Marc Somssich
@somssich.bsky.social
3.1K followers 650 following 2.4K posts
Trait Program Manager (Biotic Stress) @KWSGroup.bsky.social Author @preLights.bsky.social Editor @ThePlantCell.bsky.social Web: https://linktr.ee/somssich Personal Account
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somssich.bsky.social
𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 and 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞! 👋

Here's some content you might find interesting:

𝟏) My chapters of "𝐀 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞"
𝟐) My 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 threads
𝟑) My threads on 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬
𝟒) My Bluesky 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 & 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬
𝟓) Some info on 𝐌𝐲 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡

See all compiled Below 👇🧵
Reposted by Marc Somssich
somssich.bsky.social
This Ultra-Limited Edition Six-Colored-LP Box Set included a full-length live-recording of Co-Author @spicybotrytis.bsky.social reading the entire thing while simultaneously providing color-commentary and criticism. There may even be a special appearance of Co-Author @tonnigrubeandersen.bsky.social!
Reposted by Marc Somssich
somssich.bsky.social
Our article "Guns in Rosettes: The Arabidopsis chemical weapons arsenal" is finally published @plantphys.bsky.social!
You can download the #OpenAccess PDF here:

doi.org/10.1093/plph...

But real connoisseurs of #AntimicrobialCompounds will want to get the vinyl boxset: #PlantScience #PlantImmunity
A vinyl box with six colored vinyl LPs sticking out of its right side. The Title "Guns in Rosettes" is on top, with the subtitle "The Arabidopsis chemical weapons arsenal" just below. Then there is an Arabidopsis plant with machine guns sticking out. Below is the statement "6-LP LIMITED EDITION COLORED VINYL BOX SET" The back cover of the vinyl box set showing the tracklist:
1. Methionine-derived compounds
    Aliphatic GSLs
2. Tryptophan-derived compounds (trptonites)
    Indolic GSLs
    Camalexin
    Hycanite (4-OH-ICN)
3. Phenylalanine-derived compounds (phenylpropanoids)
    Benzenic GSLs
    Coumarins
    Hydroxycinnamates
    Flavonoids
4. Terpenoids
    (E)-β-caryophyllene
    α- and β-pinene
    Thalianin, arabidin, and DMNT

And the statement "Recorded live in front of an audience in 2025"
somssich.bsky.social
...but then, just as you're about to drift off into sleep, the color-commentary kicks in and makes it FUN again!! 😉
somssich.bsky.social
I wish I was that talented. 🙂
Reposted by Marc Somssich
plantteaching.bsky.social
I was a member of a scientific society for many years before joining the staff nearly 20 years ago, and I endorse this position!
I encourage everyone to find and join a relevant scientific society (or several). You can engage with their programs and benefit directly, or just support their mission.
globalplantgpc.bsky.social
Why do scientific societies matter now more than ever?

Scientists board explore how societies support researchers, foster global collaboration, & shape the future of science. A must-read for all career stages 👍

🔗 buff.ly/YW2XUN3

#plantscience #science
Reposted by Marc Somssich
stuartmcdaniel.bsky.social
Lingua wanka is a hilarious moniker for scientific writing
somssich.bsky.social
Fantastic editorial on #ScientificWriting. 👇
malick-mbengue.bsky.social
I wished I could have written something like this. Rude, fun and meaningful.
static1.squarespace.com/static/686d9...
Reposted by Marc Somssich
somssich.bsky.social
Coincidentally, for our "Guns in Rosettes" article,we actively tried to use a more plain language for the exact reasons discussed in the editorial. Here are real Reviewer Comments:
"It sounds a bit immature"
"I find the tone too popular"
"This style may raises concern about the quality of the paper"
somssich.bsky.social
Coincidentally, for our "Guns in Rosettes" article,we actively tried to use a more plain language for the exact reasons discussed in the editorial. Here are real Reviewer Comments:
"It sounds a bit immature"
"I find the tone too popular"
"This style may raises concern about the quality of the paper"
somssich.bsky.social
Fantastic editorial on #ScientificWriting. 👇
malick-mbengue.bsky.social
I wished I could have written something like this. Rude, fun and meaningful.
static1.squarespace.com/static/686d9...
static1.squarespace.com
somssich.bsky.social
It was great fun to write this article with Dan and Tonni, and I have learned a LOT in the process of writing it.

I hope you enjoy reading it too! 🍻
somssich.bsky.social
This Ultra-Limited Edition Six-Colored-LP Box Set included a full-length live-recording of Co-Author @spicybotrytis.bsky.social reading the entire thing while simultaneously providing color-commentary and criticism. There may even be a special appearance of Co-Author @tonnigrubeandersen.bsky.social!
somssich.bsky.social
Our article "Guns in Rosettes: The Arabidopsis chemical weapons arsenal" is finally published @plantphys.bsky.social!
You can download the #OpenAccess PDF here:

doi.org/10.1093/plph...

But real connoisseurs of #AntimicrobialCompounds will want to get the vinyl boxset: #PlantScience #PlantImmunity
A vinyl box with six colored vinyl LPs sticking out of its right side. The Title "Guns in Rosettes" is on top, with the subtitle "The Arabidopsis chemical weapons arsenal" just below. Then there is an Arabidopsis plant with machine guns sticking out. Below is the statement "6-LP LIMITED EDITION COLORED VINYL BOX SET" The back cover of the vinyl box set showing the tracklist:
1. Methionine-derived compounds
    Aliphatic GSLs
2. Tryptophan-derived compounds (trptonites)
    Indolic GSLs
    Camalexin
    Hycanite (4-OH-ICN)
3. Phenylalanine-derived compounds (phenylpropanoids)
    Benzenic GSLs
    Coumarins
    Hydroxycinnamates
    Flavonoids
4. Terpenoids
    (E)-β-caryophyllene
    α- and β-pinene
    Thalianin, arabidin, and DMNT

And the statement "Recorded live in front of an audience in 2025"
somssich.bsky.social
Headliner at the #KWSScienceSlam was Max Koch from @uni-goettingen.de, talking about how he accidentally became famous with beer.

As a side-project, the physicist studied how the POPP! sound is produced when a swing-top beer bottle is opened. #BeerScience

See below for his paper & media coverage.
Max Koch on stage at the KWS ScienceSlam with Host Gina Wied. The Title slide for his presentation shows himself and the headline/title: Visiting Talk: Max Koch - How we became famous with beer. Max Koch presenting. The slide titled "Autumn 2024 -- new 'test case' for our code: homebrewed ginger beer".
It shows his lab group in their lab with Max holding up a swing-top beer bottle to a high-speed camera and microphone, about to open it. The other team members use the equipment, such as the computer for the documentation. Next to the photo is a still shot from the video, showing the moment the swing top lid is lifted off the bottle, with gas vapours escaping the bottle.
somssich.bsky.social
Nataliia Rybchenko from @kwsgroup.bsky.social Ukraine presented her 'Sunflower' documentary at the #KWSScienceSlam.
Ukraine is the global leader in sunflower oil production, but amid the war, the sunflower has also become a symbol of freedom for Ukraine.

Documentary:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u2U...
Nataliia Rybchenko on stage presenting her documentary on Sunflower production in Ukraine. The slide behind her shows Sunflowers on the right, and text on the left. The text says: "The idea behind the film: The sunflower is more than a strategic crop, it's a symbol of resilience, heritage, and life - a land that keeps giving, even in dark times. Stories of science, business, culture, and emotion reveal its meaning. Our film's title, 'Sunflower: Meanings that seed the future', reflects this. Nataliia Rybchenko on stage. The slide behind her shows a sunflower field and the the title 'Sunflower in Ukraine: A pillar crop amid challenges' Below are some facts: Sunflower is among Ukraine's top 3 profitable crops, Ukraine is global leader in sunflower oil production and exports, 27 % of the arable land is no longer available due to occupation, landmines, active war, 30 % of sowing area is at risk because of proximity to the active combat zones of the war.
Reposted by Marc Somssich
kwsgroup.bsky.social
Our KWS colleague Anja Matzk will speak at an event organised by Plants for the Future ETP and co-hosted by three MEPs, discussing how #NGTs can help make European farming more resilient and competitive.
Looking forward to the interesting exchange! 💡
Reposted by Marc Somssich
somssich.bsky.social
People: "Things used to be better."

Scientist: "When did it start getting worse?"

People: "When I was born."

From "The illusion of moral decline" by Adam Mastroianni.
shorturl.at/FFEDV
A graph showing violin plots. On the y axis is the perceived morality of people from 0 to 8. On the x axis the time points 40 years before my birth, 20 years before my birth, at my birth, 20 years past my birth, today. The morality value is constant until birth, and then declines.
Reposted by Marc Somssich
plantevolution.bsky.social
Game changer for cell-based plant genetics: the labs of Caixia Gao & Jin-Long Qiu have developed very efficient self-replicating vectors and they just published a very nice proof-of-concept paper.
#plantscience
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
somssich.bsky.social
People: "Things used to be better."

Scientist: "When did it start getting worse?"

People: "When I was born."

From "The illusion of moral decline" by Adam Mastroianni.
shorturl.at/FFEDV
A graph showing violin plots. On the y axis is the perceived morality of people from 0 to 8. On the x axis the time points 40 years before my birth, 20 years before my birth, at my birth, 20 years past my birth, today. The morality value is constant until birth, and then declines.
Reposted by Marc Somssich
hadas.bsky.social
a data breach revealing peer reviewer identities would really spice things up for academia
Reposted by Marc Somssich
geminiteamlab.bsky.social
How do geminiviruses maximize their limited coding capacity? Our recent preprint uncovers splicing of viral transcripts as one more strategy used by this viral family. We show that RNA splicing is prevalent in the geminivirus TYLCV — and required for infectivity! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Pervasive splicing in a plant DNA virus
Viruses maximize their limited coding space through strategies that increase transcript and protein diversity. In mammalian viruses, splicing is a well-established mechanism for proteome expansion, ye...
www.biorxiv.org
Reposted by Marc Somssich
oxfordacademic.bsky.social
Celebrate 75 years of pioneering plant science research! 🪴🎉

@jxbotany.bsky.social marks this important milestone with a collection of new Darwin Reviews from leading plant scientists.

Take a snapshot of plant science today: oxford.ly/4gSKOB1
A celebratory graphic for the Journal of Experimental Botany's 75th anniversary. Oxford University Press.
Reposted by Marc Somssich
spicybotrytis.bsky.social
Anyone have any literature on how yeast or other fungi detect plant phytohormones? I know they respond to them but am struggling with the search terms to find the genes that allow fungi to respond to plant compounds.