Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

Latest Food and Agricultural Sciences News and Research

'Farm-tuning' cover crop mixtures to achieve maximum ecosystem services

Penn State researchers, in a recent study, were surprised to learn that they could take the exact same number of seeds from the same plants, put them in agricultural fields across the Mid-Atlantic region and get profoundly different stands of cover crops a few months later.

19 Aug 2020

Researchers uncover a novel biochemical mechanism fundamental to plant life

University of Adelaide researchers as part of a multidisciplinary, international team, have uncovered a new biochemical mechanism fundamental to plant life.

19 Aug 2020

New study reveals surprising features in coral sperm and eggs

When stony corals have their renowned mass spawning events, in sync with the moon's cycle, colonies simultaneously release an underwater "cloud" of sperm and eggs for fertilization.

From Rutgers University 19 Aug 2020

Researchers discover the exit route for Vibrio bacteria from cells

As soon as the foodborne pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus infects a human intestinal cell, the bacteria are already planning their escape. After all, once it is in and multiplies, the bacterium must find a way out to infect new cells.

19 Aug 2020

Switching off 'master regulator' may offer neuroprotection from Parkinson's-related damage

Switching off a molecular "master regulator" may protect the brain from inflammatory damage and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease, reports a study published today in Nature Neuroscience.

18 Aug 2020

Novel technique of biofortification converts leaves into nutrient stores

A new collaborative study led by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) in Barcelona and the Institute for Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP) in Valencia describes a promising strategy to improve the nutritional benefits of crops.

18 Aug 2020

Global warming causes shifts in composition of plant communities

Although Live Oak trees are common in South Florida today, Ken Feeley, a University of Miami biology professor, said their time here may be fleeting.

18 Aug 2020

New nanoparticle formulation could stop tooth decay without killing oral bacteria

Oral bacteria are ready to spring into action the moment a dental hygienist finishes scraping plaque off a patient's teeth.

18 Aug 2020

COVID-19 pandemic lessons could help mitigate climate change

The dynamics of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic around the world could provide a valuable understanding of the efforts to reduce climate change.

17 Aug 2020

Study sheds light on genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in atopic dermatitis

The KIF3A gene contains common variants that raise the risk of a dysfunctional skin barrier and ultimately lead to a skin condition, called atopic dermatitis.

17 Aug 2020

NIH-supported research delineates how genetic variations cause atopic dermatitis

New research supported by the National Institutes of Health delineates how two relatively common variations in a gene called KIF3A are responsible for an impaired skin barrier that allows increased water loss from the skin, promoting the development of atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema.

17 Aug 2020

Cover crop roots are essential to judge their overall effectiveness

To judge the overall effectiveness of cover crops and choose those offering the most ecosystem services, agricultural scientists must consider the plants' roots as well as above-ground biomass, according to Penn State researchers who tested the characteristics of cover crop roots in three monocultures and one mixture.

14 Aug 2020

Flavonoids in sorghum roots may lead to development of frost-resistant crop

Flavonoid compounds -- produced by the roots of some sorghum plants -- positively affect soil microorganisms, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest the discovery is an early step in developing a frost-resistant line of the valuable crop for North American farmers.

14 Aug 2020

New research suggests pollution is also a cause for antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is an increasing health problem, but new research suggests it is not only caused by the overuse of antibiotics. It's also caused by pollution.

From University of Georgia 14 Aug 2020

Understanding Environmental Change Through Indigenous People

AZoLifeSciences speaks to Professor Pamela McElwee on how grassroots knowledge from indigenous people can help aid our understanding of environmental changes.

From Rutgers University 13 Aug 2020

Seafood study finds plastic in all samples

A study of five different seafoods has found traces of plastic in every sample tested.

From University of Exeter 13 Aug 2020

Study finds agricultural additions as largest human source of sulfur in the environment

A new paper out today in Nature Geoscience identifies fertilizer and pesticide applications to croplands as the largest source of sulfur in the environment--up to 10 times higher than the peak sulfur load seen in the second half of the 20th century, during the days of acid rain.

11 Aug 2020

Personal connections can help communities adapt to climate change, shows study

Connections with friends and family are key to helping communities adapt to the devastating impact of climate change on their homes and livelihoods, a new study shows.

11 Aug 2020

Many consumers are confused by whole grain labels on food packaging

Whole grain labels on cereal, bread, and crackers are confusing to consumers and could cause them to make fewer healthy choices, according to the results of a study that tested whether people are able pick out the healthier, whole grain option based on food package labels.

11 Aug 2020

A genetic switch in brain cells can toggle between sex-specific states when necessary

Biological sex is typically understood in binary terms: male and female. However, there are many examples of animals that are able to modify sex-typical biological and behavioral features and even change sex.

11 Aug 2020