U.S. Judge considers making GM alfalfa ban permanent – Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) alfalfa has been under scrutiny as there is some suggestion that the pollen from these plants may spread and contaminate unmodified alfalfa. Although there is currently a ban on growing the genetically modified alfalfa, a U.S. District Court judge is deciding whether to lift the ban as it has not been shown that the crop poses a threat to the environment.

De-tasseling may become thing of the past - Some plants prevent self-fertilization to avoid inbreeding, others don’t. New insight into how plants control self-pollination, published in the May 1 issue of Current Biology, may ultimately allow scientists to control self pollination in agriculturally important crop plants – eliminating the need for labor-intensive de-tasseling.

Plants do not emit methane after all – A study undertaken to explore the claim that plants contribute to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by emitting methane has shown that plants do not produce significant quantities of methane. Published in the recent issue of New Phytologist.

News Briefs:

Health
Scientists find missing link to understand how plants make vitamin C

Climate change
Researchers find plant protein that may aid biofuel production
Ancient Rainforest Rises Again