Top Stories
Cycads plants use scent to lure insects – Most people think of pistils, stamens, and perhaps bees when plant pollination and reproduction is mentioned. But, in cycad plants, the reality is far from the preconceived notion most people hold. Cycad plants release an odor that attracts small insects called thrips. Once the thrips have become covered in pollen from the male cycad plants, a stronger odor is emitted, which causes the thrips to leave. The female cycads then release an attractive odor that draws the pollen-covered thrips into their cones. The entire process is known as “push-pull pollination.” Published in a recent issue of Science.

Agent That Triggers Immune Response in Plants is Uncovered – When a human being is infected with a virus, their immune system quickly attacks the virus by making antibodies to fight the virus. Plants likewise have an immune system of sorts. But what triggered the immune system response in plants was still unknown. Now, the compound methyl salicylate has been shown to trigger plant immune responses. Methyl salicylate is related to the drug aspirin, which reduces inflammation in humans. While the main question of what sets an immune response off in plants has been answered, several questions about the process itself have now risen. Published in a recent issue of Science.

Climate Change
Scientists study climate change on plants – Researchers in Spain have created a new greenhouse to monitor the effects of increased temperature and CO2 levels in plants. With the climate changing rapidly, scientists are interested in seeing what will happen to all plant life in the upcoming years. Initial findings have shown increased growth in the presence of increased CO2 levels.

Ecology
Plant viruses from past provide ecological clues -What could grasses from 1917 possibly tell scientists? Crucial information about plant viruses that have become key in ecological and human health research. Typically, research into plant viruses and diseases is focused on agriculturally important crops. By studying plant tissue from historical collections, Carolyn Malmstrom (Michigan State University) and colleagues have found ancestor forms of today’s plant viruses that likely played a role in shaping the ecology of a region in Southern California. Published in the Journal of Ecology.

Indonesia Aims to Plant 79 Million Trees – One day. Seventy-nine million trees. That’s what the Indonesian government hopes to accomplish in the near future following a U.N. climate change meeting. Indonesia has lost more forest land lost due to fire or lumber products than any other country in the world. Around 4.5 million acres of forest land were destroyed each year between 2000 and 2005. The Indonesian government is hoping to reverse much of this destruction and replenish the forests they once had.

Cyanide-producing clover genetics studied – The ability to produce cyanide as a means to protect against pests might be the latest trait favored by natural selection. Scientists are currently researching what causes some clover plants to produce cyanide and not others.

Scientists Can’t Explain Algae Outbreak – Too much phosphorous can be a bad thing. But so can too little. Scientists around the Great Lakes region are having a hard time figuring out how to control algae populations that are creating high amounts of pollution and are killing fish populations. Algae use phosphorous as a key nutrient. Reducing phosphorous waste has helped, but achieving a balance of phosphorus levels throughout the Lake system is a significant challenge.