Climate affects hydraulic and stomatal traits
https://buff.ly/2gJ3QzL

Hydraulic traits influence the ability of plant species to grow and survive in water-limited environments. Bourne et al. compare hydraulic, anatomical, stomatal and leaf tissue water relations traits in six Eucalyptus species trees grown in a common garden plot; by focusing the study on a single genus, much of the variation that could be attributed to different climatic or environmental characteristics is eliminated.

The nature of xylem traits in Eucalyptus trees was found to be genetically constrained with important implications for the limits of species‘ responses to changing environmental conditions and thus for species survival and distribution into the future.

"Species climate range influences hydraulic and stomatal traits in Eucalyptus species" is available from Annals of Botany at https://buff.ly/2gJ3QzL . If you do not have access to a library with a subscription this paper will be free access from July 2018.

blogpost: https://buff.ly/2gJ3ZDj

Plant Resources II: All the world’s plants (at Kew!)
https://buff.ly/2eYvAg7
Nigel Chaffey discovers the Plants of the World portal.

In areas fully encroached by forest, plant species declined by 27 percent and ant species declined by 35 percent.

Call for papers: Developing sustainable bioenergy crops for future climates

Rapid progress has been made over the last five years with respect to emerging new genomic technologies for crop improvement and this Annals of Botany Special Issue will be devoted to highlighting the latest findings and considering the potential of these technologies for the future deployment of bioenergy crops in the face of climate change. At the same time, cutting-edge research that provides insights into the complex plant traits underpinning drought tolerance and response to other abiotic and biotic stresses is required for these relatively new crops. Knowledge in this area will be brought together in this Special Issue, and there will be a focus on recent advances in high throughput phenotyping to unravel these complex responses.

See the blog post for more info at:

Ethylene perception determines tomato plant growth induction by soil bacteria
https://buff.ly/2eTMLzc

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are soil microorganisms able to interact with plants and stimulate their growth, positively affecting plant physiology and development. Ethylene is involved in plant development and abiotic response. Ibort et al. investigate whether ethylene perception is critical for plant-bacteria interaction and growth induction by assessing Inoculation effects of two PGPB strains (unable to produce and degrade ethylene) regarding ethylene sensitivity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants at juvenile and mature stages.

Ethylene sensitivity is shown to be a determinant for Bacillus megaterium, but not involved in Enterobacter C7 promotion activity. The insights gained into PGPB effects on plant growth and physiology could have applications for agriculture, reducing use of chemicals and improving resource use and crop production.

"Tomato ethylene sensitivity determines interaction with plant growth-promoting bacteria." is available from Annals of Botany at https://buff.ly/2eTMLzc . If you do not have access to a library with a subscription this paper will be free access from July 2018.

blogpost: https://buff.ly/2eTMNai

A paper in this week’s PNAS suggests that the increased CO2 and humidity that will accompany climate change may go some way toward offsetting the risks to forests—and identifies which forests are likely to fare better and worse.

The Week in Botany 12
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Genetics of phenotypic plasticity and biomass traits in hybrid willows
https://buff.ly/2eK7Lbp

Phenotypic plasticity can have a great impact on the distribution of taxa and the productivity of crops across contrasting environments. Berlin et al. study the genetic architecture of biomass traits, including phenotypic plasticity in an experimental hybrid willow (Salix) population.

The population was planted over three common garden experiments, comprising one climatic contrast between Sweden and Italy and one water availability contrast in Italy. Compared to phenological traits, the genetic regulation of biomass traits was highly sensitive to the climate. These important findings demonstrate that breeding systems should be adapted according to climate in order to maximise biomass production in willows.

"Genetics of phenotypic plasticity and biomass traits in hybrid willows across contrasting environments and years" is available from Annals of Botany at https://buff.ly/2eK7Lbp . If you do not have access to a library with a subscription this paper will be free access from July 2018.

blogpost: https://buff.ly/2eK7TaT

Image: Salix

As chrysanthemum
leaves turn toward the sun they
give thanks to auxin

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