Although >80% of species form arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses, the roles of plant hormones in the associations are still being determined. Foo et al. critically review recent progress in our understanding of the roles of strigolactones, auxin, abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid in mycorrhizal symbiosis, and present new evidence for a novel role for [...]

The Australian legume Viminaria juncea forms both cluster roots and mycorrhizal associations. de Campos et al. manipulate P supply over a range of 0 to 50 mg P kg–1 dry soil in order to investigate if these root specializations are expressed at different shoot P concentrations [P]. Remarkably, they find that shoot [P] over the entire [...]

Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) is a popular ornamental plant with attractive, colourful flowers, but the genetic mechanisms that regulate flowering are largely unknown. Li et al. generate transgenic gloxinia plants that over-express or supress miR159, and determine that this leads to late and early flowering, respectively. miR159-mediated SsGAMYB expression affects the expression levels of SsLEAFY (SsLFY) and [...]

Estimation of allele copy numbers for molecular markers is a challenge for polyploid species.

Preservation of cultivar purity is a particular challenge for plants that are self-incompatible and have easily germinating seeds and vigorously spreading rhizomes.

Several widespread tree species of temperate forests produce desiccation-sensitive seeds, but the ecological significance of this is largely unknown.

Spatial spread of genetically identical plants may decrease paternal diversity and fertility, particularly towards the centre of large clumps of clones.