“Fight-or-flight” is not an option for plants, unfortunately, when it comes to pathogen attacks. Instead, plants opt for “do-or-die.” A deeper insight into the genetic mechanisms that enable plants to resist pathogen infections has equipped researchers with tools to tackle the most devastating pathogens in agriculture. Using advanced RNA sequencing, researchers have recently uncovered how varieties of soybean respond to different types of soybean cyst nematodes (SCNs), with potential implications for developing more resilient crops and reducing reliance on chemical treatments.

A latest research published in Engineering reveals an innovative plant factory based speed breeding system for rice. This system significantly shortens the rice generation time and enhances metabolic diversity, offering new hope for addressing the challenges of global food security amidst a growing population and changing climate.

A breakthrough study reveals that the Shoot-Silicon-Signal (SSS) protein plays a crucial role in managing silicon uptake and distribution in rice and other grasses. This study sheds light on how SSS helps plants adapt to environmental stresses. Understanding the role of silicon could provide valuable information on crop resilience and solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, especially in the face of climate change.

Evolution is complex and difficult to study, but a new software package developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station offers researchers a better way to simulate how organisms change over time. The new software, called TraitTrainR, builds on work in the field of comparative biology to provide an efficient and effective framework for replicating the evolutionary process many times over. An ultimate goal is to use this software to better understand the diversity of life forms on our planet.

Researchers have developed a machine learning model using hyperspectral imaging to assess pre-harvest tomato quality. The study introduces a cost-effective, non-destructive method to predict key quality parameters, including weight, firmness, and lycopene (a natural antioxidant) content. This innovative approach enables farmers to monitor fruit development in real-time, optimizing harvest timing and improving crop quality. The research demonstrates a significant leap forward in precision agriculture and sustainable food production.

The recently launched EU-funded FORSAID project seeks to uncover new horizons in pest control across Europe's forests. The research consortium behind this vision is comprised of 17 organisations from 10 countries. It intends to harness recent innovations in satellite observation, drone surveillance, robotics and artificial intelligence in pursuit of a new paradigm for the early detection and identification of numerous harmful species.

The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) has developed GenEditScan, a simple k-mer analysis tool and is available for free on GitHub website. k-mer analysis is used for detecting foreign DNA in genome-edited crops using next-generation sequencers. The publication of GenEditScan is expected to accelerate the research on genome-edited crops.