News tagged with plant roots

Related topics: plants

Fungi shifted plant balance of power

Cooperating with fungi didn't just help the earliest plants spread across a barren, rocky landscape; it also played a decisive role in the rise of more complex plants with roots and leaves that make up most ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created May 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

When the soil holds not enough phosphorus: Scientists describe new transporter in cells of plant roots

Plants cannot survive without phosphorus. It forms the backbone of many crucial molecules (such as DNA) and is a key player in energy transfer reactions. Low availability of phosphorus is a major environmental ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 15, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Crop root study to boost Australian grain production

Researchers at The University of Western Australia say that "next frontier" of agricultural science is understanding the root system and function of crop plants to significantly increase Australian grain production, ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Breeder works to reduce aluminum toxicity in rice

(Phys.org) -- As rice farmers around the world begin to turn from wet paddies to dry fields in an attempt to conserve water and mitigate climate change, they are facing a new foe: aluminum.

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 08, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

New avocado rootstocks are high-performing and disease-tolerant

Avocado, a significant fruit crop grown in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, is threatened by Phytophthora root rot (PRR), a disease that has already eliminated commercial avocado production ...

Biology / Ecology

created Apr 27, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Study finds evidence nanoparticles may increase plant DNA damage

(Phys.org) -- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) have provided the first evidence that engineered nanoparticles are ...

Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine

created Apr 18, 2012 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (7) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Licorice root found to contain anti-diabetic substance

It provides the raw material for liquorice candy, calms the stomach and alleviates diseases of the airways: liquorice root. Chosen as the "Medicinal plant 2012", the root has been treasured in traditional healing since ancient ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Apr 17, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Using math to feed the world

In the race to breed better crops to feed the increasing world population, scientists at The University of Nottingham are using maths to find out how a vital plant hormone affects growth.

Other Sciences / Mathematics

created Apr 17, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Why do plant roots grow down and not up?

(PhysOrg.com) -- It is essential for roots to grow down so they can explore the soil and maximise their water uptake. But how they know that is a question that has fascinated scientists since Darwin. Now scientists ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Mar 08, 2012 | popularity 3.9 / 5 (7) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

Revealed in accurate detail, the underground world of plants

Plant and computer scientists can now study the underground world of plants with more accuracy and clarity. The revolutionary technique will improve our chances of breeding better crop varieties and increasing ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Feb 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Moonlighting enzyme works double shift 24/7

A team of researchers led by Michigan State University has discovered an overachieving plant enzyme that works both the day and night shifts.

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Jan 31, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Improving crops from the roots up

Research involving scientists at The University of Nottingham has taken us a step closer to breeding hardier crops that can better adapt to different environmental conditions and fight off attack from parasites.

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jan 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study shines light on ways to cut costs for greenhouse growers

Greenhouse bedding plant growers can save themselves time, money or possibly both by giving cuttings in propagation more light, according to a Purdue University study.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Jan 23, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1

New tool offers unprecedented access for root studies

Plant roots are fascinating plant organs – they not only anchor the plant, but are also the world's most efficient mining companies. Roots live in darkness and direct the activities of the other organs, as well as interact ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Dec 20, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Blossom end rot: Transport protein identified

Poor calcium distribution in agricultural crops causes substantial loss of income every year. Now a Korean-Swiss research team under the co-leadership of plant physiologists at the University of Zurich identified ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Nov 23, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1