Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Latest Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Genomic Study Reveals Key Insights into Modern Maize Inbred Lines

Maize is a globally cultivated staple crop and one of the most successful examples of heterosis utilization in food production.

3 Jan 2025

Biologists Reveal Genetics Behind Walnut Trees' Alternating Sexes

The genetics behind the alternating sexes of walnut trees has been revealed by biologists at the University of California, Davis.

3 Jan 2025

Plant Research Reveals Unexpected Function for Key Cellular Protein

A cell protein previously believed only to provide a scaffolding for DNA has also been shown to directly influence DNA transcription into RNA – the first step of the process by which an organism's genetic code expresses itself. The fundamental breakthrough was discovered in apple cells but is relevant to all living organisms made of nucleus-containing cells, including humans.

24 Dec 2024

New Synthetic Biology Tool Improves Genetic Circuit Integration and Functionality

The research team led by Professor Jongmin Kim from the Department of Life Sciences at POSTECH, along with graduate students Hyunseop Goh and Seungdo Choi, has successfully developed the 'Synthetic Translational Coupling Element (SynTCE),' significantly enhancing the precision and integration density of genetic circuits in synthetic biology.

23 Dec 2024

Overactive Chemoreceptors Affect Cardiovascular and Metabolic Consequences of Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers from the University of Missouri are studying potential therapies to target specific cells linked to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

20 Dec 2024

New Computational Model Enables Timely Response to Desert Locust Threats

Desert locusts typically lead solitary lives until something - like intense rainfall - triggers them to swarm in vast numbers, often with devastating consequences.

20 Dec 2024

Deadly Mould Strains Highly Likely to Acquire Resistance to New Drugs

Scientists have identified strains of one of the world’s most dangerous fungal pathogens, already resistant to our most effective antifungal drugs, which are also 5-times more likely to acquire resistance to desperately needed new treatments in development.

From The University of Manchester 16 Dec 2024

Study Reveals Genetic Basis of Sweetpotato Flesh Color Regulation

Sweetpotatoes are an agricultural powerhouse that feeds millions globally. However, their complex genetics make it challenging for breeders to understand and improve traits like yield, disease resistance, and nutritional content. A new study reveals insights into the significance of leveraging "allele dosages" in sweetpotato breeding practices.

13 Dec 2024

Boosting Nutrition with Homegrown Vitamin B2

Many vitamins are produced in chemical factories, usually synthetically. Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark have developed a natural and easy way to produce vitamin B2: by gently heating lactic acid bacteria.

12 Dec 2024

Recycling Human and Livestock Waste Reduces Fertilizer Dependency

Recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as phosphorus and dramatically reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, according to a global analysis of nutrient recycling published in Nature Sustainability.

12 Dec 2024

Genetic engineering study explored new strategies to combat heat stress in potato crops

This study highlights the impact of the AP3 pathway in potatoes, showing enhanced tuber yield and photosynthetic performance under heat stress, with potential applications for mitigating climate change impacts on crop production.

12 Dec 2024

Researchers Engineer Enzymes to Enhance Plant Heat Tolerance

As global temperatures rise, it's imperative that plants can adapt to new and changing conditions.

5 Dec 2024

AI-Assisted Raman-Activated Cell Sorting for Microbial Analysis

AI-RACS enhances microbial cell sorting by automating identification and isolation, addressing challenges in environmental samples and advancing biotechnology.

4 Dec 2024

Research Sheds Light on Protein's Role in Enhancing Plant Disease Resistance

Salicylic acid is vital for protecting plants from pathogens, but its synthesis remains unclear. A recent study by Shinshu University researchers has discovered that the protein HSR201 is key to its production.

3 Dec 2024

Enterococcus Co-Infection Increases Protective Slime in Pathogenic E. coli

A new study finds that two subtypes of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) produce five to 16 times more protective capsular "slime" when Enterococcus faecalis (EF) is present.

3 Dec 2024

Biodiversity in the city: Sown meadows as urban refuges for pollinators

In a recent article, researchers investigated the role of sown wildflower meadows in urban areas. They found that they effectively support pollinator populations, particularly bees and hoverflies, while natural meadows remain vital for butterflies.

2 Dec 2024

New Biogel Test Detects Bacteria Through Simple Color Change

A novel new test for bacteria in fluids makes it as easy as observing a color change to confirm the presence of disease-causing pathogens, promising much easier diagnostic tests and greater food safety.

28 Nov 2024

Cyanobacteria Harness Pulse Amplitude Modulation to Control Biological Functions

Cyanobacteria, an ancient lineage of bacteria that perform photosynthesis, have been found to regulate their genes using the same physics principle used in AM radio transmission.

26 Nov 2024

Uncovering the Genetic Basis of Sex Determination in Amborella trichopoda

Although it is a complicated process, plant reproduction is essential to both ecological balance and the food chain. Some plants are hermaphrodites, some are either male or female, and some change sex during their lives.

26 Nov 2024

Redefining plant monitoring with innovative tactile sensor technology

In a recent article, researchers present an iontronic tactile sensory system combined with machine learning, enabling accurate classification of plant species and growth stages for precision agriculture.

26 Nov 2024