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… Research uncovers the genetic foundations that helped plants conquer land over 600 million years ago. The Science By studying the genes of land plants’ closest algal relative,  Zygnematophyceae , scientists have enhanced our understanding of how early plants transitioned from water to land. Key …

… start pinning down how a fungal symbiont spurs growth of poplar, a potential biofuel feedstock.     The Science The fungus  Mortierella elongata enjoys a dual lifestyle; it can thrive in the soil as a saprophyte, living off decaying … the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) sponsored by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research at the …

… from herbivore poop make surprisingly complex compounds — an energetically expensive feat thought to be too costly for … The Science Anaerobic fungi, which die in the presence of oxygen, dwell in herbivore guts and help them digest … meal. In their evolutionary history, these fungi branched off early from aerobic fungi, which can breathe oxygen — …

… New evidence shows anaerobic fungi can degrade the hardiest of plant components … called lignocellulose, are the primary components of hardy cell walls. It’s the cellulose and hemicellulose … The authors acknowledge their funding sources: Office of Biological and Environmental Research of the U.S. …

… The work was enabled in part by a community data portal of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome … Lab). Using 5,000 images of crystalized samples cloned and synthesized by the JGI, scientists have begun the … impact on the microbial communities within soil. Using metagenomics, scientists can shed light on hidden components, …

… a protein , PtrbHLH011, within poplar involved in plant growth, lignin production, and disease resistance.  The … Described as the “DOE Tree,” poplar is considered one of the  Flagship Plants for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a DOE Office …