October 11, 2021

🌱TWiB October 11, 2021

Over the week a computer scans the stories shared by people following @BotanyOne on Twitter. It means when I don't, because I have a cold, for example, something is still watching. And then I can collate the links at the weekend. Unfortunately this week something broke in the system - unless the world decided Wiley wasn't publishing anything of interest and I missed the memo.

It seems to be a different symptom each day, so on a day when I'm sneezing - but don't have the headache - I'll try to track down what the problem is and fix it. I'll try to have it done so there's a slightly more representative selection next week.

Alun (webmaster@botany.one)

In Botany One

Phenotypic plasticity to nutrient availability in a wetland invasive species — www.botany.one Are triploid Butomus umbellatus plants more plastic to nutrient availability than diploid plants and does this make them more invasive?

The mangroves the ice left behind — www.botany.one In the waters of a river in Tabasco grows a population of red mangrove: a lost world whose origins can be traced back to the last glaciation.

Virtual vineyards allow simulation studies of grapevine management practices — www.botany.one Computational models simulate grapevine management and provide information on how this affects canopy light absorption.

What happens when pollinators bring the wrong pollen? — www.botany.one Surely once insects have brought pollen to a flower, then plant-plant interaction is over? Not so, says Gerardo Arceo-Gómez, who argues that heterospecific (or other plants') pollen arriving in a flower might affect plant diversity.

Formal schooling reduces how well young people know the edible plants of their region — www.botany.one For young people in this community, stepping into a classroom might mean knowing less about their flora.

Improving gene regulatory network models with RNA levels in absolute units — www.botany.one Recalibrating models using absolute – instead of relative - mass units makes it possible to test modelled transcription rates against biochemical data.

News & Views

Illegal mining in the Amazon hits record high amid Indigenous protests — www.nature.com Satellite data confirm incursions on protected lands as Indigenous people fight for their rights — and recognition of their role in conserving forests.

The flower clock: How a small protein helps flowers to develop right and on time Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology and Nanjing University find that KNUCKLES, a small multi-functional protein, supports the correct timing of floral development for the proper formation of flower reproductive organs

Bizarre mangrove forest far from the coast offers clues to future sea level rise The 100,000-year-old forest shows that seas have been dozens of feet higher than today, a warning of how much they could rise with climate change.

Colour me better: fixing figures for colour blindness — www.nature.com Images can be made more accessible by choosing hues, shapes and textures carefully.

Featured Book: Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology Sophien Kamoun briefly introduces the inspiring book “Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology”, published by the American Phytopathological Society and edited by Jean Ristaino.

Stink bug discovery raises fears of threat to crops — www.bbc.co.uk A stink bug that can spoil crops and infest homes has been trapped in Surrey as part of a monitoring study.

Yeast and bacteria together biosynthesize plant hormones for weed control Plants regulate their growth and development using hormones, including a group called strigolactones that prevent excessive budding and branching. For the first time, scientists led by UC Riverside have synthesized strigolactones from microbes. The work is published in the open-access journal, Science Advances.

The Amazon rainforest is losing 200,000 acres a day. Soon it will be too late Since 1988, humans have destroyed an area of rainforest roughly the size of Texas and New Mexico combined

Scientific Papers

ONTbarcoder and MinION barcodes aid biodiversity discovery and identification by everyone, for everyone

DNA barcodes are a useful tool for discovering, understanding, and monitoring biodiversity which are critical tasks at a time of rapid biodiversity loss. However, widespread adoption of barcodes requires cost-effective and simple barcoding methods. Srivathsan and colleagues present a workflow that satisfies these conditions. It was developed via “innovation through subtraction” and thus requires minimal lab equipment, can be learned within days, reduces the barcode sequencing cost to < 10 cents, and allows fast turnaround from specimen to sequence by using the portable MinION sequencer.

Tissue-level transcriptomic responses to local and distal chilling reveal potential chilling survival mechanisms in maize — academic.oup.com

Chilling is a major stress to plants of subtropical and tropical origins, including maize (Zea mays L.). To reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying chilling tolerance and survival in maize, Xue et al. investigated transcriptomic responses to chilling stress in differentiated leaves and roots as well as in crowns with meristem activity. The application of chilling stress to shoots or roots each contributed to seedling lethality in maize.

Explainable machine learning models of major crop traits from satellite-monitored continent-wide field trial data

Newman and Furbank assemble and analyse a continent-wide database of field experiments spanning 10 years and hundreds of thousands of machine-phenotyped populations of ten major crop species. Training an ensemble of machine learning models, using thousands of variables capturing weather, ground sensor, soil, chemical and fertilizer dosage, management and satellite data, produces robust cross-continent yield models exceeding R2 = 0.8 prediction accuracy. In contrast to ‘black box’ analytics, detailed interrogation of these models reveals drivers of crop behaviour and complex interactions predicting yield and agronomic traits. These results demonstrate the capacity of machine learning models to interrogate large datasets, generate new and testable outputs and predict crop behaviour, highlighting the powerful role of data in the future of food.

SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 are negative regulators of leaf and fruit growth in tomato

Swinnen et al. used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to target SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 in the asterid model species tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and analyzed loss-of-function phenotypes. Loss of function of SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 led to the production of enlarged, dome-shaped leaves and these leaves exhibited increased expression of putative SlPPD target genes. Unexpectedly, kix8 kix9 mutants carried enlarged fruits with increased pericarp thickness due to cell expansion. At the molecular level, protein interaction assays indicated that SlKIX8 and SlKIX9 act as adaptors between the SlPPD and SlTOPLESS co-repressor proteins.

A transcriptional complex of NGATHA and bHLH transcription factors directs stigma development in Arabidopsis

Ballester et al. show that the NGATHA (NGA) and HECATE (HEC) transcription factors, which are involved in different developmental processes but are both essential for stigma development, require each other to perform this function. This relationship is likely mediated by their physical interaction in the apical gynoecium. NGA/HEC transcription factors subsequently upregulate INDEHISCENT (IND) and SPATULA and are indispensable for the binding of IND to some of its targets to allow stigma differentiation.

Mangroves are an overlooked hotspot of insect diversity despite low plant diversity

The world’s fast disappearing mangrove forests have low plant diversity and are often assumed to also have a species-poor insect fauna. Yeo et al. compare the tropical arthropod fauna across a freshwater swamp and six different forest types (rain-, swamp, dry-coastal, urban, freshwater swamp, mangroves) based on 140,000 barcoded specimens belonging to ca. 8500 species.

Fire risk and severity decline with stand development in Tasmanian giant Eucalyptus forest

Furlaud et al. use a chronosequence of tall wet Eucalyptus forest stands in southeast Tasmania, Australia, to see how fuels, microclimate, and resulting fire risk and potential fire severity changed amongst four stand-development stages ranging from regrowth to old forests. They measured fuel loads, understorey microclimate, and forest physiognomy. They then used these data with historical fire weather data and fire behaviour models to estimate how often low- and high-severity fire was possible historically.

Microscopy and chemical analyses reveal flavone-based woolly fibres extrude from micron-sized holes in glandular trichomes of Dionysia tapetodes

Dionysia tapetodes, a small cushion-forming mountainous evergreen in the Primulaceae, possesses a vast surface-covering of long silky fibres forming the characteristic “woolly” farina. This contrasts with some related Primula which instead form a fine powder. Farina is formed by specialized cellular factories, a type of glandular trichome, but the precise composition of the fibres and how it exits the cell is poorly understood. Using a combination of cell biology (electron and light microscopy) and analytical chemical techniques, Bourdon et al. present the principal chemical components of the wool and its mechanism of exit from the glandular trichome.

Capacity of soil bacteria to reach the phyllosphere and convergence of floral communities despite soil microbiota variation

The role of flowers as environmental filters for bacterial communities and the provenance of bacteria in the phyllosphere are currently poorly understood. We experimentally tested the effect of induced variation in soil communities on the microbiota of plant organs. Massoni et al. identified soil-derived bacteria in the phyllosphere and show a strong convergence of floral communities with an enrichment of members of the Burkholderiaceae family. This finding highlights a potential role of the flower in shaping the interaction between plants and a bacterial family known to harbor both plant pathogens and growth-promoting strains

Plant herbivore protection by arbuscular mycorrhizas: A role for fungal diversity?

The vast majority of plants in nature have mycorrhizas, so any understanding of how plants defend themselves from insect herbivores is incomplete without considering their AM fungi. Frew et al. touch on how AM fungi can affect plant defences, and how that these effects differ between AM fungal taxa.

Careers

Ten postdoctoral fellowships on MSCA-COFUND project “AGenT”

The MSCA-COFUND project AGenT (Agricultural Genomics Transversal) postdoctoral programme is advertising ten two-year postdoctoral positions in its 2021 call, the second call of the programme. AGenT is an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral programme that combines the four scientific programmes at CRAG (Plant Development and Signal Transduction; Plant Responses to Stress; Plant Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering; and Plant and Animal Genomics).

Assistant Professor - Evolutionary Genomics The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at the University of Kansas seeks a tenure-track assistant professor in Evolutionary Genomics. The department is particularly interested in candidates applying cutting edge genomic approaches in emerging model or non-model systems to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. Research examples include genome evolution, genomic responses to climate change and/or species interactions, the genetic and developmental basis of complex traits, and mechanisms underlying speciation and biodiversity.

Oferta contratos en proyecto de investigación sobre biodiversidad, genética, epigenética y perturbaciones en el CIDE (Valencia) Se buscan candidatos/as para trabajar en un proyecto de investigación PROMETEO financiado por la Generalitat Valenciana y relacionado con biodiversidad en ecosistemas mediterráneos (proyecto FocScales: Fuego y biodiversidad a diferentes escalas). El proyecto se desarrolla principalmente en el Centro de Investigación sobre Desertificación (CIDE, CSIC, Valencia), junto con investigadores de la Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD, CSIC, Sevilla), el Real Jardín Botánico (RJB, CSIC, Madrid), la Universitat de València y la Universidad de Cádiz.

Ph.D. Position in Plant Immune Signalling and Ubiquitination Applications are invited for a Ph.D. position to join the Group of Marco Trujillo at the University of Freiburg. Research in the Trujillo lab (www.trujillolab.com) focuses on understanding ubiquitin signalling and its roles in the regulation of immune responses, as well as general protein homeostasis. Previous and ongoing research in the lab has uncovered key roles of ubiquitination in the regulation intracellular vesicle transport and its interplay with signalling networks triggered by receptor kinases.

Post-doctoral position in Forest Economics: Bioeconomics of Green Infrastructure Jobs and vacancies at SLU. Read more about each job by clicking the job title. Please, follow the instructions closely when applying.

Forum Editor The New Phytologist Foundation is seeking an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join our team as Forum Editor for New Phytologist. This post holder will take ownership of the Forum section of the journal; tasked specifically with developing and redefining the look and feel of the section in addition to writing, commissioning and editing content.

Call for Applications for Editor-in-Chief The Botanical Society of America (BSA) is soliciting applications for the position of Editor-in-Chief of Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS), the Society’s first fully Open Access journal, dedicated to the rapid dissemination of newly developed, innovative tools and protocols in all areas of the plant sciences. The five-year term will begin in early 2022. Both direct applications and nominations of others are welcomed.

Lecturer, Senior Lecturer or Reader, School of Life Sciences We are now looking to appoint a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer or Reader to join any one of our research groups. These groups are Protein Structure and Mechanisms of Disease, Genomics and Computational Biology, Ecology and Environmental Microbiology and Plant Productivity.   However, we particularly encourage applicants with a skillset and research interests which complement and expand those of the current Plant Productivity group, including photosynthesis, plant molecular physiology, plant environmental stress, plant genomics and crop science.

Research Plant Physiologist/Horticulturalist/Agronomist The incumbent conducts research on abiotic stresses of hops and is assigned to the USDA-ARS Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis, Oregon. They work within a team that includes two Research Geneticists and a Research Plant Pathologist to advance hop production and use.

PhD in crop and weed ecology The candidate will be placed in the Crop & Weed Ecology Group (CWE) of Wageningen University, Plant Sciences. We do research on the ecology and management of crops, diseases and weeds. We study plant form and adaptation, and ecological processes from plant to landscape scale. We thereby contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural systems that provide high yields with a minimal ecological footprint and that maximally benefit from and contribute to natural biodiversity and its associated ecosystem functions. The PhD will contribute to the quantitative ecology theme of the group, and particularly to the areas of functional diversity in crops  and weed ecology.

Professor in Forest pathology Jobs and vacancies at SLU. Read more about each job by clicking the job title. Please, follow the instructions closely when applying.

Technical Officer

Excellent opportunity to contribute to research programs within the Wildlife Ecology Section of the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. To be successful in the role you will have experience in undertaking fauna surveys using a variety of techniques, and the ability to work independently to plan and undertake field trips, an appropriate tertiary qualification in fauna ecology or equivalent, and experience in organising and working with small teams, sometimes in difficult and remote settings, with good organisational and communication skills.

Post-doctoral researcher in agricultural or development economics (f,m,d) The research group “Economic Development and Food Security” in the programme area “Plant Quality and Food Security” at IGZ analyses the role of individuals, groups and institutions in creating, shaping and overcoming malnutrition and food insecurity and how food demand responds to rapidly changing institutions and environments. We do so by collecting and analysing micro-level survey data (for example as part of the Life with Corona consortium), implementing impact evaluations and conducting behavioural experiments.

Research Associate in Single Cell Analysis (Fixed Term)

Applications are invited for a post-doctoral research associate in Single Cell Analysis to work with Prof Uta Paszkowski at the Crop Science Centre, starting in January 2022. The projected work will involve a high-resolution metagenomics approach combined with functional validation in rice. Applicants must have a solid background in plant molecular genetics; available knowledge in basic bioinformatics, would be advantageous.

Assistant Professor, Soils, Ecosystems and Global Change (UPDATED) The Department of Environmental Science (ENVS) is searching for an outstanding candidate to join our diverse and interdisciplinary faculty as a tenure-track Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will fill an exciting new research and teaching position focused on the interface of soil science, plant biology, global change, and sustainable above- and below-ground biomass production and carbon storage in relation to climate challenges and drought. We are particularly interested in candidates who characterize landscape structure and function at regional to global scales as affected by changing climate, with application to adaptation and mitigation measures.

Assistant Professor of Biology The successful candidate will be able to teach students from diverse backgrounds in introductory botany, plant taxonomy, aquatic botany, and have an active role in managing the BSU herbarium. The candidate should also be able to develop an externally funded research program that will advance the research opportunities of undergraduate and graduate students while complementing and collaborating with current faculty in the Department of Biology. 

Research Assistant (Østergaard Group) An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research Assistant to join the Østergaard Group, working on cutting-edge science in the field of grain legumes. The Østergaard group are in the process of establishing a highly ambitious research programme in grain legumes.

INR Research Associate The Botany Program Manager is responsible for the management of botanical conservation programs at the Institute for Natural Resources – Portland (INR-PDX) and the Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank, part of PSU’s Department of Environmental Science and Management. INR-PDX work includes managing information on the status and trends of all native at-risk plant species in Oregon, managing the plant conservation research at INR-PDX, and assisting the INR-PDX Director in obtaining grants and contracts to support these programs. Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank responsibilities include managing the seed bank’s Plant Conservation Program and obtaining grants, contracts, and donations to support its work. The Botany Program Manager will help guide plant conservation in Oregon by collaborating with botanists at the PSU and OSU herbaria, the Oregon Flora Project, and state and federal agencies.

Postdoctoral Research Associate The Arceo-Gomez lab at East Tennessee State University is seeking a highly motivated, independent researcher for a postdoctoral position. The position is part of the NSF funded project “Uncovering the mechanisms driving co-flowering community assembly: integrating flowering and floral trait distribution patterns via a novel use of network analysis”.  The position is initially for one year but it can be renewed for at least one more additional year. This is a non-tenure, non-convertible research track position

Freelance Scientific Social Media Officer eLife is looking for a freelance Scientific Social Media Officer to work with our new Communities team and help support eLife’s efforts to reoptimize peer review. Motivated to help improve how research is reported and evaluated, you will have primary responsibility for using social media to help bring the "publish, then review" model to life in a way that benefits the broader research community.

Soil Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Scientist This role will contribute to field and laboratory biogeochemistry for a range of experiments to address questions about climate, land use change and terrestrial biogeochemical cycles. This is a fantastic training position and therefore would suit someone who is looking to develop their skill set in this area. There will be opportunities to develop your skills through this programme over the 3 years.

Tenure-Track Faculty The Biology Department at Indiana University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position, beginning in fall 2022, in the broad area of plant growth and development. We seek candidates using molecular, cellular, biochemical and/or genetic approaches to understand developmental and/or physiological processes at a mechanistic level.

Assistant Professor- Plant Biochemistry

As part of UC Davis’ commitment to hire leading research faculty with an outstanding commitment to research, teaching, and service who will promote the success of all students, including historically underserved and marginalized student communities, and address the needs of our increasingly diverse state and student population, the College of Biological Sciences announces a 9-month, tenure track Assistant Professor Position in the Department of Plant Biology.

Tenure-track Assistant professor in Plant Diversity and Ecology

The Department of Plant and Environmental Science (PLEN), University of Copenhagen invites applications for a Tenure-track Assistant Professor within the field of Plant Diversity and Ecology with start 1 May 2022, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is in the Section for Organismal Biology.

Assistant Professor - Integrative Biology We seek an Evolutionary Biologist to fill a 9-month, tenure-earning, full-time Assistant Professor position beginning August 2022. Research may be empirical or theoretical, field- or lab-based, on any system from microbes to communities. Appropriate disciplinary specialties may include but are not limited to evolutionary ecology, phylogenetics, biogeography, genome evolution, evolutionary modeling, behavioral evolution, or population genetics. USF is located near diverse terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems set in natural, urban, and agricultural environments, in both tropical and subtropical climate zones; our location thus provides varied opportunities to study evolutionary patterns and processes.

Assistant Professor - Integrative Biology The Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba invites applications for a full-time tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of plant genomics and genetics. The candidate will lead a research program in Brassica genetics and genomics, and conduct both basic and applied research in the same area. The position start date is January 1, 2022, or as soon as possible thereafter. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

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