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plantbiology.bsky.social
Plant Biology
@plantbiology.bsky.social
Plant science content for the general public and for/in the mainstream media.

Tag us in your post if you think that it fits the audience.
Reposted by Plant Biology
Arabidopsis thaliana was always an unlikely candidate for the limelight. But 25 years ago, the diminutive thale cress launched the botanical world into the molecular era.

✍️ Rachel Ehrenberg

knowmag.org/4hImL8e
How a humble weed became a superstar of biology
Arabidopsis thaliana was always an unlikely candidate for the limelight. But 25 years ago, the diminutive thale cress launched the botanical world into the molecular era.
knowmag.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
I just made an account and voted for this biology laboratory made of LEGO to "promote biological research and inspire more people into the world of biology". They need 10K votes. Reposting and/or voting below would be helpful. 🤗
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
Biological Laboratory | LEGO® Ideas
This is a two-floor realistic Biological Laboratory building. In this design, I try to tell stories about biologists, introduce biology concepts to general publ…
beta.ideas.lego.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
A tiny white-petalled weed beloved of plant biologists has received a CRISPR-fueled makeover, turning it into a supersized ruby-colored bloom www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Blooms supersized - Nature Biotechnology
Nature Biotechnology - Blooms supersized
www.nature.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
In @theguardian.com : "Plant that mimics odour of half-eaten ants to attract pollinators discovered"

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Plant that mimics odour of half-eaten ants to attract pollinators discovered
Botanist says new Japanese species of dogbane is first evidence of plants copying ants
www.theguardian.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Trump’s contradictions on farmworkers echo a long history of romanticizing farming — one bound up with race, nature, exploitation, and the nation’s identity, says a historian of agriculture and labor.

buff.ly/jPCOu6z

By @dcsackman.bsky.social, University of Puget Sound
‘These people do it naturally’: President Trump’s views on immigrant farmworkers reflect a long history of how farming has been idealized and practiced in America
Historically, farm work in the United States has been carefully constructed to appear natural, including the racism and labor exploitation that characterizes it, a scholar writes.
theconversation.com
August 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
New Zealand had some of the most restrictive laws when it came to genetically engineered food crops. This move once again demonstrates how the NZ Government makes Science-based decisions.

Take note, European Union!

#PlantGMOs #PlantNGTs #PlantScience #Agroculture #Sustainability #PlantBreeding
NZ joins other Third Countries in updating GM labeling rules: foods made with #GenomeEditing but without new DNA will no longer require a GM label. Only products with added DNA/proteins will.
▶️ A shift toward science-based, risk-proportionate regulation!

www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/...
Are NZ shoppers hungry for genetically-modified foods?
Gene-edited food won’t need a GM label if no new DNA was introduced during its production.
www.nzherald.co.nz
August 26, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Scientists have spent decades puzzling over potatoes’ origin story. The answer was juicier than anyone expected, @katherinejwu.com reports.
Potatoes Evolved From … Tomatoes?
Dipping fries into ketchup just got a little more mind-bending.
bit.ly
August 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
This came up today. Wondering about genetically modified GMO food?Watch « Well fed » vimeo.com/188913344
July 13, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
This is a fantastic documentary on #PlantBiotechnology, genetically engineered #PlantGMOs, & the anti-scientific disinformation campaigns that #Greenpeace has been running against them.
In German, but there are English subtitles.

SWR is German public broadcaster, & I don't see a COI.

#PlantScience
Greenpeace warnt vor grüner Gentechnik – zu Recht? | SWR Wissen
YouTube video by SWR Wissen
youtu.be
June 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Around the world, food staples — including wheat, beef and coffee — are being affected by widespread drought, with some prices climbing to record highs.
Drought Is Hurting Global Food Supplies
Staples including wheat, beef and coffee are all being affected by the lack of rainfall. In some cases, prices are climbing to record highs.
trib.al
June 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
URGENT The Naked Scientists needs your help. This is one of the best #science #podcast out there. #Cambridge University is planning to make Dr. Chris Smith redundant, which would likely kill the podcast. More info and how you can help here:
www.thenakedscientists.com/sos-cambridg...
SOS - Cambridge University are killing of Dr Chris
EMERGENCY
www.thenakedscientists.com
June 17, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Climate crisis could hit yields of key crops even if farmers adapt, study finds www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Climate crisis could hit yields of key crops even if farmers adapt, study finds
Production of staple crops projected to fall by as much as 120 calories per person per day for every 1C of heating
www.theguardian.com
June 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
I’m sharing my very personal story to encourage everyone to participate in and celebrate Pride month. All our voices are needed to protect diversity and support the queer community. #PRIDEmonth 🌈.
rootandshoot.org/forever-prid...
June 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Book a Scientist - Expertinnen und Experten der @leibniz-gemeinschaft.de beantworten eure Fragen. Mit dabei vom IPB: @marischuster.bsky.social & @cbtomsen.bsky.social

Jetzt Termin für ein 25-min Online-Gespräch (De/En) am 3.6. buchen auf: www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de/ueber-uns/ne...

#plantsci
May 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
"Organic food isn't pesticide-free - or better for the planet"

It's nice to have such a clear statement directly in the title 👏

Interview with Ian Godwin from Queensland University, Australia for Contact Magazine.

qaafi.uq.edu.au/article/2025...

#PlantScience #OrganicFood #PlantNGTs #PlantGMOs
Organic food isn't pesticide-free - or better for the planet
Many of us reach for foods labelled as ‘organic’, assuming they’ll be free from chemical nasties and hold a higher nutritional value. But is this reputation deserved – and is organic food worth the hi...
qaafi.uq.edu.au
May 6, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Genetically modified pod borer resistant cowpeas now boosting food security for smallholder farmers in Ghana #plantscience 🧪 theconversation.com/ghanas-first...
Ghana’s first genetically modified crop: why we created a new cowpea variety, how we tested it and what we found
Research results demonstrate the potential of GM cowpea to enhance yields and profitability for resource-poor farmers.
theconversation.com
April 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
"Sowing solutions: my quest to save Kenya’s maize from a devastating invader"

Henry Sila Nzioki, interviewed by @lindanordling.bsky.social, writes about his work fighting the #ParasiticPlants #Striga in @nature.com.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

#PlantScience
Sowing solutions: my quest to save Kenya’s maize from a devastating invader
Henry Sila Nzioki has developed a weed-killing fungus to improve food security.
www.nature.com
April 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
"Century-old genetics mystery of Mendel’s peas finally solved"

'Researchers pinpoint the genes responsible for the final three pea traits studied by the famed citizen scientist.'

By Amanda Heidt for @nature.com

#PlantScience

www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Century-old genetics mystery of Mendel’s peas finally solved
Researchers pinpoint the genes responsible for the final three pea traits studied by the famed citizen scientist.
www.nature.com
April 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
"Tropical tree in Panama has evolved to kill its 'enemies' with lightning"

www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

by @jacklinkwan.bsky.social for Live Sciences

#PlantScience
Tree that kills its 'enemies' with lightning discovered
Tonka bean trees survive lightning strikes — and use the powerful electric shocks to kill their competitors.
www.livescience.com
April 16, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
If you need something interesting to listen, here are some cool #PlantScience / #PlantBiology Podcasts (Thread 🧵):

"Atom in the Garden of Eden" by 99% Invisible

99percentinvisible.org/episode/atom...

Back when you could just order & sow randomly #mutagenized plants to check for cool phenotypes.
Atom in the Garden of Eden - 99% Invisible
As the world entered the Atomic Age, humankind faced a new fear that permeated just about every aspect of daily life: the threat of nuclear war. And while the violent applications of atomic research h...
99percentinvisible.org
November 8, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
"Whatever your diet, from chicken nuggets to organic tofu, the food you consume is the result of generations of work by agricultural scientists and plant breeders to meet the ever-changing needs of farmers and consumers."

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...

#PlantScience #PlantBreeding #Sustainability
Opinion | Why Did Elon Musk Go After Bunkers Full of Seeds? (Gift Article)
Gene banks are like a survivalist cache: our nation’s safeguard against all future challenges to growing the food we need.
www.nytimes.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"Gene-edited non-browning banana could cut food waste, scientists say"

by Hannah Devlin for @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

#PlantScience #PlantGMOs #Banana
Gene-edited non-browning banana could cut food waste, scientists say
Fruit variety developed in Norwich remains fresh for up to 12 hours after being peeled
www.theguardian.com
March 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by Plant Biology
Gene-edited non-browning banana could cut food waste, scientists say www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Gene-edited non-browning banana could cut food waste, scientists say
Fruit variety developed in Norwich remains fresh for up to 12 hours after being peeled
www.theguardian.com
March 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM