Imagine you are a flowering plant. One day, you are suddenly turned upside down, and your flowers are submerged in a solution full of bacteria. What would your first reaction be? Probably not, “Great, I’m ready to be genetically modified.” Instead, you would instinctively trigger an alarm and prepare to defend against invasion. In the …
When Genetic Engineering Meets the Plant Immune System Read More »
Plants cannot move. When exposed to drought, salinity, or other environmental stresses, they cannot escape; instead, they must rely on an intricate internal “survival system.” With global warming intensifying, abiotic stresses are expected to impose even more severe challenges to agricultural production. For decades, Dr. Wan-Hsing Cheng at the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, …
After the autumn rice harvest, golden stalks are left lying along the edges of the fields, waiting to be burned. Wood chips from sawmills, sugarcane bagasse from mills, and fruit peels left over from juice production are also discarded as if they had no value at all. Each year, more than 140 billion tons of …
Microbes at Work: Building the Next Generation of Clean Energy Read More »
Viruses pose a major threat to human health and food security, while also shaping the rise and fall of life within natural ecosystems. They not only cause a wide range of diseases in plants and animals but also influence the population dynamics of algae and other microorganisms in diverse ecosystems. Yet some of the most …
New Dating Method Reconstructs the Evolutionary History of Giant Viruses Read More »
Imagine you are a spy trying to sneak through customs. The golden rule is simple: keep a low profile and avoid detection. In the plant world, missions like this play out constantly. Plants, like humans, have an immune system that detects microbes by sensing specific molecules on their surface or secreted into the surroundings. Once …
Xanthomonadales in Disguise: Hidden Experts of the Plant Microbiota Read More »
On the map of Taiwan, Dongsha Island appears as little more than a tiny dot in the South China Sea. More than 400 kilometers away from Kaohsiung, this remote island has no bustling city, no fishing harbor, and no permanent residents. Shaped like a horseshoe and built from coral reefs, Dongsha covers less than two …
A Newly Discovered Cyanobacterium from the Extreme Lagoon of Dongsha Island Read More »
Within the cell, proteins serve not only as the structural foundation of life, but also as the essential machinery that powers virtually all biological functions. Their synthesis, modification, trafficking, and degradation are intricately coordinated processes that influence gene expression, signal transduction, and responses to the environment. For decades, Dr. Hongyong Fu has dedicated his research …
Exploring the Protein Degradation Pathways: An Interview with Dr. Hongyong Fu Read More »
Did you know that when we closely observe a plant, we’re not just looking at an independent life form? Within a plant’s leaves, roots, stems, and even the surrounding space, there reside countless microorganisms. Although these microbes are invisible to the naked eye, they profoundly influence the growth and development of plants. Recognizing the significant …
Studying How Plants Fend Off Free-Riding Bacteria: An Interview with Dr. Ka-Wai Ma Read More »
Have you ever noticed how plants on your windowsill seem to lean towards the morning sunlight, gently tilting their heads? This enchanting sight is no coincidence but a subtle manifestation of the fascinating and intimate interaction between plants and light. Unable to move freely, plants spend their entire lives in their growth environment, constantly adjusting …
Along with “Brightness”: How plants react to light and shade Read More »
In our daily encounters with nature, plants are everywhere. Yet, within their seemingly ordinary structures lies a profound question: how do they sustain life? Fueled by rapid technological advancements, scientists now utilize unprecedented precision tools to explore the mysteries of plants, aiming to uncover their structures and growth mechanisms. In this mystical realm, understanding the …
