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Plants

05/14/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Plants starved for energy found to resort to “self-cannibalism” by breaking down and consuming cells from their own leaves for survival

Plants will do just about anything to survive, and according to researchers at Tohoku University, that includes turning to autophagy – or destroying its own cells – and getting much-needed amino acids to survive energy-starved “hunger” conditions. The results of the study, published in Plant & Cell Physiology, also looked at how autophagy can be manipulated to […]

05/05/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Sunlight reflected from pavement injures plants, stunting their growth

On a really hot day, you can feel the heat rising from the pavement. And if it’s painful for you, it’s even more hurtful for plants that can’t move to shadier places. According to an article in the International Journal of Urban Forestry, pavements can re-radiate so much heat from reflected sunlight that nearby plants can […]

05/03/2018 / By David Williams

New soil science study shows how plants release specific metabolites that enrich productivity

It’s well-understood that most plants rely heavily on the condition of the soil on which they are planted, and that the microbes that are present in the soil itself affect the overall health of the plant as it grows. Now a new study performed by scientists from the Department of Energy‘s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory […]

03/27/2018 / By David Williams

Reusing CO2: Scientists are closer to converting it to clean energy

Nature emits carbon dioxide (CO2) as part of many different natural processes. Plants are known to take them in as a necessary ingredient in photosynthesis, and it benefits the Earth in a lot of different ways, such as accelerating plant growth and food production. Although the planet’s CO2 levels are currently near record lows throughout […]

03/22/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Birds help produce rare wild chili peppers through symbiotic relationships

A study conducted by researchers from Iowa State University revealed that a certain species of birds helps chili peppers grow in the wild. According to the researchers, the data from their study helped them learn more about “a mutualistic, or mutually beneficial, relationship between birds and chili peppers in the Mariana Islands.” Haldre Rogers, an assistant professor […]

03/18/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Natural, inexpensive AND more effective: Phosphate rock confirmed to be an effective fertilizer for acidic soils

In western Kenya, the main economic activity is farming. This has, however, become increasingly difficult an endeavor in recent years due to deplorable soil conditions and pricey traditional fertilizers. Triple superphosphate (TSP), one of the most popular and widely used fertilizers, has to be imported from Moroccan mines, making it far too expensive for west […]

03/15/2018 / By Vicki Batts

Another climate concern debunked: Amazon rainforest trees found to be surprisingly drought resistant

Amazon rain forests are an integral part of the Earth’s ecosystem. As Louis Santiago, a professor of Botany & Plant Sciences from the University of California at Riverside contends, “Because of its sheer size, what happens in the Amazon affects the whole world.” While climate change alarmists have claimed that the lush forests of the Amazon […]

03/10/2018 / By David Williams

Zeolites improve crop growth in soil contaminated by industrial waste and heavy metals

Soils that have been contaminated with heavy metals are not optimal for pretty much any kind of crop. However, a new study revealed that making one simple change could turn things around. Researchers from the Agricultural University of Tirana have discovered that the simple addition of natural zeolite can serve as an effective method for the […]

01/20/2018 / By Russel Davis

Repurposing food supply “waste” has many benefits: Farmers in Turkey are using the husks of hazelnuts as mulch, preserving water and reducing labor

Hazelnut husks showed efficacy as mulching materials in nurseries and gardening applications of ornamental plants, according to a study published in the Journal of International Scientific Publications. The study, carried out by a researcher at the Düzce University in Turkey, took advantage of the large amounts of hazelnut husks produced in the Duzce region in the northwestern part of Turkey during […]

12/11/2017 / By David Williams

How do plants know when it floods? Recent research reveals how plants sense increased levels of water

Just how important are a plants roots to its survival? What might seem like a stupid question at first will actually surprise you if you start to look at it closely. Researchers from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) looked into how plants are able to sense […]

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