News
May 08, 2024
Why is breaking down plant material for biofuels so slow?
Breaking down cellulose for biofuel is slow and inefficient but could avoid concerns around using a food source while taking advantage of abundant plant materials that might otherwise go to waste. New research led by Penn State investigators has revealed how several molecular roadblocks slow this process.
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Apr 16, 2024
Yellow-eyed grasses may have more insect visitors than previously thought
Scientists previously believed that a family of flowering plants called yellow-eyed grasses didn’t attract many insect visitors, but the recent discovery of a fungus that hijacks the plant and forms fungal “pseudoflowers” has researchers rethinking this assumption.
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Apr 04, 2024
New sunflower family tree reveals multiple origins of flower symmetry
The sunflower family tree revealed that flower symmetry evolved multiple times independently, a process called convergent evolution, among the members of this large plant family, according to a new analysis.
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Mar 20, 2024
Novel method to measure root depth may lead to more resilient crops
As climate change worsens global drought conditions, hindering crop production, the search for ways to capture and store atmospheric carbon causing the phenomenon has intensified.
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Feb 16, 2024
Common plant could help reduce food insecurity, researchers find
Fast-growing aquatic fern has the nutritional content to serve as a potentially vital food source after a catastrophe and could be relevant now
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Feb 05, 2024
Newly identified protein helps flowers develop all the right parts
Flowers rely on a newly identified protein to develop properly with all of their organs, according to the research team who made the discovery.
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Feb 01, 2024
Edge habitats along roads and power lines may be key to conserving rare plants
Edge habitats created by natural or human-caused disturbances provide prime opportunities for encouraging the establishment and reproduction of rare native plants, the researchers reported in a new study published in Plant Ecology
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Dec 08, 2023
Novel tool informs land use and nutrient control in troubled waters
Penn State researchers develop 3D agro-hydrologic model to simulate water, nutrient transport through entire watersheds.
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Nov 28, 2023
College of Ag Sciences recognizes faculty, staff for research achievements
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the 2023 Research Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 1 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.
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Oct 30, 2023
Plant pathologist to research plant diseases in organic vegetables
Sharifa Crandall will use a $800,000 grant from the USDA’s Organic Transitions initiative to study methods to suppress soilborne pathogens in vegetable high tunnels.
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