Close-up of a corn plant's root system, isolated against a white background, clearly showcasing the intricate root hairs.

Bacteria boost plant root hair growth

Science Notes: Symbiotic bacteria in root cells may be key to producing better crops, study finds

A Rutgers study has found that symbiotic bacteria that colonize root cells may be managed to produce hardier crops that need less fertilizer. The study appeared in the journal Microorganisms. […] Read more


Researchers found a biosynthetic network that shapes root microbiota.

A plant’s roots tailor its soil environment

Science Notes: Plants maintain the metabolites around them, which helps explain why plants grow in so many places

The small mustard plant (Arabidopsis thaliana) produces specialized metabolites capable of selectively altering the microbial communities of the soil surrounding its roots to suit its own purposes. While the findings […] Read more


A bumblebee on a strawberry flower.

Bee-based disease prevention

Inoculating flowering plants with insect-delivered fungus can help limit disease

Fungi that can inoculate crops against disease can be applied using insects — bumblebees, to be specific. According to Bee Vectoring Technology (BVT) — a Canadian company with offices in […] Read more




Some rice can grow metres-long quickly to stay above floodwaters.

Wild genetic adaptations can have many uses

Science Notes: A gene that helps rice grow taller in floods is a variant of rice genes used to rapidly increase yield

When floodwaters rise, some rice varieties rapidly grow taller to keep from drowning. A new study identifies the key gene responsible for the deep-water rice adaptation — SD1 (semidwarf 1). […] Read more