Carnivorous sundews actively capture their prey. But in contrast to the related Venus flytraps, sundews are not responding to touch or other mechanical stimulants. Now Chinese researchers show that a small peptide, glutathione, likely released by the captured fly, signals for the trap to close.
Tag Archives: Paper review
Where almond trees store energy can affect yield
Perennial plants store carbohydrates to bridge carbon shortages. Like those in the winter for example. Now American researchers show that it matters where a plant creates those carbohydrate stores.
CO2 regulates stomata opening
Stomata, the pores on the underside of the leaf, let CO2 in for photosynthesis and water vapour out. Now researchers show that by an increasing of CO2 in the atmosphere plants are not using this to fix more energy but for saving water.
Sounding the alarm
Early detection of a pathogen attack can prevent the spread of an infection. But how this early detection is then translated into warning for the rest of the plant is not known. Now British researchers show in Nature Plants using a reporter system that the alarm passes through the plant much faster than first thought.