https://phys.org/biology-news/agriculture/ en-us Agriculture, livestock, farming and food processing news Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil—they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant partners with phosphate and other essential minerals. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-key-soil-fungi-symbiosis-longstanding.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:08 EDT news698672461 A study led by researchers from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Malaga has revealed how organic farming—using natural substances and processes and avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals—can, in the long term, help crops become more resistant to drought in a natural way. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-farming-solution-natural-drought-resilience.html Ecology Thu, 21 May 2026 10:20:03 EDT news698576221 Seeds like wheat, rice, and corn are at the center of the global food supply and provide most of the daily calories consumed worldwide. But despite their importance, scientists still do not fully understand many of the basic biological processes that allow these seeds to grow, transport nutrients, and develop traits that determine crop resiliency. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-seed-atlas-uncovers-genes-crop.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:08 EDT news698509562 In a silent war that has raged for millions of years, plants have evolved a sophisticated chemical arsenal to fight back against invading pathogens. Now, a team of researchers from Peking University and Tsinghua University has finally mapped out the blueprints for one of nature's most effective deterrents, solving a biological puzzle that has baffled scientists for nearly half a century. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-scientists-year-mystery-immunity-debneyol.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 20 May 2026 15:40:07 EDT news698500987 Cows show a visual preference for new human faces over a familiar one and can match a known handler's voice to their face, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Océane Amichaud of INRAE in Nouzilly, France, and colleagues. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-cows-familiar-human-voices.html Ecology Wed, 20 May 2026 14:00:09 EDT news698488922 Witches' broom disease, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, decimated cocoa crops in southern Bahia state, Brazil, in the 1990s. It was even the subject of a local soap opera and continues to plague the chocolate industry in the Amazon region. However, a recent study published in Scientific Reports offers hope that increased cocoa production in the Amazon region will not rely so heavily on fungicides and fertilizers. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-amazonian-cocoa-edge-standout-cultivars.html Plants & Animals Tue, 19 May 2026 18:40:03 EDT news698426641 Cows eat grass...everyone knows that. But climate change is forcing producers and scientists to rethink some of our long-held assumptions about livestock nutrition. Crop costs are climbing. Traditional pastures are under pressure. And researchers are casting a wider net for unconventional feed sources that might help the industry adapt. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-seaweed-solution-cattle-nutrition-sustainable.html Veterinary medicine Tue, 19 May 2026 17:00:04 EDT news698422669 Sticking needles into arms—or rather, haunches—is often the hardest part of distributing an effective agricultural vaccine. Now, University of Connecticut researchers show in the April 15 issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials that a patch can deliver a safe, temperature-stabilized vaccine against foot and mouth disease, no needles required. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-microneedle-patch-vaccine-farming-stubborn.html Veterinary medicine Mon, 18 May 2026 17:10:01 EDT news698342101 You're cooking dinner, distracted, and your hand brushes a hot pan. Nerve signals race to your spinal cord and back to yank your arm away in a fraction of a second, with no thought required. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-billion-crickets-farmed-food-year.html Plants & Animals Mon, 18 May 2026 15:20:05 EDT news698324411 Most of the Bahamas' signature seafood stocks are being fished harder than the sea can replace them, according to a new paper led by Sea Around Us researchers and published in Frontiers in Marine Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-overfishing-bahamian-seafood-staples-years.html Ecology Mon, 18 May 2026 12:28:44 EDT news698326081 Researchers at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, together with collaborators from RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (RIKEN CSRS) and The University of Osaka, have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism by which plants detect hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a key signaling molecule involved in stress responses and immunity. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-copper-based-sensor-key-defense.html Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:02 EDT news698057702 A recent Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report found that climate change could cost Minnesotans more than $20 billion a year by 2040. This is just the local cost of a global problem. Ecosystem stability is essential to agriculture, forestry, safe housing and infrastructure, carbon storage and more, but identifying which ecosystems are most vulnerable to climate shocks remains difficult. Anticipating climate change impacts and predicting recovery will be critical to minimizing human and economic disruptions. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-resistance-climate.html Ecology Thu, 14 May 2026 16:37:36 EDT news697995421 Researchers at the São Carlos Institute of Physics at the University of São Paulo (IFSC-USP) in Brazil, led by Paulo Augusto Raymundo-Pereira, have created biodegradable, "wearable" sensors for plants to monitor their health, including the presence of pesticides. The sensors are made from carbon ink and are screen-printed onto transparent cellulose acetate bioplastics. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-biodegradable-sensors-pesticides-minutes.html Biotechnology Thu, 14 May 2026 15:40:02 EDT news697991102 The genomics of peppermint are not as fresh as their flavor but scientists from the University of California, Davis, have found a way to breathe new genetic variation into the species. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could help the mint industry develop new varieties of peppermint and provide a roadmap for improving clonal crops more generally. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-fresh-approach-peppermint-variants-boost.html Biotechnology Thu, 14 May 2026 15:17:26 EDT news697990621 Stevia is a widely used sweetener, but why do some stevia varieties taste cleaner and more sugar-like than others? Recent research conducted at the University of Toyama shows that stevia's sweetness is genetically linked to variations in specific glycosyltransferase genes and their cell-specific activity in leaves. By combining genetic analysis with cell-level imaging, the team uncovered how stevia produces its high-value sweet compounds, opening the door to better-tasting natural sweeteners for foods and beverages. Details of the study are published in the journal New Phytologist. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-stevia-sweetness-scientists-uncover-genetic.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 14 May 2026 08:00:01 EDT news697908661 Rice plants and Venus flytraps share something in common that was not scientifically documented until recently. Using a faint smell to lure caterpillars into a trap, rice plants killed early-stage fall armyworm larvae by trapping them in a spikelet, the part at the end of a rice panicle where individual grains develop. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-rice-fall-armyworm-caterpillars.html Ecology Wed, 13 May 2026 16:18:22 EDT news697907881 The widespread hypothesis that climate warming will result in unprecedented agricultural pest populations and cause food insecurity worldwide is oversimplified, according to a new study by a team led by Mia Lippey, an entomologist at the University of California, Davis. But the study does indicate that pests fare better in warmer temperatures than their natural enemies, which researchers identified as a cause for concern. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-scientists-dispute-hypothesis-climate-unleash.html Ecology Tue, 12 May 2026 16:50:01 EDT news697820341 Every year, millions of gallons of wine are pressed, leaving behind a mountain of pulpy residue—grape skins, seeds, stems and peels—that wineries struggle to dispose of. Now, researchers say this overlooked byproduct could find a new life on the farm, as a replacement for the antibiotics routinely added to chicken feed. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-wine-leftovers-wean-chicken-farms.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 12 May 2026 16:00:01 EDT news697809968 A water-based formulation developed at the University of Waterloo using nanotechnology is both greener and more effective than conventional methods for delivering agricultural pesticides. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-based-nanocrystal-sticky-solution-pesky.html Biotechnology Tue, 12 May 2026 09:20:10 EDT news697794226 A University of Florida study has made a key discovery in understanding a disease that for over a century has plagued the white button mushroom—a nutrient-dense vegetable that is valued for its versatility and health benefits. The study is published in the journal Microbiological Research. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-mushroom-caps-bacterial-species-stubborn.html Ecology Sun, 10 May 2026 13:00:05 EDT news697281057 The molecule cAMP, which plays essential roles in mammalian cells, is less well understood in plants. In a new Science Advances paper, researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and international collaborators demonstrate that plants use two forms of cAMP in parallel to regulate normal cellular processes and respond to stress, while maintaining crosstalk between them. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-evolved-distinct-functions-fundamental-molecule.html Evolution Fri, 08 May 2026 14:00:08 EDT news697459922 Plant scientist Dario Leister and his team are investigating how cyanobacteria adapt to rapidly changing light intensities. This could help optimize photosynthesis in crops. Photosynthesis is one of the most complex processes in nature. However, plants use only a fraction of the available light spectrum and are highly sensitive to environmental stressors such as changing light intensities, heat and drought. As climate change intensifies these stresses, safeguarding crop productivity is becoming an increasingly urgent challenge. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-lab-evolved-cyanobacteria-survive-minute.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:06 EDT news697459742 Garlic is not a substance that most people consider an aphrodisiac. It turns out that mosquitoes agree. In fact, a new Yale study finds that garlic also functions as a de facto birth control for mosquitoes and other winged insects, an insight that could lead to eco-friendly pest control strategies. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-pantry-pest-garlic-mood-mosquitoes.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 May 2026 19:20:01 EDT news697377566 A study led by researchers at the University of Liège reveals the mechanism by which surfactin, a molecule produced by beneficial soil bacteria, activates plants' immune defenses. This mechanism, distinct from the classical paradigm of immune recognition, relies on direct interaction with the plant cell membrane. This discovery opens up prospects for the development of next-generation biopesticides. The paper is published in the journal Nature Plants. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-soil-bacteria-defend-disease.html Plants & Animals Thu, 07 May 2026 17:40:04 EDT news697389721 Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the crops. Every year, these destructive invaders are responsible for the loss of nearly 40% of global agricultural production. A friendly group of fungi, the Hypocreales, form symbiotic relations with plants and naturally protect them by antagonizing pests, acting as their personal biocontrol. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-scientists-fungi-secret-chemistry-greener.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 07 May 2026 13:20:04 EDT news697363290 Researchers have identified a previously unknown cell type hidden on the roots of common beans, a microscopic survival mechanism that could inform the development of more climate-resilient crops and reduce fertilizer dependence. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-cool-beans-smart-roots-special.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 06 May 2026 17:30:01 EDT news697304281 Biodiversity loss is directly threatening human health and welfare, according to new research led by the University of Bristol. The study, published in Nature reveals, for the first time, how the decline of insect pollinators undermines essential ecosystem services that support human nutrition and livelihoods. Biodiversity also plays a vital role in supporting people's everyday health and resilience, too. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-insects-nutritious-crops-pollinator-decline.html Ecology Wed, 06 May 2026 11:40:04 EDT news697284421 New research into plant-based food and drinks has found a prevalence of mycotoxins—naturally occurring poisonous compounds produced by fungi—in hundreds of vegetarian and vegan products. A total of 212 plant-based meat alternatives (PMBAs) and plant-based beverages (PBBs) from UK shelves were tested—and all of them contained at least one of 19 mycotoxins, with multiple products containing more than one. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-based-meat-alternatives-mycotoxins.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 May 2026 17:40:03 EDT news697203121 Watermelon is a quintessential summertime fruit, evoking images of warm, sunny afternoons and cookouts with friends and family. You can easily picture its striped, green rind and pink flesh, imagine the delicate crunch as you bite into a slice, and almost taste the sweet juice bursting onto your tongue. What you likely don't consider is the biological basis of traits like fruit color, texture, and sweetness—the genetics that have undergone millions of years of selection, both in nature and through intentional breeding, to give you that exact experience. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-watermelon-super-pangenome-paves-precision.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 05 May 2026 17:10:02 EDT news697215961 Salicylic acid, the active molecule in aspirin and some acne medications, is a hormone in plants that is essential for immunity, but it's a double-edged sword: Too much can cause autoimmunity and stunt growth. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered that plants use a surprising multi-layered system to regulate salicylic acid levels and keep their immune system in check. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-chemical-failsafe-crops-disease-growth.html Plants & Animals Tue, 05 May 2026 14:40:02 EDT news697199221