Plants are tougher than they look. They have special tools to fight off problems like dry weather. One such tool is the HcCNGC27 gene in kenaf, a hardy plant used for fiber. This gene is part of a big team that helps plants grow and stay strong. This gene is everywhere in the plant. It's in the outer layer, the plasma membrane. It's also in roots, stems, leaves, flo...

Plants have clever ways to handle tough conditions. One such method involves a signaling system called the MAPK cascade. This system acts like a plant's alarm and response team, kicking into gear when faced with stress like too much salt, dry spells, or extreme heat. At the top of this team is a gene called MEKK, which plays a big role in helping plants cope with the...

The mango tree has two special genes called MiCOL13A and MiCOL13B. These genes are part of a bigger family that helps plants know when to bloom based on the length of the day. They also help plants deal with tough conditions like salt and drought. These genes were found in a specific type of mango called Guire 82. Scientists found that these genes follow a daily cycl...

So, you know how the ends of your shoelaces don't untangle easily? Telomeres are like the protective caps on the ends of plant chromosomes. These caps keep the genome stable, which is super important for the plant's health. To do this job, telomerase comes into play, a fancy word for an enzyme complex made of proteins and RNA that builds telomeric DNA. The RNA part o...

Scientists have found a hidden superpower in a type of grass called Thinopyrum. This grass can help wheat plants tough it out against rust diseases, drought, and still keep their yields steady. The key is a special swap between two parts of the grass' DNA. This swap, called a chromosome translocation, is what gives the grass its super strength. The grass, Agropyron ...