MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small RNAs that are 21 or 22 nucleotides (nts) long and have been shown to play critical roles in various plant life proc

Welcome to the September 2025 edition of Phytogen! This month, we present conference updates as we approach the registration and abstract submission deadline on 3 October 2025 . With the 2025 confe...

Abstract. Flowering and inflorescence development of wheat involve coordination of organ development, tissue growth, and remobilisation of nutrients from s

A significant proportion of flowers in crop plants fail to produce seeds, particularly under heat and drought stress. This outcome reflects a regulated developmental process of reproductive abortion, shaped by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors that limit crop yield. Unlike abscission, reproductive abortion can occur at multiple developmental stages. In this review, we examine how internal and external cues disrupt the development of florets, ovules, embryos, and seeds in major food crops, including cereals, legumes, and brassicas, under both optimal and stress conditions. Drawing from research in arabidopsis and extending to crop systems, we identify conserved and crop-specific mechanisms, highlight critical knowledge gaps, and propose strategies to enhance reproductive resilience and seed set under abiotic stresses.

We seek a creative, collaborative, and visionary plant biologist to establish an internationally recognized research program at the forefront of plant-microbe interactions aimed at understanding how t...

Abstract. Mitochondria play a central role in cellular respiration and other essential metabolic and signaling pathways. To function properly, mitochondria

Wheat pollination in line and hybrid varieties needs to be secured in a changing climate. Cost-effective hybrid wheat seed production requires selection for outcrossing floral organs. Wheat breeding.....

Plant molecular biologist Dr Samantha McGaughey has been announced as the 2025 ACT Scientist of the Year.

ICPMB 2026 14th International Conference for Plant Molecular Biology May 18-22, 2026 Kagoshima, Japan

Plant resistance (R) and pathogen avirulence (Avr) gene interactions are central to pathogen recognition and disease resistance in crops. However, functional characterisation of Avr effectors in Pucci...

Engineering of plants for improved traits and efficient heterologous protein production can be achieved by modifying or introducing cis- or trans-acting RNA elements. The function of these elements d....

Welcome! Our research focuses on the evolutionary process at the molecular level. In particular, we investigate how a mixture of natural selection and non-adaptive forces create and maintain the amazi...