News

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  Understory Shrub Diversity: Equally Vital as Overstory Tree Diversity to Promote Forest Productivity

  Biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships have been extensively studied, particularly within the primary layers of producers in terrestrial ecosystems. In multi-layer ecosystems such as forests, the contribution of diversity in the secondary layer, i.e. shrubs, to ecosystem functioning is still largely unknown. This study used 11-year growth data from a forest biodiversity experiment with factorially crossed manipulations of tree and shrub species richness to assess their effects on forest productivity.

  Apr 03, 2025
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  Fungal Allies: The Hidden Key to Soil Carbon Storage in Grasslands

  The critical role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in grassland ecosystems across China has highlighted in recent research published in PNAS. The finding reveals how a hidden partnership between plants and mycorrhizal fungi plays a vital role in helping grasslands store more carbon—a key factor in combating climate change.

  Feb 22, 2025
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  Desert Plants' Clever Survival Trick: Two Dormancy Cycles a Year Ensure Survival in Harsh Conditions

  A fascinating survival strategy-a unique seed dormancy cycling mechanism in two desert ephemeral plants, Alyssum linifolium and Tetracme quadricornis, has been revealed. This research reveals how these plants adapt to the extreme conditions of the Gurbantunggut Desert in Central Asia by going through two dormancy cycles each year. This allows them to produce two different groups of seedlings annually.

  Feb 18, 2025
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  Hydrogen Peroxide and the Mystery of Fruit Ripening: "Signal Messengers" in Plants

  A research team led by Prof. QIN Guozheng from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has unveiled that the RNA N6–methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase SlALKBH2 undergoes a reduction-oxidation (redox) modification, which affects SlALKBH2 protein stability, thereby modulating its physiological function in regulation of normal ripening of tomato fruits.

  Jan 10, 2025
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  Researchers Reveal Molecular Mechanism of Sugar Accumulation in Grape Berries

  Sugar transport plays a pivotal role in determining the productivity of plants and their capacity to act as carbon sinks. In the major fruit crop grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), the transporter gene Vitis vinifera Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter 15 (VvSWEET15)is strongly expressed during berry ripening.

  Dec 24, 2024
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  The Third International Symposium of Mapping Asia Plants Successfully Convenes

  Nov 29, 2024
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  SUMOylation of AL6 Regulates Seed Dormancy and Thermoinhibition in Arabidopsis

  Seed dormancy avoids seed germination under unfavorable conditions and prevents preharvest seed sprouting. Moreover, high temperature restricts the germination of nondormant seeds, referring to seed thermoinhibition

  Nov 23, 2024
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  The IUCN SSC China Plant Specialist Group was Honored with the "SSC Chair's Citation Excellence" at the 5th IUCN SSC Leaders' Meeting

  Nov 07, 2024
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  China and France Join Hands to Explore a New Chapter in the Science of Grape and Wine

  This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. These two countries have great significance and development potential in agricultural science and technology cooperation. The 6th annual meeting of the Sino-French Joint Laboratory on Grape and Wine (LIA Innogrape) was held on November 1 at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  Nov 04, 2024
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  Scientists Uncover New Mechanism in Plant Cold Sensing

  Cold damage is a major challenge in rice production. Identifying key gene modules in signaling pathways is a crucial step in addressing this issue. A research team led by Prof. Kang Chong from the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered that a part of the plant's cell membrane, called the COLD6-OSM1 module, helps plants sense when it's cold. This module triggers the production of a special molecule, 2’,3’-cAMP, which helps plants sense and respond to low temperatures.

  Oct 31, 2024