Flowering Lettuce (IMAGE) University of California - Davis Caption Kent Bradford, left, and Alfred Huo, seen here with a flowering lettuce plant, found that lettuce could be prevented from flowering by increasing the expression of a specific microRNA in the plants. The high levels of this microRNA prevent the plant from transitioning to adulthood and flowering, and the plant continues to make numerous baby leaves rather than forming a compact head of lettuce. Credit (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis) Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.