plants
Oak trees infested by caterpillars delay their leaf budding by three days the following spring, starving the insects and reducing damage. Researchers used satellite data to uncover this defense mechanism in German forests. The finding suggests trees actively adapt to herbivore attacks.
Reported by AI
A novel grafting method could allow gene editing in plants like cocoa, coffee, and avocados that are currently hard to modify. Researchers have demonstrated that engineering rootstocks to produce CRISPR components can edit shoots from non-modified plants. This approach promises broader application of precise genetic improvements for agriculture.