Plants are pretty good at halting entrance to unwanted pathogens. Pathogens do, however, still find a way in. The authors of a new study set out to find out how the fire blight bacteria finds its way in.
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Attracting useful bacteria
Plants that grow in challenging environments, like limited nutrients, often attract microbes that can help them. Now researchers show that by increasing the signals that attract helpful microbes plants can grow better in challenging environments.
A less penetrable skin
Sap-sucking insects like white flies and aphids are a disaster for plants. Not so much for their sap sucking but for giving plants bacteria and viruses. As such plant like to make it difficult for those insects. For example, by having a sturdier wax layer, like Chinese researchers found in a new study.
Delayed circadian clock in lettuce
There is a long-standing selection for leavy crops who flower later in the season. Now a new study “Breeding for delayed bolting decelerated the circadian clock in cultivated lettuce” shows that this has also made the circadian clock run slow.