Keith E. Duncan, first author of “X-ray microscopy enables multiscale high-resolution 3D imaging of plant cells, tissues, and organs” Current Position: Research Scientist in Chris Topp’s lab at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and Director of X-ray Imaging Facility Education: BS in Biology, MS in Plant Pathology; MEd in... Read more

Wang et al. identify a WRKY-type transcription factor as being critical to fiber development and elongation in cotton. By Na-Na Wang, Yang Li, Yi-Hao Chen, Rui Lu, Li Zhou, Yao Wang,Yong Zheng, Xue-Bao Li Background: Cotton, one of the most important crops in the world, produces natural fiber materials for... Read more

Kunpeng Liu, first author of “Intragenic tRNA-promoted R-loops orchestrate transcription interference for plant oxidative stress responses” Current Position: Postdoc at School of Life Sciences in Tsinghua University Education: B.S. from Huazhong Agricultural University；P.hD. from Fudan University Non-scientific Interests: Reading, running Brief bio: I am interested in transcriptional regulation of genes... Read more

Changyu Yi, first author of “Diverse phosphate and auxin transport loci distinguish phosphate tolerant from sensitive Arabidopsis accessions” Current Position: Postdoc, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University Education: Ph.D. in Botany, La Trobe University, Australia. M.Sc. in Horticulture, Zhejiang University, China Non-scientific Interests: reading, movies Brief... Read more

As part of The Plant Cell’s upcoming celebration of plant cell biology, Roeder et al. write about fifteen of the “open questions” in the field. This, and the other reviews that make up the focus issue, provide valuable insights into the leading edge of the discipline. Among the questions posed:... Read more

The development of Arabidopsis as a model system greatly advanced the field of plant cell biology by bringing in molecular approaches, so much of our conceptual foundation rests on studies from angiosperms. More recently, model bryophytes, particularly Marchantia polymorpha (liverworts) and Physcomitrium patens (mosses) have provided additional insights, as discussed... Read more

Plants are increasingly being recognized for their contributions to human wellbeing. However, most attention has been given to services provided by adult plants or those derived from their interaction with pollinators. In this exciting piece, Mattana and colleagues advocate for the importance of seeds and describe their natural capital value... Read more

The existence of the FLORIGEN – a mobile floral activator produced in the leaf and transported to the apex – was hypothesized almost a century ago but its molecular nature remained elusive for decades. In the last 15 years, independent groups demonstrated that members of the Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine-Binding Proteins (PEBP)... Read more

Review: Fifteen compelling open questions in plant cell biology As part of The Plant Cell’s upcoming celebration of plant cell biology, Roeder et al. write about fifteen of the “open questions” in the field. This, and the other reviews that make up the focus issue, provide valuable insights into the... Read more

Carsten Voelkner, first author of “Two plastid POLLUX ion channel-like proteins are required for stress-triggered stromal Ca2+ release” Current Position: Ph.D. student, School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University Education: B. Sc. in Biology from the University of Cologne Non-scientific Interests: Football (either one), Spikeball, reading, hiking and backpacking,... Read more

Youping Li, first author of “The CRY2-COP1-HY5-BBX7/8 module regulates blue light-dependent cold acclimation in Arabidopsis” Current Position: Postdoc in Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC), Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science (BAAFS) Education: Ph.D. Botany from China Agricultural University, B.S. Horticulture from Sichuan Agricultural University Non-scientific Interests: Pop music lovers,... Read more

Billey et al. uncover the roles of LARP6C as a translational repressor in dormant pollen and an activator when the pollen “awakens”. The Plant Cell (2021) https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koab131  By Elodie Billey1,2,3, Said Hafidh4, Cécile Bousquet-Antonelli1,2 1 CNRS LGDP-UMR5096, 58 Av. Paul Alduy 66860 Perpignan, France. 2 Université de Perpignan Via Domitia,... Read more

Amit Kumar, co-first author of “Development of aerial and belowground tubers in potato is governed by photoperiod and epigenetic mechanism” Current position: Postdoc fellow in Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands  Education: PhD from Biology Department, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune BS and... Read more

Kirtikumar R. Kondhare, co-first author of “Development of aerial and belowground tubers in potato is governed by photoperiod and epigenetic mechanism” Current position: Asst. Prof. (AcSIR) and DST – Inspire Faculty, Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR – National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, Maharashtra, India.  Education: Ph.D. in Plant Physiology & Biochemistry... Read more

Marco Incarbone, first author of “Immunocapture of dsRNA-bound proteins provides insight into Tobacco rattle virus replication complexes and reveals Arabidopsis DRB2 to be a wide-spectrum antiviral effecto” Current Position: Lise Meitner postdoctoral fellow at Gregor Mendel Institute, Vienna Education: Master’s in plant biotechnology (Torino, Italy), PhD in molecular plant virology (Strasbourg, France) Non-scientific interests: playing music, being with... Read more

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it is accepting proposals for the 2022 DOE Office of Science Early Career Research Program to support the research of outstanding scientists early in their careers. The program will support over 60 early career researchers for five years at U.S. academic institutions... Read more

Thank you for taking the time to read ASPB President Maureen McCann’s letter regarding the ASPB Board of Director’s recent decision to reaffirm a commitment to holding Plant Biology 2023 in Savannah, GA. Now that you’ve done so, we’d welcome your thoughts on the approaches that ASPB should take toward... Read more

NSF has released a Dear Colleague Letter highlighting an RFP for PIs on active awards. Learn more about this new program in this letter from NSF Communications Specialist Jared Dashoff. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) recognizes the importance of early-career research experiences, especially for individuals... Read more

ASPB has signed on a letter to Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member John Boozman, Chairman Patrick Leahy, Vice Chairman Richard Shelby, Chairman Jeff Merkley, and Ranking Member John Hoeven expressing support for the America Grows Act of 2021 (S.1371), a bipartisan bill Senators Durbin and Moran have recently introduced that... Read more

ASPB is pleased to be a signee in support of funding of $11.5 billion to support America’s agricultural research infrastructure.  As you consider new initiatives to support rural America and investments in the agricultural economy, we strongly urge you to include a federal agricultural research infrastructure investment of $11.5 billion... Read more