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Getting to the root of how plants tolerate too much iron

Iron is essential for plant growth, but with heavy rainfall and poor aeration, many acidic soils become toxic with excess iron. In countries with dramatic flood seasons, such as in West Africa and tropical Asia, toxic iron levels can have dire consequences on the availability of staple foods, such as rice. Despite dozens of attempts… Continue reading Getting to the root of how plants tolerate too much iron

New seeds may help cotton farmers in face of drought, climate change

The U.S. is the world’s leading cotton exporter, with an industry estimated to generate more than $21 billion of products and services a year. Drought and climate change are having an effect on the crop, though. So scientists in Boston are growing cotton in labs to develop new ways to reduce environmental stress. “Virtually every… Continue reading New seeds may help cotton farmers in face of drought, climate change

South Carolina researchers working to develop drought-tolerant soybeans

Sweltering temperatures and low-moisture conditions can have a large impact on South Carolina soybeans, causing farmers to turn away from one of the state’s highest-yielding crops. But some Clemson researchers are studying how to develop soybean varieties that can germinate and grow under drought conditions. Sruthi Narayanan, an assistant professor of crop science in the… Continue reading South Carolina researchers working to develop drought-tolerant soybeans

University of Florida research makes breeding flavorful tomatoes easier

Denise Tieman, a UF research assistant professor in the UF horticultural sciences department, is researching how to make tomatoes taste better through DNA sequencing. She will present her preliminary findings on Sept. 4 at the UF/IFAS Florida Tomato Institute in Naples, Florida. Ketchup, salads and salsa all require a good-tasting tomato. For UF horticultural sciences… Continue reading University of Florida research makes breeding flavorful tomatoes easier

Rain-resistant wheat variety developed using genome editing

A rain-resistant wheat variety developed through genome editing, left, and a conventional variety (Provided by Okayama University and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization) Scientists have created a rain-resistant wheat variety using genome-editing technology, a breakthrough that could lead to the development of higher-quality flour. The research team from the National Agriculture and Food… Continue reading Rain-resistant wheat variety developed using genome editing

Scientists successfully innoculate, grow crops in salt-damaged soil

A group of researchers may have found a way to reverse falling crop yields caused by increasingly salty farmlands throughout the world. Led by Brent Nielsen, professor of microbiology and molecular biology at Brigham Young University, scientists have used bacteria found in the roots of salt-tolerant plants to successfully inoculate alfalfa plants against overly salty… Continue reading Scientists successfully innoculate, grow crops in salt-damaged soil

How digital revolution in farming systems can boost productivity

Effective science and communication collaborations are critical to ensure gene editing technology does not suffer from the “perception problem” now facing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), a plant pathologist warned. “I want to feed the world sustainably. That’s what motivates me as a scientist,” said Jim Bradeen, head of the Department of Plant Pathology at the… Continue reading How digital revolution in farming systems can boost productivity

Artificial intelligence helps banana growers protect the world’s most favorite fruit

Artificial intelligence-powered tools are rapidly becoming more accessible, including for people in the more remote corners of the globe. This is good news for smallholder farmers, who can use handheld technologies to run their farms more efficiently, linking them to markets, extension workers, satellite images, and climate information. The technology is also becoming a first… Continue reading Artificial intelligence helps banana growers protect the world’s most favorite fruit

New cotton varieties to target reniform nematodes

Nematodes annually take 5 percent of the U.S. cotton crop, on average. Some fields lose as much as 25 percent to these invisible bandits. John Mueller, Clemson university Extension nematologist, estimates annual losses of 1 million bales, nationwide. Primary culprits are the reniform and root-knot nematode species, but others, including the Columbia Lance — mostly… Continue reading New cotton varieties to target reniform nematodes

Discovery could pave the way for disease-resistant rice crops

Researchers have uncovered an unusual protein activity in rice that can be exploited to give crops an edge in the evolutionary arms race against rice blast disease, a major threat to rice production around the world. Magnaporthe oryzae, the fungus that leads to rice blast disease, creates lesions on rice plants that reduce the yield… Continue reading Discovery could pave the way for disease-resistant rice crops