GS is on vacation next week - see you the week of Aug 6!

Researchers JAZ(zed) about plant resistance discovery - Researchers at Michigan State University and Washington State University have discovered how a major plant hormone, jasmonate, affects the ability of plants to stave off a pathogen attack. The so-called JAZ (Jasmonate ZIM-domain) proteins block resistance pathways in the absence of a pathogen. Once a pathogen is detected, jasmonate induces the destruction of JAZ proteins, allowing the plant to mount a resistance response. Published in the July 18 issue of Nature.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows of sustainable paper - Sure, it’s a great book, but think of the 400,800 trees required to produce that much paper - and that’s just for the first edition! Ah, the carnage! Luckily, some effort was made to sustainably harvest roughly half of the trees (260,520) required for the book printing.

News Briefs:

Agriculture:
Study: organic farming more efficient
N.C. A&T food scientist develops process for allergen-free peanuts
Alternative farming cleans up water
Insufficient protection of crop diversity centres threatens world food security
US Scientists Help Africans Breed Disease-Resistant Plant

Alternative Fuels:
FPL Energy Signs Deal With Citrus Energy For First Of Its Kind Ethanol Plant

Ecology:
How Pathogens Evolve To Escape Detection
City Proposes Cutting Trees to Fight Bug

Health:
Herb May Aid Diabetes Control