Layer against drought

An extra layer against drought The suberin is a fatty layer between the cell membrane and the cell wall. In roots plants develop this layer either in the outermost or second outermost cell layer. American researchers now show in Nature Plants that in tomato plants this layer helps the plants to deal with drought. TheContinue reading “Layer against drought”

Sabotaging plans of attack

Sabotaging plans of attack Our current pesticides with retirement. Then we need good alternatives. To develop these researchers like to know more about how a pest is creating its advantage. This, German researchers analysed for the fungus botrytis. Botrytis infects a whole range of plants, and covers them with a grey mold. As part ofContinue reading “Sabotaging plans of attack”

Longer roots

Longer roots in summertime weather Often warm weather and drought come as a pair. Although there is a reasonable amount known of how the above ground parts of plants deal with this, we know less about how roots deal with the combination of heat and drought. To change this Dutch researchers decide to study thisContinue reading “Longer roots”

New tools

Potential new tools Nature is full of potential useful tools. Proteins that can do tricks that we find useful or handy. But to use those potential tools optimally requires understanding of how they do the tricks they do. That is why British researchers set to find this out for the potential new protein tool SAP05Continue reading “New tools”