Barley genome sequenced

A group of 77 scientists worldwide have sequenced the complete genome of barley, a key ingredient in beer and single malt Scotch. The research, 10 years in the making, was recently published in the journal Nature. Barley is grown throughout the world, with Russia, Germany, France, Canada, and Spain being …

Tea tree genome contains clues about how one leaf produces so many flavors

The most popular varieties of tea—including black tea, green tea, Oolong tea, white tea, and chai—all come from the leaves of the evergreen shrub Camellia sinensis, otherwise known as the tea tree. Despite tea’s immense cultural and economic significance, relatively little is known about the shrub behind the tea leaves. …

Rice expressing mutant forms of GA 2-oxidase shows increased yield and tolerance to stress conditions

Optimizing plant architecture to increase yield, stress tolerance, and water use efficiency (WUE) is a major challenge for modern agricultural biotechnology. Gibberellins are growth hormones known to be directly related to plant height and tillering, which in turn are directly related to grain yield in cereals. GA 2-oxidase is a …

Sequencing the genome of the resurrecting plant Xerophyta viscosa – new guidelines for the development of drought-tolerant crops

International consortium led by a team from Wageningen University and Research – Netherlands, sequenced the genome of the resurrecting plant Xerophyta viscosa, which is capable to survive long periods of extreme drought conditions. Resurrecting plants are a group of species representatives of different genera which are distinguished by their ability …

New sugarcane as a feedstock for biodiesel and ethanol

Biodiesel production in the U.S. from vegetable oils has increased substantially during the past decade. However, its further increase is limited by the low amounts of oil produced per hectare from temperate oilseed crops. Recently novel transgenic sugarcane has been developed to accumulate both sugars and lipids in stems, making …

Scientists discovered a way to double the synthesis of artemisinin in sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua)

At the end of March, an international team of scientists, including researchers from the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Barcelona, ​​Spain, Sequentia Biotech SL, Spain, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China and the University of Linnaeus, Kalmar , Sweden, published an article in Plant Journal regarding the role of the …

Bulgarian tomato with high content of beta-carotene extremely suitable for organic farming

Under partnership between Agrobioinstitute, Sofia and the bio-farm Amitica Ltd, Kresna, the Bulgarian tomato cultivar Pako Orange was grown successfully under organic conditions. The first bio-seeds were produced. Production of bio-juices and bio-purees from tomato Paco Orange are planned. Tomato cultivar Pako-Orange was developed by methods of classical plant breeding-interspecies …