Feature Channels: Agriculture

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A cutting-edge machine learning model has been developed to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, a critical factor for soil health and crop productivity. The innovative approach utilizes hyperspectral data to identify key spectral bands, offering a more precise and efficient method for assessing soil quality and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

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Virginia Tech entomologist Thomas Kuhar answers questions about Japanese beetles, including sharing advice on how to control them, and an explanation of the back story of these deceptively lovely pests. These insects have no natural predators in the United States, while their voracious appetites can devastate more than 300 species of North American plants, from turfgrass to roses, grapes and hops.

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Farmland is often a battleground in the fight against climate change.Solar panels and energy crops are pitted against food production, while well-intended policy choices can create incentives for farmers to till up new lands, releasing even more heat-trapping gas into the atmosphere.That’s why strategies for sustainable plant-based fuels focus on marginal lands — fields that are too hard to cultivate or don’t produce good enough yields to be considered profitable.

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Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered that mycelium composites, biobased materials made from fungi and agricultural residues, can have a greater environmental impact than conventional fossil-fuel-based materials due to the high amount of electricity involved in their production.

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A widely found gene in plants has been newly identified as a key transporter of a hormone that influences the size of corn. The discovery offers plant breeders a new tool to develop desirable dwarf varieties that could enhance the crop’s resilience and profitability.

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Unlocking the biochemical secrets behind a perfect cup of black tea, scientists have identified the CsLOX6 gene as a master regulator in the formation of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a key compound in tea's aroma. This breakthrough illuminates the intricate dance of genetics and chemistry that shapes the flavor profile of this globally adored drink.

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A new study has assembled a complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome for the Chinese bayberry, offering profound insights into the genetic basis of its fruit quality. This research marks a significant stride in understanding and enhancing the nutritional and economic value of this subtropical fruit species.

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So far, only two people have been infected with a new strain of H5N1 due to exposure to cows. But the large number of infected cows, their proximity to humans, and flu's tendency to jump from one host to another have scientists and health officials concerned.

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Cold stress significantly hampers tomato growth and yield. Recent research reveals that 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) enhances cold tolerance in tomatoes by regulating the SlMYB4/SlMYB88-SlGSTU43 gene module. This discovery opens new avenues for genetic engineering to develop cold-resistant tomato varieties, potentially ensuring better crop resilience and productivity under low-temperature conditions.

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A new assembly toolkit, an efficient assembly toolkit (PMAT), is set to revolutionize the study of plant mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), offering an unprecedented approach to understanding plant evolution and cytoplasmic male sterile line breeding. This tool stands to overcome significant challenges in the complete assembly of plant mitogenomes, a task previously hindered by complex recombination events and horizontal gene transfers.

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A recent study has assembled a gap-free genome for Mentha suaveolens, providing new insights into its genetic structure and terpenoid diversification. The research highlights the unique composition of volatile compounds, particularly piperitenone oxide, and identifies key genetic variations affecting its biosynthesis. These findings enhance our understanding of Mentha's medicinal properties and facilitate targeted breeding for improved traits.

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A study from the University of Adelaide has discovered molecular pathways regulated by a gene traditionally used to control wheat-flowering behaviour could be altered to achieve greater yields.

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This study investigates the genetic regulation of volatile production in melons, identifying over 1000 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting aroma and ripening. Key findings highlight specific chromosomes that influence ester and aldehyde levels, contributing to unique aromas in climacteric and non-climacteric melons, aiding breeding programs aimed at enhancing fruit quality.

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A cutting-edge study has shed light on the TOMATO MADS-BOX 6 (TM6) gene's critical influence on the elaborate development of tomato flowers. This research pierces the veil on the genetic underpinnings of floral formation, providing fresh insights into the realm of plant biology.

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A research team has identified key metabolic composition differences between annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass under heat stress, revealing specific metabolites linked to heat tolerance.

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A research team has achieved a groundbreaking improvement in the haplotype-resolved genome sequence of the japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare.

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A research team has developed a novel conceptual framework for designing plastic-greenhouse soil profiles that cater to the needs of smallholder farmers.

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A research team has recently published a comprehensive review on the innovative integration of spectral data and phylogeographic patterns to study plant genetic variation.

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A research team has reviewed the role of MicroRNA156 (miR156) in horticultural plants, uncovering its significant influence on a variety of biological processes such as vegetative growth, floral induction, and stress response.

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In a review article, a research team meticulously analyzed the biological impacts of ornamental plants' exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), especially those at high frequencies.

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A research team has meticulously analyzed the transcriptional response of Impatiens walleriana to Plasmopara obducens infection, revealing between 3,000 and 4,500 differentially expressed transcripts at various stages of the disease.

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Recent research has unveiled the genetic foundations of resistance in strawberries to Macrophomina, a formidable soilborne disease. Employing cutting-edge breeding strategies and genomic analysis, scientists have pinpointed crucial genetic loci responsible for resistance, heralding a new era of more robust strawberry varieties.

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A paper in the journal Science Advances describes how the moving parts of a particular plant protein control whether plants can grow and make energy-intensive products such as oil — or instead put in place a series of steps to conserve precious resources. The study focuses specifically on how the molecular machinery is regulated by a molecule that rises and falls with the level of sugar — plants’ main energy source.

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Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that a protein responsible for the synthesis of a key plant material evolved much earlier than suspected. This new research explored the origin and evolution of the biochemical machinery that builds lignin, a structural component of plant cell walls with significant impacts on the clean energy industry.

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A research team has made significant strides in understanding the mechanisms of fruit abscission in woody fruit crops, an essential process affecting fruit yield and economic value.

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A research team has discovered a potential role for ethylene in the maturation of strawberry fruits, specifically the true fruit—achenes—embedded in the fleshy receptacle.

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A research team investigated the dynamics of soluble sugars in 'Zaozhong 6' loquat fruits following treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA).

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Hae Choon Chang, President of the World Institute of Kimchi (WiKim) announced on April 22 that the institute has developed a 'bio-refactoring-based upcycling technology' that can convert cabbage byproducts discarded as waste during the food manufacturing process into biodegradable plastics.

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Construction of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus launched with a ceremonial turning of dirt on May 6.

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A team led by Iowa State researchers is one of the first recipients of advanced computing support from the new National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot. The team will use one million "node hours" on a supercomputer to develop large, vision-based artificial intelligence tools to identify agricultural pests.

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Most analyses point to agriculture as the major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) globally. But there are a lot of variables within agriculture that can affect emissions. A recent University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study provides a comprehensive accounting for these factors, finding, among other things, that long-term no-till management can effectively cut N2O emissions.

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A new book by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in law and policy explores the history and development of the U.S. conservation policy, offering insight into how Congress works, how policy is put together, and the challenge of balancing narrow and public interests in addressing pressing agricultural and environmental topics.

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Researchers at the University of Vienna, along with collaborators from France, Germany, Switzerland and the USA, have achieved a major breakthrough in understanding how genetic drivers influence the evolution of a specific photosynthesis mechanism in Tillandsia (air plants). This sheds light on the complex actions that cause plant adaptation and ecological diversity. The results of their study are now published in Plant Cell.

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Fungal disease Fusarium head blight (FHB) is on the rise due to increasingly humid conditions induced by climate change during the wheat growing season, but a fundamental discovery by University of Adelaide researchers could help reduce its economic harm.

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The Quest Diagnostics Foundation today announced an expanded collaboration with Green Bronx Machine (GBM), a transformational educational nonprofit helping students and teachers turn classrooms into agricultural learning experiences.

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A research team developed Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy-based partial least squares regression (PLSR) models to assess Cenchrus spp (buffel grass) accessions, discovering significant correlations between cell wall composition and digestibility metrics like neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and indigestible NDF (iNDF).

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A research team has substantially enhanced the annotation of the sweetpotato genome 'Taizhong 6', introducing a more comprehensive and detailed version, v1.0.a2.

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A research team has demonstrated that gene-based breeding (GBB) offers a transformative approach to advancing plant and animal breeding, showing remarkable predictability, speed, and cost-effectiveness.

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A research team reviewed the advancements in managing cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), highlighting the integration of new plant breeding technologies (NPBTs) with traditional breeding to enhance resistance.

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Sweet potato quality assessment is crucial for producers and processors because features influence texture and taste, consumer preferences, and viability for different purposes. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores the use of hyperspectral imaging and explainable artificial intelligence (AI) to assess sweet potato attributes.

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The genus Musa, encompassing approximately 70 herbaceous species, is predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Oceania.

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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) holds significant importance among greenhouse vegetables in China, despite its relatively low salt tolerance. Grafting cucumber onto pumpkin rootstocks, which exhibit strong salt tolerance, can improve its resistance to saline conditions. Earlier research conducted by the team revealed that the pumpkin rootstock CmoNAC1 boosts salt tolerance in grafted cucumbers by modulating H2O2/ABA signaling and maintaining K+/Na+ balance through its interaction with the promoters of CmoRBOHD1/CmoNCED6 and CmoAKT1;2/CmoHKT1;1.

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A research team completes a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of the 'Chuanhonghua 1' safflower genome.

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The frequency and intensity of plant stresses have increased in recent years due to climate change. Among them, low temperature is an unavoidable environmental factor limiting agricultural productivity.

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Researchers investigated the influence of ploidy level on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and gene expression in fish. They compared mtDNA copy numbers in liver and muscle of red crucian carp, common carp, and two allotriploid fish across different seasons.