Space surviving moss

Space surviving moss The plant version of the tardigrade, or water bears, is the steppe screw-moss, Syntrichia caninervis. That are Chinese researchers writing in The Innovation. Tardigrades are known about their ability to survive extreme circumstances. It can handle extreme cold, radiation and dehydration. It would therefore survive a trip in outer space. No researchersContinue reading “Space surviving moss”

Disrupting hurricanes

Disrupting hurricanes Researchers long thought that plants pollinated by specialised pollinators risk an evolutionary dead end. Now a group of international researchers show in New Pythologist that this does not have to be the case. The Caribbean island Dominica contains an exception on the rule that plants located on islands don’t have specialised pollinators. TwoContinue reading “Disrupting hurricanes”

Hormonal influence on root growth

Hormonal influence on root growth For a plant a good set of roots is of great importance. Not surprising, lots of hormones have a stake in organizing this. Now a group of international researchers show that one of those hormones, cytokinin, is regulating the production of another, ethylene. A plant regulates the growth of itsContinue reading “Hormonal influence on root growth”

Twilight

Twilight Twilight, the period between day and night. The duration of twilight influences the growth and flowering of plants. That, are Canadian and Belgian researchers now showing in Scientific Reports. The influence of twilight on plants was up to date not really studied. For a long time it was difficult to reproduce twilight light conditionsContinue reading “Twilight”