Board the windows! - Sheng Yang He at Michigan State University reported in a recent issue of Cell that plants are able to close the small pores on their leaves (stomata) to prevent bacterial invaders from getting inside. Unfortunately for the plant, some kinds of bacteria have already developed a way to force the stomata open again. This research will help scientists develop ways of combating food-borne illnesses and understanding crop disease.

Ancient wheat genes confer salt tolerance – By screening thousands of wheat types, scientists at CSIRO have discovered two genes from an ancient wheat source that confer a high level of salt tolerance. The researchers, whose paper appears in the journal Plant Physiology, hope to incorporate these genes into commercial wheat varieties to help farmers grow wheat in soils with high salinity.

Underwater logging – A story in Wired describes how loggers are looking at underwater forests as a new source of wood. It’s a surprising, ‘green’ alternative to standard logging practises.

Calling all sedge hunters – Citizens of the U.K. are being asked to join the search for what could possibly be a new form of sedge. The plant species (C. salina) has been sited along the coast of Scotland. Scientists are trying to determine the sedge’s origins.