Orchids even before they germinate they are dependent on their symbiotic fungal partner. Their seeds lack the stored energy that seeds of other species have. Now Chinese researchers show that orchid seeds are not waiting for their fungus to arrive but actively entice them with signalling molecules doubling as carbon source.
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Subtle nudges
Most of us know penicillin as an antibiotic. It is made by the soil dwelling Penicillin rubens fungus. Now this fungus has many brothers and sisters, some of which like to nestle themselves between the cells of roots. For the plant this is positive as colonized plants grow more roots. Now a new study by Spanish a Czech researchers shows that Penicillin melinii enhances root growth with subtle nudges.
Handiness in flowers
Twist to the left, twist to the right. Mirror image flowers place their male and female organs on opposite side of the flower midline, preventing self-fertilization. But to ensure pollination, it helps if half of the flowers of a species are oriented the opposite way. Now a group of international researchers report that how South African butterfly lily (Wachendorfia paniculata) ensures this is remarkable similar to how sex in humans is decided.
Fuelling the repair
When plants are wounded, they quickly set to heal themselves. These unplanned cell divisions and growth require extra fuel. How the plant makes sure this fuel reaches the wound site is not clear. Now a new paper from Israeli scientists shows that while this extra fuel reaches the wound site in the form of sucrose, it is actually glucose that feeds the wound adjacent cells.
Plant en Zo 