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Evolutionary conservation of the ABC model and its variants. Images of four flower examples - grass, tulips, columbine and orchid.

Reflections on the ABC model of flower development

The formulation of the ABC model of flower development 30 years ago was a seminal event that continues to inform and inspire. This review by Edwige Moyroud and John Bowman, traces back the history of the ABC model, the milestones and draws attention to some of the "unsolved riddles still hidden in the floral alphabet."

Montage featuring pea and broadbean plants, root nodules, and dried lentils and beans.

Secrets of soil-enriching pulses could transform future of sustainable agriculture

Secrets of soil-enriching pulses could transform future of sustainable agriculture February 10 marks World Pulses Day . World Pulses Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2019 to raise awareness of the nutritional importance of pulses : a group of edible grain legumes that are part of the bean family (...

LSH genes are required for the development of nodule primordia that can support bacterial colonisation: Confocal image of WT and lsh1/lsh2 roots 24 and 72 hpi with S. meliloti.

LSH genes required for N-fixing nodules

Cambridge scientists have identified two crucial genetic factors needed to produce specialised root organs that can accommodate nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes such as peas and beans.

Branching Out Seminar Series

Branching Out Seminar Series Speaker: Professor Lewis Dartnell Talk Title: Astrobiology and Science Writing Date: Friday 26 January 2024 Time: 13:00 Venue: Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University, 47 Bateman St, Cambridge CB2 1LR How to find us Event overview The very first of the Branching Out seminar series, organised...

Dr Katharina Schiessl joins SLCU as a David Sainsbury Career Development Fellow

Katharina Schiessl will head a new research group at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) focused on understanding how organ diversity of plants can be reshaped by their colonisers.

Confocal microscopy images of an Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl where localised sectors of over expressing CYCD3:1 gene, a dominant driver of the G1/S transition in the cell cycle induce cell division and changes cell junctions. Image by Mahwish Ejaz.

Investigating how cell division influences decision-making in plants

SLCU researchers Sarah Robinson and James Locke are joining forces to explore a long-debated theory on whether plant development is organised at the cellular scale (cell-theory) or organ scale (organism theory).

Cross section of an Arabidopsis thaliana leaf showing the two layers of photosynthetic tissue – the palisade (more tightly packed cells in upper half) and spongy mesophyll (randomly spaced irregular shaped cells in lower half). Image by Emilio Aldorino.

Identifying the master regulators of photosynthetic cell identity

SLCU’s Chris Whitewoods has received a BBSRC Pioneer Award to advance our understanding of the formation of internal leaf structure and to explore the potential for engineering plants with higher photosynthesis and water use efficiency.

Atomic force microscopy time course on the imaged cells. Plots of the stiffness and contact point maps for the dividing cells at different HAD (24 HAD and 48 HAD) for M. polymorpha. (Scale bar, 20 m.)

How new plant cell walls change their mechanical properties after cell division

Scientists reveal new plant cell walls can have significantly different mechanical properties compared to surrounding parental cell walls, enabling cells to change their local shape and influence the growth of plant organs.

Schematic representation of the Highlighter system and function

Conversations with plants: Can we provide plants with advance warning of impending dangers?

Highlighter provides target gene control at cellular resolution. The Jones team implemented the system to demonstrate optogenetic control over plant immunity and pigment production through modulation of the spectral composition of broadband visible (white) light.

Model of poplar macrofibril assembly without (left) and with callose deposition (right).

Wood modification boosts biomass conversion

By adding a naturally-occurring polymer that makes wood more porous, scientists have engineered trees easier to disassemble into simpler building blocks.

Plant science at Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is home to one of the largest concentrations of plant research anywhere in the world. Visit the below organisations to find out about their work in sustainable agriculture, conservation and fundamental research.

Department of Plant Sciences

Crop Science Centre

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Cambridge University Herbarium

Cambridge Global Food Security

Cambridge Centre for Physical Biology

Conservation Research Institute

Plants @ Cambridge Hub

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