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Articles tagged with: ‘plants‘

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Key genes for increasing oil content in plant leaves have been identified

By Maja Bosanac
20 October 2013

plant-leaves-oil-1A group of researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory has identified the key genes involved in oil production and accumulation in plant leaves and vegetative plant tissues. Increased expression of these genes resulted in increased oil content in leaves – plant’s most abundant source of biomass. This finding could help increase… »

Bionics»

Researchers pinpoint how some plants fix nitrogen while others do not

By Maja Bosanac
29 September 2013

stacey-liang-1Most of legume species, plants in the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae), live in symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia bacteria). The bacteria receive food from plant, and in turn the bacteria fix the nitrogen that most plants need to grow green and healthy. Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that nonlegumes plants respond to… »

Bionics»

Modifying tobacco plants to prolong their life and biomass

By Damir Beciri
13 January 2013

ime-forever-young-tabacco-plantThe legend about the fountain of youth has been around for thousands of years, appearing in early records of various cultures around the world. Unlike Ponce de León, who searched for the fountain of youth when he traveled to what is now Florida back in 1513, a group of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for… »

Bionics»

Increasing phytoremediation with bacteria

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments2 December 2011

champignons-petroleA multidisciplinary team of researchers from Canada is looking for ways to improve phytoremediation – a process where plant matter is used for decontamination. They use bacteria to stimulate faster growth capacity of certain plants and microscopic mushrooms which act as decontamination units. The researchers expect that these decontamination units will be used at various… »

Bionics»

Eucalyptus leaf wax coating could be used for self-cleaning surfaces

By Damir Beciri
One Comment1 November 2011

eucaliptus-color-dropsEucalyptus macocarpa, which is also known as The Rose of the West or Mottlecah, is a mallee Eucalyptus that is native to the south-west of Western Australia and noted for its large, spectacular flowers. Murdoch University researchers have discovered that it has unique self-cleaning and water-repellent properties which could be used in new nanotechnology applications…. »

Tech»

Tension wood study could lead to more effective biofuel production

By Damir Beciri
26 October 2011

ornl-bent-woodTension wood, which forms naturally in hardwood trees as a response to bending stress, is known to possess unique features that make it desirable as a bioenergy feedstock. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) have studied that phenomenon in trees which could lead to development of new crops capable to produce… »

Bionics»

Climbing plants inspire self-healing membranes

By Damir Beciri
One Comment25 September 2011

empa-polyurethane-foam-membraneSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) researchers have been inspired by climbing plants to develop a polymer foam surface coating with a closed cell construction capable to reduce the pressure loss after the membrane is damaged. Aside making future inflatable structures more resistant, the technology could provide them with a longer operational… »

Bionics| Tech»

Dandelion roots could be used as a sustainable natural rubber resource

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments12 May 2011

dandelionsThe Program of Excellence in Natural Rubber Alternatives (PENRA) was created to focus on research and commercialization of a viable natural rubber alternative, in order to counter the natural rubber supply shortage. Continuing the research, scientists at Ford and the Ohio State University see a species of dandelion as a new sustainable resource for rubber…. »