Sex plays a much more important role in the reproduction of vitally important seagrasses than previously thought, according to important new findings by researchers from Western Australia. It forms a major re-think of the way seagrass populations spread and is regarded as critically important to help conserve and restore endangered seagrass meadows.
Healthy seagrass populations are extremely important for coastal stability and carbon sequestration. They grow predominately via vegetative growth or cloning, using rhizomes that spread under the seabed, then sent out roots and shoots. But the researchers found that seagrasses also relied a great deal on sexual reproduction involving male and female flowers, pollen, seeds and seedlings.
Prof Gary Kendrick, Oceans Institute, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia
Bioscience; http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201201164278/research/secret-sex-life-help-save-worlds-endangered-seagrasses
New research has found bananas are photoperiod responsive, overruling the widely accepted belief that temperature is the key variable in banana development. Seasonal variation in banana production is an issue for growers worldwide, and has driven research focused on what influences the plant’s rate of development and flowering.
Prof David Turner, honorary research fellow, UWA
Functional Plant Biology
http://www.sciencewa.net.au/3754-banana-crop-abundance-linked-to-length-of-day.html
Research scientists at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens have been able to show there’s hope for the survival of rare plants despite climate change.
A year-long study of a rare plant in the Northern Territory, a new species of Erythroxylum, has shown plants can adapt and survive despite having been restricted to very small populations by long-term climatic change.
By extracting DNA from plants cells, they can test the health and viability of the population.
Dr Maurizio Rossetto, Botanic Gardens Trust
New technology for cleaning up nuclear spills, kids wearing the wrong seatbelts and re-writing the textbook on muscles and are just some of the stories we found interesting in Australian science in the last week.
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Scientists at UQ are part of an international team mapping the Brassica plant genome – that’s cabbages, broccoli and canola.
Australia is the world’s second largest exporter of canola. Mapping the genome will help scientists breed and engineer canola which is resistant to disease and fungal infection.
Dr David Edwards and Dr Jacqueline Batley, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, UQ
Nature Genetics, http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=23953
The widely held belief today’s cycads are ‘dinosaur plants’ and were around during dinosaur times has been categorically debunked in a breakthrough study of international significance.
Dr Nathalie Nagalingum, Research Scientist at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden
Science, http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/10/21/3344101.htm
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science were presented by the Prime Minister and the Innovation Minister at the Prize Dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Wednesday 12 October. Read the full article →
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science were presented by the Prime Minister and the Innovation Minister at the Prize Dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Wednesday 12 October 2011. Read the full article →
The Prime Minister is pleased to announce this year’s Prize for Science has been awarded to Professors Ezio Rizzardo and David Solomon from the CSIRO and the University of Melbourne. Read the full article →
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science for 2011 were presented by the Prime Minister and Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research at the Prize Dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Wednesday 12 October.
Below is the text of the minister’s speech.
A new chlorophyll – redefining photosynthesis
Among the single-celled cyanobacteria—formerly known as blue-green algae—which live in the ancient rock-like accumulations called stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia, Associate Professor Min Chen of the University of Sydney last year found the first new form of chlorophyll in 67 years.
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The Atlas of Living Australia will tell you.
Within 5 km of News Limited in Holt Street, Sydney for example there are reports of at least 3,500 different animal species, and 2,400 plant species.
ABC Southbank in Melbourne is a neighbour to more than1200 animals and 519 plants. In the coming months the records will be more detailed as institutions add their records. Read the full article →
Botanical illustration incorporates an extraordinary range of plant representations from flower paintings to finely detailed drawings of plants used for botanical purposes. As an artform it is often based in science and as a scientific document it is often viewed as an artwork. Read the full article →
The world’s botanists are invading Melbourne from Sunday evening.
Some of the interesting people and issues include: Read the full article →
Marking International Women’s Day, five of the world’s women leaders in science each received the $US100,000 L’ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards For Women in Science at a ceremony in Paris. Read the full article →
