All articles tagged with #plant defense
Maize plants in crowded fields release a volatile gas called linalool that triggers defensive responses in neighboring plants, enhancing pest resistance but reducing growth; this natural mechanism could be harnessed to develop more resilient crops and reduce pesticide use.
Scientists have observed a rare case of reverse evolution in Galápagos tomatoes, where they are reverting to ancient genetic traits that produce toxic alkaloids, possibly as an adaptation to their environment. This phenomenon involves just a few genetic mutations affecting enzyme structure, leading to the reactivation of ancestral chemical defenses, and suggests that evolution can sometimes move backward under certain conditions.
Scientists studying wild tomatoes in the Galápagos Islands have observed a rare case of reverse evolution, where the plants are reverting to an ancient chemical state by producing alkaloids similar to those found in eggplants, likely driven by environmental factors on younger islands. This discovery challenges traditional views of evolution as a one-way process and suggests that traits can re-emerge through genetic changes, with potential implications for agriculture and medicine.
Recent research led by Jacob Suissa reveals that ferns and flowering plants independently evolved nectaries to attract ant bodyguards during the Cretaceous period, demonstrating convergent evolution. This study highlights the complex relationships between plants and insects and underscores the adaptability of ferns to ecological challenges.
Plants have a complex interplay between regulating iron uptake for growth and nourishing non-harmful microbes while inhibiting pathogens. A recent study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of crosstalk between iron and immunity during iron deficiency, shedding light on how plants manage the competing interests of growth and defense. This involves suppressing root acquisition of iron upon pathogen recognition, highlighting the intricate relationship between plants and their commensal and pathogenic bacteria.