Latest Plant Stories

Researchers from the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University have identified a way to increase the oil in tobacco plant leaves, which may be the next step in using the plants for biofuel. Their paper was published online in Plant Biotechnology Journal.According to Vyacheslav Andrianov, Ph.D., assistant professor of Cancer Biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, tobacco can generate biofuel more efficiently than other agricultural...

Superior 'leaf plumbing' gave flowering plants evolutionary advantageTo Charles Darwin it was an 'abominable mystery' and it is a question which has continued to vex evolutionists to this day: when did flowering plants evolve and how did they come to dominate plant life on earth? Today a study in Ecology Letters reveals the evolutionary trigger which led to early flowering plants gaining a major competitive advantage over rival species, leading to their subsequent boom and abundance.The...

Plants don't mind sharing space with their kin but when they're potted with strangers of the same species they start invigorating their leaves, a study by McMaster University reveals.The research, which appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Botany, suggests non-kin plants will not only compete underground for soil nutrients, but will attempt to muscle out the competition above ground in the ongoing struggle for light.It follows previous research from McMaster University...

Ability of jewelweed to recognize 'relatives' from 'strangers' helps shift resources for growthThe concept of altruism has long been debated in philosophical circles, and more recently, evolutionary biologists have joined the debate. From the perspective of natural selection, altruism may have evolved because any action that improves the likelihood of a relative's survival and reproduction increases the chance of an individual's DNA being passed on. Social behavior, kin recognition, and...

Light manipulation technique effective, environmental alternative for growing holiday favoritePoinsettias can be a lucrative crop for ornamental plant growers, particularly during the Christmas season. In the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere, where poinsettias are grown for both export and local markets, high-demand time for holiday sales occurs during the summer, when warm temperatures and stronger light can accelerate plant growth, often resulting in unmarketable plants.To...

Plant quality and size affected by touching, body lotionAfrican violets have a mixed reputation. Their delicate, colorful flowers and furry, soft leaves make them a favorite among home gardeners and growers. But the striking plants are often regarded as temperamental: a precise recipe of light, moisture, warm temperatures, high humidity, and fertilizer is required to encourage African violets to grow and flower.A recently published study by scientists Julia C. Brotton and Janet C. Cole from...

If past is prelude, trees and shrubs may have a harder time keeping pace with global warmingCan we predict which species will be most vulnerable to climate change by studying how they responded in the past? A new study of flowering plants provides a clue. An analysis of more than 5000 plant species reveals that woody plants "” such as trees and shrubs "” adapted to past climate change much more slowly than herbaceous plants did. If the past is any indicator of the future, woody plants may...

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- PlantSense, Inc., makers of the EasyBloom Plant Sensor, today unveiled monthly "My Plant Alerts" that gives plant lovers free, personalized tips on how to keep their garden green. EasyBloom automatically sends users email or text messages that outline simple steps to care for plants based on their location, and the plants that they own. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081027/SF41624) "EasyBloom sends the customized alerts right to you,...

Flowering plants are all around us and are phenomenally successful"”but how did they get to be so successful and where did they come from? This question bothered Darwin and others and a paper published in the September issue of the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society indicates that their ability to adapt anatomically may be the answer.Sherwin Carlquist, a research botanist at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and recipient of the Linnean Medal for Botany, has spent his career studying...

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 17, 2009, the U.S. Army awarded a $5.5 million performance-based task order to PIKA International, Inc., Stafford, Texas for environmental remediation services at Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Neb. The task order was awarded as a small business set-aside by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District. The Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant award is a three-year contract that includes achieving Removal Action Complete at...