Science

Science briefs

Healthy barley kernels (top) and kernels infected with Fusarium head blight. Photo courtesy of Brian Steffenson, University of Minnesota.

Global barley collection provides genetic insights on resistance to devastating fungal pathogen

October 24, 2025

In phenomics, specific sensors are used to analyze different plant traits. These sensors range in affordability, so researchers outlined which ones are the most accessible in a recent The Plant Phenome Journal review. Illustration courtesy of Valerio Hoyos-Villegas, Michigan State University.

Affordable phenomics for crop breeders

October 20, 2025

Greenhouse experimental setup of column culture to study the root system architecture of buckwheat. Plants were grown in polyvinyl chloride pipes, which were filled with equal amounts of soil and sand. Photo courtesy of S. M. Zargar, Diksha Singh, and P. A. Sofi, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir.

Investigating root system architecture to make climate-resilient buckwheat

October 17, 2025

Soybeans emerging within a cereal rye cover crop strip trial near New Market, IA. Left: Cereal rye residue. Right: No cover crop. Photo courtesy of Teresa Middleton, Iowa State University.

Two sides to the cover crop coin

October 9, 2025

Aerial imagery captures the distinct effects of two organic amendments—rice straw and biochar—applied at varying rates as a partial substitute for chemical fertilizer. Contrasts in canopy development demonstrate that both the type and the application rate of the amendment significantly influence rice growth patterns, highlighting the two amendments as potential sustainable fertilizer alternatives. Labels indicate one representative replication of a treatment from a randomized field trial.

Rice straw and biochar reduce reliance on fertilizer

October 9, 2025

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.

Transfer learning: a powerful tool to improve genomic prediction accuracy

October 8, 2025

Features

The environment has just as much impact on a crop’s traits as its DNA. Ongoing research on how to incorporate this data to effectively select for the healthiest, hardiest, and highest-yielding crops was recently reviewed in The Plant Genome journal. Illustration by Deb Berger, Iowa State University.

The ‘essence’ of genomic selection

October 22, 2025

Agronomic practices are central to improving the nutritional value of food crops and addressing micronutrient deficiencies in human diets. Fertilizer management is one agronomic approach. Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock/oticki.

Agronomic approaches for enhancing nutritional value in food crops

September 25, 2025

Down to Earth

AI-generated image courtesy of ChatGPT.

New models explain how climate reacts to historical shocks

October 15, 2025

Undergraduates require access to authentic field environments to learn effectively. An undergraduate student (left) assists a Ph.D. candidate (center) deploying targets prior to a UAV (drone) aerial imagery survey, under the guidance of an expert geospatial scientist (right), in coastal dunes on Kangaroo Island after a significant bushfire. Photograph by A. Turner.

No replacement for field trips: The importance of hands-on learning in earth science

September 24, 2025

Webinar: Developing Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork Settings

Webinar: Early Career Award Opportunities in Agronomy, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences

Call for Papers: Phenomics of Germplasm Collection

Call for Papers: Advances in Monitoring Soil Water Content

Call for Papers: Advancement of Fate and Transport of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Vadose Zone