Blushing flowers

Blushing flowers Some flowers shift colour after pollination. In this way they signal to pollinators here is nothing more to get. Now Chinese and American researches discovered which gene is regulating this in Lotus species. The flowers of Lotus japonicus and Lotus filicaulis are both yellow. Only one of those, L. filicaulis, colours a blushingContinue reading “Blushing flowers”

Extra protection

Extra protection To prevent that everything and everyone can just entre plant roots have an extra lignin layer to protect  their vascular tissue. But lots of plants have in addition to this protecting ring another barrier. Now a group of international researchers show in Nature Plants how plants are regulating this barrier. Plant roots containContinue reading “Extra protection”

Organelle variation

Organelle variation Often we assume that genes responsible for phenotypic variation resides in the nuclear genome. Now a group of international researchers show in PNAS that also genes located in organelles are contributing to phenotypic variation. Organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts contain genetic material, remnants of ancient symbiotic ancestors. Genes essential for function of theContinue reading “Organelle variation”

Shredding dead cells for protection

Shredding dead cells for protection Interestingly microbes are not colonising the root tip. Now researchers show in eLife that is because the tip protecting root cap is actively shredding death cells. Microbes are actively colonising plant roots. Except the growth centre containing tip of the root, which stays free of microbes. The root tip isContinue reading “Shredding dead cells for protection”