With no disrespect intended to the authors – Takashi Yaeno et al. – who, at first glance, is able to tell me what the article entitled, ‘Phosphatidylinositol monophosphate-binding interface in the oomycete RXLR effector AVR3a is required for its stability in host cells to modulate plant immunity’ is about? I know, I struggled with it, [...]
Pollen-collecting bees are the most important pollinators globally, but are also the most common pollen thieves and can significantly reduce plant reproduction. Hargreaves et al. investigate whether floral characteristics mediate the roles played by bees – ranging from avid pollen thieves to the plant’s only pollinators – for ten species of Aloe. Pollen theft is promoted [...]
Although known from plants for a long time, the function of mineral inclusions – included amongst the so-called ergastic substances of old – remains speculative. Frequently composed of calcium oxalate and rather toxic, it has been speculated that druses may deter would-be herbivores, and/or act as store of calcium – often needed in large amounts as a [...]
As plant Golgi bodies move through the cell along the actin cytoskeleton, they face the need to maintain their polarized stack structure whilst receiving, processing and distributing protein cargo destined for secretion. Structural proteins, or Golgi matrix proteins, help to hold cisternae together and tethering factors direct cargo carriers to the correct target membranes. This [...]
Low levels of phosphorous in soils seriously limit seed production of Brassica napus. Ding et al. investigate phenotypic variation of seed yield and yield-related traits in B. napus plants grown with contrasting supplies of P, and identify a total of 74 putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The results suggest that different genetic determinants are involved [...]
Most floral nectar proteins (nectarins) are reported to function in nectar defence, particularly for insect-pollinated outcrossing species. Zha et al. compare nectarin composition in selfing common tobacco (CT; Nicotiana tobaccum) to outcrossing ornamental tobacco plants and find that the most abundant nectarin in CT nectar is an acidic alpha-galactosidase that has not been detected in the nectar [...]
The biotic and abiotic environment of interacting hosts and parasites may vary considerably over small spatial and temporal scales. Jorgensen examines the effects of differing temperature and soil nutrient conditions on powdery mildew infection of Arabidopsis thaliana, and finds that there is a strong potential for a heterogeneous environment to change the resistance capacity of [...]