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Mastermind Steroid Found in Plants

By Guest PostNovember 19, 2010Nature, Scienceanimal cells, arabidopsis, brassinosteroids, cellular functions, chain reactions, crop research, development, environmental stresses, genes, molecular links, plant growth, plant hormone, plant science, plant steroids, steroid, yu sun, zhi-yong wang

Palo Alto, CA — Scientists have known for some time how important plant steroids called brassinosteroids are for regulating plant growth and development. But until now, they did not know how extensive their reach is.

Now researchers, including Yu Sun and Zhi-Yong Wang at Carnegie’s Department of Plant Biology, have identified about a thousand brassinosteroid target genes, which reveal molecular links between the steroid and numerous cellular functions and other hormonal and light-activated chain reactions. The study, published in the November 16, 2010, issue of Developmental Cell, provides the first comprehensive action map for a plant hormone. The research will help accelerate basic plant science and crop research. (more…)

Witchweed Should Haunt Crops no Longer, say U of T Researchers

Each year, thousands of acres of crops are planted throughout Africa, Asia and Australia only to be laid to waste by a parasitic plant called Striga, also known as witchweed. It is one of the largest challenges to food security in Africa, and a team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Toronto have discovered chemicals and genes that may break Striga’s stranglehold. (more…)

Tag Archives: plant hormone

Mastermind Steroid Found in Plants

Witchweed Should Haunt Crops no Longer, say U of T Researchers