'Smoke Detector' Gene Discovered in Plants

Scientists at the University of Western Australia discovered a gene that allows dormant seeds under the ground to sense germination stimulants called karrikins from bushfire. This same gene also regulates the response to a growth hormone known as strigolactone, which is responsible for shoot branching, formation of beneficial fungal associations, and germination of parasitic weeds.

According to the findings of Dr. David Nelson's research, smoke from bushfires not only signals damage, but also serves as stimulus for plant growth with the upcoming rains. The results also support the fact that karrikins and the strigolactone have very similar chemical structures, thus both are detected using one plant chemical detection system. The slight difference allowed them to perform different functions.

"It was a ‘eureka moment' when I looked at the DNA sequence of the defective gene and realized what we had discovered," he said. "That one gene has two very different functions, one in fire ecology and the other in plant development."

Read the original story at http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201105103527/climate-science/smoke-detector-gene-discovered-plants.