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Public Release: 6-Nov-2009
 American NaturalistAnts are friendly to some trees, but not others Tree-dwelling ants generally live in harmony with their arboreal hosts. But new research suggests that when they run out of space in their trees of choice, the ants can get destructive to neighboring trees. Contact: Kevin Stacey
Public Release: 6-Nov-2009
BioScienceAIBS publishes Darwin articles open access Two articles about Charles Darwin and his development of the theory of evolution by natural selection have been published in the AIBS journal BioScience and have been made open to the public in honor of the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species." The articles are by Kevin Padian and James T. Costa. Together the articles dispel some common myths about Darwin the man and detail his efforts over many years to develop a theory to explain nature's diversity. Contact: Tim Beardsley
Public Release: 6-Nov-2009
PLoS PathogensPathogen protection and virulence: Dark side of fungal membrane protein revealed Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech and Montana State University have discovered a fungal protein that plays a key role in causing disease in plants and animals and which also shields the pathogen from oxidative stress. 
National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health
Contact: Barry Whyte
Public Release: 6-Nov-2009
3rd International Barcode of Life ConferenceDNA barcodes: Creative new uses span health, fraud, smuggling, history, more Some 350 experts from 50 nations gathering in Mexico for their 3rd global meeting will outline the latest creative applications of DNA barcoding, including several projects related to human health, fraud, smuggling, the food chain and reconstructing environmental history. Contact: Terry Collins
Public Release: 5-Nov-2009
Coral reefs inspire rare consensus -- just save them One of the first set of studies to examine what tourists and recreation enthusiasts actually think about coral reef ecosystems suggests they are a rare exception to controversies over human use versus environmental conservation -- their stunning beauty is so extraordinary that almost everyone wants them protected in perpetuity.
Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative
Contact: Mark Needham
Public Release: 5-Nov-2009
PTB Terahertz calibration satisfies US laser manufacturer Terahertz radiation still lies in a metrological no man's land -- a metrology gap. The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt can now close this gap. For the first time, a commercial Terahertz laser was traced back to the international system of units by measuring its output power absolutely. Therefore, this laser is the first THz laser in the field with a reliably proven output power enabled by a novel calibration capability set up at the PTB. Contact: Dr. Andreas Steiger
Public Release: 5-Nov-2009
Nutrition TodayLactose intolerance rates may be significantly lower than previously believed Prevalence of lactose intolerance may be far lower than previously estimated, according to a new study. These new findings indicate that previous estimates of lactose intolerance incidence -- based on the incidence of lactose maldigestion -- may be overestimated by wide margins.
US Department of Agriculture, ARS, NIH/National Cancer Institute, National Dairy Council
Contact: NDC Media Hotline
Public Release: 5-Nov-2009
ScienceAirborne nitrogen shifts aquatic nutrient limitation in pristine lakes The impact of airborne nitrogen released from the burning of fossil fuels and wide-spread use of fertilizers in agriculture is much greater that previously recognized and even extends to remote alpine lakes, according to a study published Nov. 6 in the journal Science.
National Science Foundation
Contact: Margaret Coulombe
Public Release: 5-Nov-2009
ScienceStudy reveals how plants and bacteria 'talk' to thwart disease Unwrapping some of the mystery from how plants and bacteria communicate to trigger an innate immune response, scientists at the University of California, Davis, have identified the bacterial signaling molecule that matches up with a specific receptor in rice plants to ward off a devastating disease known as bacterial blight of rice.
US Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health
Contact: Patricia Bailey
Public Release: 5-Nov-2009
Genome ResearchGenomes of biofuel yeasts reveal clues that could boost fuel ethanol production worldwide As global temperatures and energy costs continue to soar, renewable sources of energy will be key to a sustainable future. An attractive replacement for gasoline is biofuel, and in two studies published online in Genome Research, scientists have analyzed the genome structures of bioethanol-producing microorganisms, uncovering genetic clues that will be critical in developing new technologies needed to implement production on a global scale. Contact: Peggy Calicchia
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
Journal of HereditySingapore scientists join international study of 10,000 vertebrates' genomes The Singapore laboratory that deciphered the DNA codes, or genomes, of the famed fugu (or pufferfish) and elephant shark, has joined the Genome 10K Project, an international effort to build an invaluable repository of DNA sequences on 10,000 species of animals for conducting comparative studies on a scale that currently can not be achieved. Contact: Yunshi Wang
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceCommon plants can eliminate indoor air pollutants Air quality in homes and offices is becoming a major health concern. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in indoor air emanate from adhesives, furnishings, clothing, and solvents and have been shown to cause illnesses in people. Researchers tested ornamental indoor plants for their ability to remove harmful VOCs from indoor air. The study concluded that simply introducing common ornamental plants into indoor spaces has the potential to significantly improve the quality of indoor air. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceWater-conserving irrigation strategies minimize overwatering, runoff Conserving water and reducing the environmental impact of runoff are two important issues confronting container nursery operations. Current regulations in five states limit water consumption and/or nutrient concentrations in runoff. Researchers investigated whether irrigation scheduling based on daily water use (DWU) -- the combined loss of water from plant transpiration and substrate evaporation -- could conserve water. According to the study, "scheduling irrigation according to plant DWU substantially reduced the amount of irrigation applied." Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceHybrid bluegrasses analyzed for use in transition zone The transition zone can be one of the most challenging places to maintain high-quality turfgrass; changeable growing conditions in these regions often prove too hot or too cold. Finding turfgrass that thrives in these challenging environments can be perplexing for turf management professionals and homeowners alike. Bred for their ability to tolerate heat and drought, two hybrids "Dura Blue" and "Thermal Blue" were found to outperform traditional bluegrasses in transition zone areas. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceFarmers' markets harvest new business Something fresh is growing in Indiana. The number of farmers' markets in the state has increased at double the rate of other US states; between 1994 and 2004 the number of farmers' markets in Indiana increased by an impressive 222 percent. Researchers at Purdue have published an insightful study that identifies the reasons behind this unprecedented growth. The most important factors to customers included: the number of products available, cooking demonstrations and the number of vendors. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortSciencePlentiful poinsettias without PGRs Poinsettia, a holiday favorite, is produced using plant growth regulators (PGRs) to achieve their desired height, but the high cost of PGRs, environmental use restrictions, and increasing pressure from consumers are driving researchers to explore new alternatives. Argentine researchers recently completed a study to determine if manipulation of red and far-red light ratios can be a successful alternative to the use of PGRs. Results indicate that the new approach is effective and environmentally beneficial. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
GeologyStudy uses satellite imagery to identify active magma systems in East Africa's Rift Valley A team from University of Miami, University of El Paso and University of Rochester used Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) images compiled over a decade to study volcanic activity in the African Rift. A paper, published in the November issue of Geology, focuses on the section of the rift in Kenya. Surface deformation of four active volcanoes underscore possibility for human hazard, as well as the potential of geothermal resources. Contact: Barbra Gonzalez
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
Analytical ChemistryAn inexpensive 'dipstick' test for pesticides in foods Scientists in Canada are reporting the development of a fast, inexpensive "dipstick" test to identify small amounts of pesticides that may exist in foods and beverages. Their paper-strip test is more practical than conventional pesticide tests, producing results in minutes rather than hours by means of an easy-to-read color-change, they say. Contact: Michael Bernstein
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceOrganic weed control options for highbush blueberry Weeds are a widespread problem for the blueberry industry, particularly in young plantings when bushes are not fully established and most susceptible to competition. Weed control is even more of a challenge for growers of organic products, including organic highbush blueberry. Researchers investigated using mulches of pine needles, manuresawdust compost, and seafood waste compost for weed control. Results indicate pine needles were the most effective mulch in suppressing weed growth. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceTension on the grapevine Predictions of grape yields are extremely important to juice processors and wineries but until recently, forecasting yields has relied on expensive and labor-intensive hand-sampling methods. However, a new approach, Trellis Tension Monitor has been developed that works by detecting weight change on trellised grapevines as the vine and grapes grow. Using 10 commercial vineyards, researchers found that TTM produced more-accurate estimates of yield than previous methods. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortSciencePowerful pumpkins, super squash Carotenoids, the family of yellow to red pigments found in pumpkins and tomatoes, plays an important role in human health by acting as sources of provitamin A or as protective antioxidants but identifying and quantifying carotenoids hasn't been simple. Florida researchers investigated whether color analysis can be used to predict carotenoid content. Results indicate the new method "will be successful, easy to implement, and inexpensive." Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
HortScienceConserving historic apple trees Many apple varieties common in the United States a century ago can no longer be found in today's orchards and nurseries. But some historic apple trees still survive in abandoned farmsteads and historic orchards throughout the US. Now, scientists interested in conserving these horticultural treasures have set out to identify and catalogue them, working to discover if the last remnants of historical trees may still be alive in American landscapes. Contact: Michael W. Neff
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
Gems & GemologyScientists are first to 'unlock' the mystery of creating cultured pearls from the queen conch In their natural form, conch pearls are among the rarest pearls in the world. For more than 25 years, all attempts at culturing pearls from the queen conch have been unsuccessful -- until now. For the first time, novel and proprietary seeding techniques to produce beaded and nonbeaded high-quality cultured pearls from the queen conch have been developed by scientists from FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Contact: Gisele Galoustian
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
Proceedings of the Royal Society BCalm before the spawn: Climate change and coral spawning Robert van Woesik, a biologist at the Florida Institute of Technology, explains why corals spawn for just a few nights in some places but elsewhere string out their love life over many months. The study shows that corals spawn when regional wind fields are light. When it is calm, the eggs and sperm have the chance to unite before they are dispersed. Contact: Robert Van Woesik
Public Release: 4-Nov-2009
ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual MeetingsGreat wines come from great soils Experts will discuss terroir with an emphasis on soil science in a symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 4 in Pittsburgh. "Terroir: Winegrapes and the Environment" will be presented in two parts at the 2009 Annual Meetings of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America in Pittsburgh, Pa. Contact: Sara Uttech
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