Botany One

New research uncovers how this South African plant tricks kleptoparasitic flies into pollination by imitating wounded honey bees. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/emceropegia-gerrardii-em-smells-of-pain-to-attract-blood-drinking-flies/ You can read the original research at https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nph.18888

Using a mathematical model to test a proposed cambial cell division feedback loop. You can read this post online at https://botany.one/2023/03/what-drives-cambium-development   You can read the original research at https://doi.org/10.1093/insilicoplants/diad003

Marginal habitats, previously thought to be subsets of the rain forest, have distinct evolutionary paths, challenging our understanding of the Atlantic Forest’s diversity. You can read the story at https://botany.one/2023/03/unique-evolutionary-histories-in-marginal-habitats-of-the-atlantic-forest-uncovered/ You can read the original research at https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/131/2/261/66828...

A flower has found a shortcut to attracting males through sexual deception. You can read the story at https://botany.one/2023/03/daisys-intricate-fly-decoy-attracts-pollinators-with-ingenious-gene-repurposing/ You can read the original research at https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.003

New system harnesses randomness and provides a unique code that cannot be duplicated, bringing hope to farmers plagued by fake seeds. You can read the story at https://botany.one/2023/03/mit-researchers-develop-silk-based-unclonable-tags-to-combat-counterfeit-seeds/ You can read the original research at https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adf1978

Models enable the optimization of multiple trait trade-offs. You can read this post online at https://botany.one/2023/03/unlocking-the-secret-to-breeding-high-yielding-protein-rich-wheat You can read the original research at https://doi.org/10.1093/insilicoplants/diad002

A study finds that almost 60% of nectar produced by ivy in autumn goes uncollected by pollinators. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/a-bounty-of-wasted-pollen-and-nectar-poses-new-questions-for-pollinator-conservation/ You can read the original research at https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/een.13231

Since the release of the first plant genome in 2000, the field of next-generation sequencing applied to botanical species has bloomed and expanded from model organism ( Arabidopsis thaliana ) to crops, thus becoming a powerful tool to guide progress towards a more sustainable agriculture.  Read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/botanical-genomics-to-boost-sustainable-agriculture-the...

Scientists are exploring a new way to improve food security in the face of climate change by studying "feral crops" - wild plants that have escaped cultivation and continue to thrive without human intervention.  You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/feral-crops-the-untapped-potential-to-boost-food-security-amid-climate-change/ You can read the original article at https://np...

Plants that can reproduce by cloning themselves can share resources and signals to resist herbivores. Clones can change the structure of their leaves according to herbivore stress through the connections between them. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/clonal-plants-use-smart-connections-to-boost-resistance-against-hungry-insects/ You can read the original research at https:/...

Limited funding and resources are preventing seed banks from fully using their seed collections to conserve endangered plants. Read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/seeds-of-hope-sit-unused-in-storage/ Read the research at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320723000915

Native plants that suffer when black mustard invades their patch do much better when a neighbour helps. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/how-native-plants-team-up-to-repel-invaders/ You can read the original research at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11258-023-01304-6

Water Hyacinths can help clean up polluted water when grown in artificial wetlands, but nanoplastic pollution could dramatically reduce their efficiency. Read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/nanoplastics-threaten-plants-ability-to-clean-up-industrial-waste/  Read the original research at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389423004223

Scientists have discovered that the reason why some radish plants take longer to flower than others is that different copies of certain genes that control flowering time, can interact in complicated ways with each other, leading to differences in plant blooms. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/03/from-flowering-related-genes-to-your-plate-the-science-behind-optimizing-radish-yi...

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Botany One highlights nine historical figures who made great contributions to Botany – from the first pioneering plant illustrators and species collectors to recent Nobel prize winners. With their talent and hard work, these brilliant women participated in adventurous botanical expeditions, launched courageous initiatives for biodiversity conservation and pa...

Ecologists with a burning desire to protect forests have grim news for the western United States. Read the blog post: https://botany.one/2023/03/ecologists-spark-hope-of-protecting-western-american-forests-from-the-worst-of-wildfires/ Read the original research: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2208120120

Plant modelers do not also need to be software engineers thanks to Cropbox framework You can read this post online at https://botany.one/2023/03/introducing-cropbox-a-declarative-crop-modeling-framework/ You can read the original research at https://doi.org/10.1093/insilicoplants/diac021

Carrying dengue fever and Zika virus, the Asian tiger mosquito is a danger to humans. Italian scientists have examined whether plants could help reduce their numbers. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/02/set-a-killer-to-catch-a-killer/ You can read the original research at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104996442300035X

From couch potatoes sprout potential botanists. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/02/watching-tv-is-good-for-the-planet/ You can read the original research at https://academic.oup.com/aob/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aob/mcac149/6993916

Molinia caerulea out-wrestles Quercus petraea in the battle for better ectomycorrhizal colonization. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/02/purple-moor-grass-prevents-oaks-from-getting-help-finding-nutrients/ You can read the original research at https://academic.oup.com/aobpla/article/15/2/plac043/6730718

Modelling unveils the role of photorespiration in stabilizing the Calvin cycle. You can read this post online at https://botany.one/2023/02/is-photorespiration-necessary-for-photosynthesis You can read the original research at https://doi.org/10.1093/insilicoplants/diac022

A bee can approach a flower from any direction, but markings on the flower help guide bees in the most effective way, like a natural air traffic control. Read the post at https://botany.one/2023/01/flowers-play-a-key-role-in-flight-control-for-bumblebees/ Read the original research at https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14262

The flower, first discovered over 150 years ago, has yielded new clues from its pollen. You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/01/botanists-say-the-largest-amber-preserved-flower-is-a-new-species/

The Titan arum produces a smell like rotting flesh. Now botanists have analysed the chemicals and found that the smell changes over the two days that the plant flowers. Read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/01/how-does-the-corpse-flowers-scent-change-over-time/ Read the original research at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-27108-8

If you wonder how cool cool is, it's at least -196 ℃ (-320 ℉). You can read the blog post at https://botany.one/2023/01/botanists-find-a-cool-way-to-preserve-an-endangered-plants-seeds/ You can read the original research at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.01.002