News & Events

Bacterial type III effector proteins, particularly transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) secreted by Xanthomonas spp., play critical roles in pathogen-host dynamics. While TALEs facilitate bacterial infections, they also possess vulnerabilities that plants and scientists can exploit to develop mechanisms of resistance. This review encompasses the characteristics and functions of TALEs, examining both their virulence and avirulence roles, and the host plants' counter-strategies.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR), in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature, is conducting new field trials for genetically modified (GM) potatoes. The trials will evaluate potato lines developed using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) to precisely add or switch off multiple genes. By instilling stacked resistance against aggressive pests and diseases, such as late blight, caused by the destructive pathogen Phytophthora infestans, researchers expect the new varieties to drastically minimize farmers' reliance on chemical pesticides.

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India with the FAO Agricola Medal, the Organization’s highest award, in a ceremony held in the historic Plenary Hall at FAO’s Rome headquarters.

Purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) (Ipomoea batatas) is a rich source of anthocyanins, which serve as potent antioxidants and contribute to stress tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in PFSP under phosphorus stress remain poorly understood. In this study, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted using the sweet potato cultivar (Xuzishu No. 8) grown under three phosphorus treatments:

An international team of researchers led by Dr. Zhangjun Fei of the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) has developed a super-pangenome for watermelons. This comprehensive genetic map integrates 138 genomes from all seven extant species in the genus. This super-pangenome captures nearly one million structural variants across both cultivated varieties and their wild relatives. This massive dataset allows scientists to trace millions of years of evolution and identify high-value traits that were lost during centuries of domestic breeding.

Nairobi, Kenya - The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and CIMMYT, with funding support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, have launched a landmark research initiative to dramatically shorten the time required to develop climate-resilient and market-preferred crop varieties for farmers in the drylands of Eastern Africa and India.

VOZ (Vascular Plant One-Zinc Finger) transcription factors represent a plant-specific family of regulatory proteins that are pivotal in controlling plant growth, developmental processes, and adaptive responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although VOZ genes have been reported in multiple plant species, their genomic organization, evolutionary history, and functional dynamics in sweet potato remain largely unexplored

Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the world's first DNA-guided CRISPR-Cas system capable of targeting and cutting RNA. The study introduces a new diagnostic platform called SLEUTH (Specific Locus Evaluation Utilizing Targeted Hydrolysis), which uses synthetic DNA guides instead of the traditional RNA guides used in CRISPR systems.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has unveiled its official logo for the Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA), marking a new milestone in its journey and reflecting its continued growth in advancing agricultural innovation and collaboration across the Global South.

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) constitutes half of the terrestrial carbon pool and exerts a profound influence on global carbon cycling and ecosystem multifunctionality. Contrary to the view of millennial-scale stability, SIC in cropland are undergoing rapid changes due to intense anthropogenic disturbances. However, the direction, magnitude, and drivers of SIC changes over recent decades remain poorly quantified, especially in entire soil profile.

Researchers at Kyung Hee University have identified two enzymes, OsA3GT1 and OsA3GT2, that serve as the "finishing tools" required to stabilize anthocyanin pigments in black rice. Their findings, published in the journal Rice, solve a long-standing mystery in plant biology.While the biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanin development in grains is well-documented, the final steps of the process have remained unclear.

Healthy plants are the foundation of agricultural productivity, food security, and resilient farming systems. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, plant pests and diseases are responsible for the loss of up to 40% of global food crops each year, resulting in agricultural trade losses exceeding USD 220 billion annually.