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




Wheat is one of four crops including soybeans, corn and rice, that make up about half of the agriculture land in use on the planet.

Crop diversity declining worldwide

Science Notes: The number of different crops is increasing in North America but other regions are moving more toward monocultures

University of Toronto – A new University of Toronto study suggests that globally more of the same kinds of crops are being grown, and this presents major challenges for agricultural […] Read more



Potatoes are one of the crops to be tested with the improved photosynthesis process.

Increasing sunlight to energy conversion

Science Notes: Scientists believe plant productivity can be increased by as much as 40 per cent

Researchers believe they can boost crop productivity by as much as 40 per cent by engineering plants to improve how efficiently they convert the sunlight into energy via photosynthesis. Researchers […] Read more

The final stages of corn’s domestication appear to have happened more than once in more than one place.

Scientists overhaul corn domestication story with new analysis

Science Notes: Semi-wild proto-corn spread from Mexico to South America before becoming fully domesticated, offering new clues to its future

Smithsonian scientists and collaborators are revising the history of one of the world’s most important crops. Drawing on genetic and archaeological evidence, researchers have found that a predecessor of today’s […] Read more