Asexual, or vegetative, reproduction in plants is controlled by environmental conditions, but the molecular signaling pathways that control this process are poorly understood. Recent research suggests ... Sex in the garden is more straightforward for the birds and the bees than it’s for the plants.

Understanding the Context

Reproductive processes vary among flowering plants; for many, there is more than one option. When ... EurekAlert!: Study on the evolution of plant reproduction receives 2.6 million euros Researchers have identified a genetic sequence that is essential for plant reproduction. As this region is found in all plant species, it is expected to contribute to future crossbreeding initiatives ...

Key Insights

Plant reproduction is highly complex and variable across the kingdom. The emergence of sexual reproduction has contributed to increase plant genetic diversity and enabled the colonisation of new ... When the female gametes in plants become fertilized, a signal from the sperm activates cell division, leading to the formation of new plant seeds. This activation can also be deliberately triggered ... Science News: Down the Tubes: Amino acid proves key to plant reproduction Scientists have discovered that one of the myriad signals that human brain cells use to communicate also enables flowering plants to have sex.

Final Thoughts

This versatile substance, an amino acid known as amino ...