Growing Hypoallergenic Rubber Plants In Texas - Many people are allergic to rubber products. However, rubber from guayule plants doesn’t seem to cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Scientists cite the fact that guayule has fewer proteins than traditional rubber plants as the reason behind its natural hypoallergenic properties. Guayule was used for rubber in the early 1900s, and have never been used commercially. Now, studies are underway to determine if production of rubber from these plants can be scaled up to meet the rising demand for hypoallergenic rubber.

Scientists Find Plant Gene that Affects Stress Resistance - Like humans, plants deal with several stresses each day. Most of these stresses arise from the environment, such as UV light exposure. But, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan have isolated a gene that may help plants cope with stress. It is the hope that after enough research, the new gene might also aid in protection against viral and bacterial infections.

Nitrogen Pollution Boosts Plant Growth In Tropics By 20 Percent - A recent ecological study in India, South America, Africa and Southeast Asia provides evidence that nitrogen pollution, caused by nearby farm fertilizers, is promoting rapid growth - and CO2 uptake - in tropical forests. This is a surprise finding as most researchers predicted that limited phosphorous in the soil would prevent such a growth spurt in nitrogen rich soils. The scientists hope this finding will improve forecasts on global change. Published in the February edition of Ecology.

Other stories:

New Method Detects Fraud in Organically Grown Produce - The nitrogen isotope from the fertilizer gives it away. Published in January-February issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality.

Secret Of The Carnivorous Pitcher Plant’s Slurp — Solved At Last - The complex solution of digestive enzymes in pitcher plants is revealed. Published in the February issue of the Journal of Proteome Research.