Top Stories:

Could ‘Hairy Roots’ Become Biofactories? - “Hairy roots” found on the roots of some plants are a type of tumor caused by a bacterial infection. The tumor results in a mass of fuzzy-looking roots near the site of infection. While a nuisance for plants, researchers believe these roots may be capable of producing new medicines more quickly and efficiently than cell cultures. Current research has shown than hairy root cultures can be kept alive for several years whereas cell cultures live for only a few weeks. Published in Biotechnology Progress.

Genes Identified to Protect Brassicas from Damaging Disease - The Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is a virus that infects several cultivated plants, especially broccoli and other closely related plants. This virus comes from the largest family of viruses that infect plants and is known to stunt growth. While TuMV is a devastating virus, a new way to breed members of the brassica family of plants has proven successful in the resistance to this virus. Published in the Journal of General Virology.

Scientists Warn That Species Extinction Could Reduce Productivity of Plants - One of today’s growing concerns is the extinction of species and the effect their extinction will have on the ecosystem. Scientists now predict that species extinction within plant kingdom could reduce productivity on Earth by fifty percent. Mass plant extinction could throw off the regulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which could lead to an increase in global warming. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

News Briefs:

For the fall season:
Those Brilliant Fall Outfits May Be Saving Trees
Why Do Autumn Leaves Turn Red? Soil May Dictate Fall Colors

Ecology:
Preserving Genetic Diversity Of Popular Geranium
Groups Try to Save Sherwood Forest Trees
Arborist Looks to Clone Redwood Trees

Alternative Fuels:
Massachusetts Looks at Using Biofuel in Home Heating Oil