures on seed dormancy, seed quality and seed conservation In this project the successful student will investigate how temperature during seed production affects properties of seeds in the Brassica family, working closely with scientists at the John Innes centre and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. You will investigate how temperature affects the levels of key dormancy-inducing proteins in seeds as they desiccate at the end of seed development, and identify variation in Brassica family species that affects their germination or storage properties.
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Grain Development We seek an exceptional developmental molecular geneticist to join the laboratory of Dr. Sarah McKim (Division of Plant Sciences) as a Postdoctoral Research Associate to study grain development in barley.
Postdoctoral Job in Plant Bioinformatics Postdoctoral position in Bioinformatics (m/f/d) The Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich is one of the largest and most renowned universities in Germany. The established group âGenome Plasticity and Computational Geneticsâ managed by Korbinian Schneeberger is focused on plant genomics, specifically on the development of novel computational and biotechnological methods for the analysis of genome sequences. The group is located at the Faculty of Biology at the LMU in Munich, with a part of the group working at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany. We are currently searching for a postdoc for our location at the MPI in Cologne.
Ecology field technician The Hallett Lab is seeking to fill three plant ecology field technician positions for Spring and Summer 2022 to assist with plant monitoring, sampling, and sample processing of a large field experiment in the Sierra foothill grasslands of Northern California. This is a full-time seasonal position expected to run from mid-March through mid-September, though start and end dates are flexible.
PhD Student This PhD project aims at investigating global variation of plant functional traits on islands and the role of island characteristics on the functional diversity and functional composition of island floras worldwide. The PhD student will work with Holger Kreft and other researchers of the DFG-funded research unit âDynaCom - Spatial community ecology in highly dynamic landscapes: from island biogeography to metaecosystemsâ. The position is based in the Department of Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography at the University of Göttingen.
The Department of Plant Sciences is seeking to recruit a Research Assistant to work under the supervision of Dr Laura Moody. The post is funded by the Royal Society for one year, and the work will be conducted in the 3D growth group in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford The postholder will support ongoing research that aims to unravel the mechanisms underpinning 3D apical growth.Â
Senior Plant Scientist, Biological Research and Development You will be employed with Flash Forest as a Senior Plant Scientist for Biological Research and Development. As a Senior Plant Scientist, you will be researching and developing scalable seed vessel technology for native tree species from boreal and temperate environments. This role will require an analytical mind, creativity, and a foundation of plant biology, soil science, and ecology.
Post-Doctoral Research Scientist - Molecular Plant Pathology/Biochemistry An excellent opportunity has arisen for a post-doctoral research scientist to work on a 4-year, BBSRC-funded project to define the signalling network linking fungal pathogen infection, specific fungal effectors and their first host targets to asparagine accumulation in wheat grain.
Scientist in the area âModule planning and knowledge transfer of small scale aquaponicsâ
The scientist will be part of the research group HORTSYS-Controlled environment horticultural systems. One of the growing areas in this research group is the combined cultivation of different organisms as is done in aquaponics. In the IGP-project Aquaponik:Mobile, we participates as partner within a small German-African consortium. We use our modelling skills for knowledge transfer in planning and installing small-scale aquaponics units in Namibia. Concepts for remote teaching of aquaponics system planning and system running will be created and applied. Together with our lead German partner Terra Urbana we will research on creating teaching modules for potential aquaponics farmers in Africa.
Fire Ecology Field Technician & Botanist Positions The Stephens Wildland Fire Lab at UC Berkeley is seeking a field crew of six employees to conduct fire ecology, forestry, botany, and bat acoustic surveys for the summer of 2022. The work will support two fire ecology studies and represent an opportunity to gain varied experience in some of Californiaâs most dynamic and beautiful landscapes.Â
Fungarium Collections Manager This is an exciting opportunity to join Kewâs Science Collections team, with responsibility for maintaining and developing high standards in the management and care of Kewâs internationally important Fungarium collection, which holds an estimated 1.25 million dried fungi specimens. It is one of the worldâs most comprehensive mycological reference collections, containing many specimens of historical and scientific importance.
Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research - Assistant or Associate Professor of Cellular Biology at University of Georgia The Department of Cellular Biology at the University of Georgia invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in Cell Biology Education, beginning August 1, 2022. The successful candidate will teach an upper-level undergraduate cell biology course and conduct externally-funded research in biology education. The candidate will benefit from interactions with several tenured faculty in the Division of Biological Sciences whose research area is biology education.
2-year post-doctoral scholarship on arctic plant-fungal interactions We are looking for a post-doc to come and work with us within a project exploring how expanding subarctic shrubs and trees interact with ectomycorrhizal fungi under climatic changes. The post docâs project focuses specifically on how these plant-fungal interactions effect plant functional trait responses to climate change and may regulate tundra ecosystem functioning.
Post-doc Modelling root-shoot signals and tip burn We are hiring a postdoc, who will use a Functional-Structural Plant (FSP) modelling approach to gain fundamental understanding of two plant physiological phenomena relevant in the context of vertical farming:(i) root-shoot signaling and (ii) tip-burn.
Technical Team Leader of the Danish System of Scientific Collections (DaSSCo) The Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen is leading a new project to digitize Danish natural history collections and is looking for a fixed-term Technical Team Leader. The position is available from 14th March 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter and will run until 31st August 2026.
Data Manager of the Danish System of Scientific Collections (DaSSCo) The Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen is leading a new project to digitize Danish natural history collections and is looking for a fixed-term Data Manager. The position is available from 14th March 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter and will run for 2 years, with the possibility of extension.
Registrar and Accreditation Manager This fixed term, three-year post will work closely with the Head of Science Collections and Head of Library and Archives to develop Kewâs policies and procedures to ensure that Kewâs collections are well curated and managed in accordance with best practice. The post holder will be responsible for formulating and implementing the adoption of standards across Kewâs science, library and illustration collections managed by the Science Directorate with an initial focus on leading Kewâs application to achieve Museum Accreditation for the Herbarium, Fungarium, Economic Botany and Illustrations collections.  This is an exciting opportunity to shape the processes and accreditation framework for one of the worldâs most important collections of plants and fungi.
Research Associate-Fixed Term The Gilbert Lab (www.gilbertlab.weebly.com) at Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) is seeking to fill a postdoctoral research associate position to assist with projects addressing questions involving ecological, evolutionary, and physiological dimensions of plant-microbe and plant-arthropod interactions. A key project will involve the use of transcriptomic data to examine the molecular basis of differing pH regulation ability across various host plant species, as well as the effects on their phylloplane microbiomes.
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