Round-Up of Top Plant Science News

Posted 30th March 2018 by Jane Williams
It’s been a busy month in the field of Plant Science, with new discoveries, technologies, and research making the news. As the month draws to a close, we thought we’d reflect on the top stories.
This month, there was new insights into autophagy, previously extinct plant species, and the way in which climate change poses a potential threat to half of plant and animal species.
Take a look at the list below to find out more:
1. Half of plant and animal species are at risk from climate change
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WWF has predicted a loss of half of all plant and animal species if we can’t curb emissions. |
2. Plants overcome hunger with aid of autophagy
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Scientists have discovered that plants depend on autophagy to sustain themselves during starvation conditions, such as when there is insufficient sunlight. |
3. Strange plant rediscovered after 151 years
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An odd subterranean plant from the rainforests of Malaysia has been rediscovered after it was presumed extinct for the last 151 years. |
4. Explaining rare plant species
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Because of their susceptibility to disease, rare plant species might find it harder to find suitable new habitats as the climate changes |
5. Fossilised plant leaf wax provides a new tool for understanding ancient climates
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New research has outlined a new methodology for estimating ancient atmospheric water content based on fossil plant leaf waxes. |
Learn all about the latest developments in plant science at the annual Plant Genomic & Gene Editing Congress: Europe and USA.
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