Plant science articles
Water-Stress Changes Resource Allocation in Plants
Drought is one of the most common forms of stress that affects plants both in the wild and in farms. Drought is predicted to increase in frequency and intensity in tropical and subtropical areas of the world due to climate change. We know that plants will defer in their response to changing environmental conditions. Hence,… Continue reading…
In the Field with Dani Degenhardt from the Canadian Forest Service
Recently, our Staff Scientist, Eric Munoz-Garcia, sat down with Dani Degenhardt who is a Research Scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, which is part of the Department of Natural Resources, Canada. She has a background in soil science, so she completed her master’s and her PhD in Soil Chemistry in the Department of Soil Science… Continue reading…
Phenotypic Variations in Plant Morphology Due to Drought Stress
Drought is one of the most common stresses the plants face, so it is only natural that they would adapt to drought or withstand water stress through plasticity of some morphological traits. However, our understanding of the processes by which plants cope with water stress is limited. Therefore, the number of studies about plant responses… Continue reading…
WEBINAR THIS WEEK- Shedding a Light on Photosynthesis: How researchers are using photosynthesis in 2020 + guest researcher Stephanie Wedryk, Director of R&D, RX Green Technologies
Join our Staff Scientist, Eric Munoz-Garcia, on June 4, at 8am PST, as he takes us through several real studies applying photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in recent research. We’ll also be joined by special guest Stephanie Wedryk, Director of Research and Development at RX Green Technologies, as she talks about her study of photosynthesis in… Continue reading…
Chlorophyll Fluorescence Detects Water Stress
Developing drought stress tolerance is one of the major targets of many crop breeding programs. Precise and efficient tools to measure drought stress is a vital requirement of these projects. One of the methods widely used by researchers is the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence. Understanding the concept and the various plant processes that shape it… Continue reading…
Detect Stress by Measuring Photosynthesis
Plants face many environmental stresses, such as light, moisture, nutrients, temperature, and pollutants. Many of these factors are essential for plant growth, in optimum quantities; however, a dearth or excess can cause stress. As part of the plant’s overall response to stress, photosynthesis, which is one of the most important metabolic activities, also gets affected.… Continue reading…
A Tale of Two Lichens: Adaptations to Extreme Climate
In many extreme ecosystems, like deserts and polar regions, lichens play an important role as major carbon fixers and primary producers. Due to climate change, precipitation is expected to decrease and periods of dryness will lengthen. Lichens’ tolerance to periodic desiccation can make them vital for maintaining the carbon balance not only in their own… Continue reading…
Modifying Genetics, Physiology, and Biochemistry to Improve Drought Responses in Crops
Drought is the most common stress and has the largest effect on the growth and production of crops. Nearly a fourth of agricultural areas worldwide are affected by water shortage. Plants adapt to drought by altering their genetics, physiology, and biochemistry. Hence, these traits are being used to screen new cultivars, which can sustain growth… Continue reading…
Advances in Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation has many proponents to treat widespread chemical contaminants in soil, water, and air. It is low-cost, eco-friendly, and doesn’t require complicated technology and infrastructure. As it is a new branch of science, it is necessary to understand the processes involved in the different methods of phytoremediation to advise decision-making for application of this technology.… Continue reading…
The Dirt on Soil Carbon Formation During Afforestation
Soil carbon is the second-largest carbon sink in the world, and it is currently in focus during these times of accelerating climate change brought about by human activities. Very little is known on the patterns of carbon accumulation in the soil. Thus, it is essential to determine the mode and quantity of carbon being sequestered… Continue reading…
