Potatoes may have altered ancient people’s genomes
As the ancient Andean people turned wild tubers into the domesticated potato, the potato may have altered the genomes of the Andeans who made it a staple of their diet, according to new research....
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It’s going to get hot and dry all over at the same time
The kind of hot, dry conditions that can shrink crop yields, destabilize food prices, and lay the groundwork for devastating wildfires are increasingly striking multiple regions simultaneously as a...
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To reproduce, new rice plant clones itself
Plant biologists have discovered a way to make crop plants replicate through seeds as clones. The discovery, which plant breeders and geneticists have long sought, could make it easier to propagate...
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Team uncovers strawberry’s odd evolutionary origins
Researchers have discovered that the cultivated garden strawberry’s complex evolutionary history started long ago on opposite sides of the world. Until now, researchers have known little about the...
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Bumble bees see huge population decline
An estimate of bumble bee population and distribution shows that half of the species studied have seen a more than 50 percent decline. For the study, which appears in Ecology, researchers compared...
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Camera system tells farmers when crops need a drink
A new camera system could allow farmers to precisely and inexpensively monitor and irrigate crops, researchers say. A hot plant is an early warning sign of an under-watered, unhealthy plant, which...
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Rotating corn and soybeans may take a toll on soil
Rotating corn and soybeans could potentially contribute to long-term declines in soil organic matter, researchers report. A new study, published in Plant and Soil, examines the mechanisms that drive...
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More states grow hops as craft beer popularity booms
The surge in craft breweries may be fueling an unprecedented geographic expansion of hops production across the US, a new study shows. The findings suggest that as more craft breweries emerge around...
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Tool detects maize cooking in archaeological record
A new method can spot a specific way of cooking maize to boost its nutrition—nixtamalization—in the archaeological record. Two questions motivated the research: How did people interact with plants in...
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Standards would boost efficiency of LED lighting in greenhouses
LED lighting can enhance plant growth in greenhouses, but standards are necessary to determine the optimal intensity and colors of light, according to a new study. The findings could improve the energy...
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Insecticides have gotten way more toxic to honey bees
Insecticides have become significantly more toxic—over 120-fold in some Midwestern states—to honey bees when ingested, according to a new study. Rising neonicotinoid seed treatments applied to corn and...
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Biodiversity can be good for farmers’ bottom line
Many farmers associate grassland biodiversity with lower yields and financial losses, but a new study shows it could actually boost revenue. “Biodiversity is often considered unprofitable, but we show...
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Ancient hornwort hints at new ways to grow crops
Sequencing the genome of the ancient hornwort plant reveals genes that could help crops grow more efficiently with less synthetic fertilizer, researchers say. Some 500 million years ago, when our...
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Insecticide-making cotton actually boosted pesticide use in India
Despite claims about increased yields and reduced use of pesticides, the adoption of Bt cotton in India has actually increased the use of pesticide, according to new research. Genetically modified (GM)...
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Loss of bees threatens US crop yields
A lack of pollinators like bees is leading to reduced crop yields for apples, cherries, and blueberries across the United States, researchers report. Most of the world’s crops depend on honeybees and...
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Diversifying crops is a ‘win-win’
A new study shows diversifying crops beyond a narrow selection leads to a range of ecosystem improvements while also maintaining or improving yields. Some marketing and agricultural policy...
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Killer cotton and planes dropping moths wiped out these pests
A strategy combining genetically engineered cotton with classical pest control tactics eradicated the invasive pink bollworm from cotton-producing areas of the continental US and Mexico, a new study...
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Start of rainy season predicts food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa
The onset of the rainy season can affect food security as much as the amount of rain farmers receive overall, researchers report. When it comes to predicting famines, researchers and relief agencies...
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Lettuce grows just fine in solar-panel greenhouses
It’s possible to grow lettuce in greenhouses that filter out wavelengths of light used to generate solar power, according to a new study. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of using see-through...
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Making beetles pee themselves to death may be new pest control
Discovering which hormones regulate urine formation in the kidneys of beetles may one day help develop more ecological methods of combating these harmful insects, researchers report. Up to 25% of...
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