Plants

A groundbreaking study identifies a protein, WEEP, whose absence in weeping trees like the Weeping Peach Tree causes shoots to grow downwards due to altered auxin distribution. The discovery could revolutionize orchard management by enabling closer planting of fruit trees, potentially enhancing productivity and optimizing space.A basic premise of how plants grow is that shoots grow up and roots grow down. A new study, published in Plant Physiology, a leading international society journal published by the American Society…

Three chip plants, including two from Tata group, approved by the Union Cabinet recently are set to hold groundbreaking ceremonies next week. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.Also in the letter:■ Temporary relief for Indian apps■ NPCI meeting on UPI market share■ Nasscom calls for dynamic cab fares Groundbreaking for three chip plants likely next week Less than two weeks after the Union Cabinet greenlit the proposals, groundbreaking ceremonies for three semiconductor projects entailing investments of…

Groundbreaking ceremonies for three semiconductor projects, including two from the Tata Group, are likely to be held next week, less than two weeks after the Union Cabinet cleared the proposals entailing investments of $15.14 billion, officials told ET.The projects include an $11 billion semiconductor fab facility, the country's first, to be built by the Tata Group in at Dholera in Gujarat. The other unit proposed by the conglomerate involves a Rs 27,000 crore chip assembly, testing, marking and packaging facility at…

Boreal forests contain diverse fungal endophytes essential for plant health and ecosystem resilience, with new research revealing their unique biodiversity and climate sensitivity, emphasizing the importance of understanding and preserving these fungi amidst changing climates.Spruce, pine, fir, and additional varieties of trees dominate the chilly expanses of territory that stretch across North America, northern Europe, and Russia, forming a vast circumpolar belt around the globe. These boreal forests represent the most…

A USC study reveals that plants use their circadian clocks and a specific protein, ABF3, to manage environmental stress, offering new approaches to develop crops resistant to drought and soil salinity. This research paves the way for genetically improved crops, potentially boosting resilience and yield in the face of climate change.Recent research reveals that plants employ their internal circadian rhythms to adapt to fluctuations in water availability and salt levels, presenting a novel strategy for developing crops that…

Fasciation is a genetic mutation of a plant's growing tip, and it can affect the stem, flowers, or fruits.Sometimes, the results aren't very dramatic. For example, the growing shoots may end up flattened, splayed apart, or may seem to be made up of several stems fused into one.But other times, the effects are extremely eye-catching, such as grossly oversized flowers with a weirdly grotesque look — the closer to the ground that fasciation happens, the more exaggerated its effects tend to be.So since spring is just around…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How tracking animal movement may save the planet Animals have long been able to offer unique insights about the natural world around us, acting as organic sensors picking up phenomena invisible to humans. Canaries warned of looming catastrophe in coal mines until the 1980s, for example. These days, we have more insight into animal behavior than ever…

Biotech seeds have been a huge business for a while. In fact, by sheer mass, GMOs are probably the single most significant product of genetic engineering ever. Except most of us aren’t planting rows of cotton or corn that can resist worms or survive a spritz of RoundUp, the big gene-splicing innovations that companies like Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred first introduced in the 1990s. What makes these new plants different is that you can buy them directly from their creators and then plant them in the yard, on a balcony,…

Sanfordiacaulis model with simplified branching structure for easier visualization. Note that humans are provided for scale but did not exist concurrently with the tree. Credit: Tim StonesiferIn the fossil record, it’s common to find trees preserved merely as trunks, lacking any foliage that reveals their canopy structure or overall shape. However, a recent study published in the journal Current Biology, presents an extraordinary discovery of fossilized trees from New Brunswick, Canada, showcasing an unexpected and…

Scientists have discovered a mechanism to prevent darkening and health risks in cold-stored potatoes, a breakthrough promising healthier, tastier snacks and addressing a billion-dollar market’s challenges. Their work, revealing a gene responsible for cold-induced sweetening (CIS), could lead to new potato varieties that avoid acrylamide formation, benefiting the snack food industry and potentially reducing food waste and costs.Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a method to decrease the levels of a…