Plant Branching Hormone Discovered
July 15, 2011| |
The ability to custom design plants and trees may be a future reality with the discovery of strigolactone. The hormone was discovered by a team of researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) led by Christine Beveridge. The hormone boosts the production of taller plants and if its concentration is suppressed, bushier plants are developed. This result then finds application in the production of more branches if more fruits are desired.
In another research study conducted by the University of Western Australia (UWA), chemicals called karrikins were found in smoke to affect the sprouting of dormant seeds after fire. Subsequently, through the collaboration of UQ and UWA Australia Bilateral Research Collaboration Award the gene controlling the function of both strigolactone and karrikins was discovered and named as MAX2.
These new findings would lead in the improvements in the propagation of endangered and economically important plant species and in weed eradication and reforestation.
For more on the news, see http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=23453.
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