News & Events

Durio zibethinus Murr. is a tropical fruit crop of growing global importance, prized for its unique flavor and nutritional value. Yet only a narrow genetic base has been utilized in breeding efforts. We performed whole-genome resequencing of 114 diverse durian accessions collected in China, identifying over 39 million high-quality SNPs across the genome, revealing genome-wide patterns of diversity. Population structure analysis revealed three major genetic clusters, supported by PCA, phylogenetic analysis, and STRUCTURE modeling. Genome-wide scans identified candidate selective sweeps, and several genes potentially under selection.

Kansas State University (K-State) researchers, in collaboration with the state's farmers, have launched a new project to tackle gluten allergenicity in wheat while preserving the grain's essential bread-making quality. The goal is to develop new wheat varieties that can be consumed by the estimated two million Americans—and one in 100 people worldwide—who suffer from celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten.

Launched at UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, the RAIZ accelerator will unite governments and investors behind a shared goal: restoring the world’s farmland to strengthen food security, tackle climate breakdown, and protect biodiversity. CGIAR supports RAIZ as a technical partner. RAIZ addresses one of today’s most urgent challenges. With over 1 billion hectares of agricultural land already degraded, food security, biodiversity, and climate stability for more than 3 billion people are under threat.

Pericarp browning of postharvest litchi is a significant obstacle to the industry's high-quality development. Water loss from the pericarp is a key factor triggering browning, but the regulatory mechanism of water metabolism and its relationship with browning remain unclear. In this study, we found that aquaporin activity inhibitors (HgCl2) can delay both water loss and browning in litchi. LcPIP2;4, a PIP family member exhibiting high expression in the litchi pericarp and the greatest water transport activity, is significantly downregulated during water loss and browning

In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that more than 17% of the global burden of infectious diseases is due to vector-borne diseases. Over 700,000 deaths are recorded annually, and more than 3.9 billion people are at risk of contracting dengue, the most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. In the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report in September 2023, the global cost of invasive species is over $423 billion per year and this amount has quadrupled every decade since 1970.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) positioned sustainable and resilient agrifood systems as a vital solution for attaining the Paris Agreement goals while securing global food security. This happened during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025.

The Ca2+-independent OST1 and Ca2+-dependent protein kinases CPKs both activate the anion channel SLAC1 during ABA-induced stomatal closure pathway. However, the mechanism by which OST1 regulates SLAC1 activation and its relationship with CPKs remain unclear. Here, we identify that OST1 primarily activates SLAC1 in this process through CPK15. Mutation of CPK15 significantly impairs ABA-induced stomatal closure and increases drought sensitivity. OST1 interacts with CPK15 and phosphorylates it at T103, which is essential for ABA-induced stomatal closure

A new study conducted by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG) shows how the t-haplotype can be used to influence the inheritance of sex chromosomes in mice. The findings of the study, published in Genetics, demonstrate a potential targeted inheritance method to improve animal breeding.

Chinese researchers have made a key genetic breakthrough that offers new paths for improving tea quality and yield. Scientists from the Tea Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences identified the gene CsKNOX6, which plays a critical role in controlling the size of tea buds. This discovery is vital because the size of the young shoot—typically harvested at the one bud and two leaves stage—directly influences the taste, processing suitability, and overall market quality of tea.

The rapid advancement of synthetic biology has enabled the construction of artificial cells that closely mimic the morphology and functionality of their natural counterparts. However, significant limitations remain in engineering artificial cells capable of regulated protein expression. Here, we demonstrate that engineered polymers containing multivalent association motifs can reversibly regulate translational activity through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS)–induced protein aggregation

Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners have successfully reduced the number of chromosomes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana without affecting its growth using CRISPR-Cas9. The study, published in Science, demonstrates the first time scientists have achieved such a targeted change in plants.

A three-day writeshop on Updating the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) Template for Risk Assessment for Genetically Modified Plant and Plant Products was conducted on 19-21 November at B Hotel in Quezon City. Regulators from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and experts from partner institutions are working together on updating the RAR form to align with guidelines and standards on risk assessment set by Codex Alimentarius,