A new crop microbiome study shows that crop species, rather than soil type, primarily determines the beneficial functions provided by root-associated microbes. Researchers say the findings could support microbial inoculants and microbiome-assisted breeding for sustainable agriculture.The post Crop M
Organic farming may help crops resist drought by enriching beneficial soil bacteria linked to plant resilience.The post Organic Farming Could Help Crops Resist Drought appeared first on Seed World.Long-term organic management may enrich beneficial soil bacteria that help plants cope with drought str
A new seed development map from Whitehead Institute could help researchers study crop yield, nutrient storage and resilience.The post New Seed Development Map Could Improve Crop Yield appeared first on Seed World.A new gene expression atlas could help researchers better understand how seeds develop,
A Rothamsted Research pipeline aims to speed fungicide discovery for Septoria tritici blotch by screening microbial compounds.The post New Pipeline Targets Fungicide Discovery in Wheat appeared first on Seed World.Researchers aim to speed up the search for new antifungal compounds as wheat pathogens
Soil fungi could help crops improve nutrient uptake and reduce fertilizer needs by maintaining beneficial root partnerships.The post How Soil Fungi Could Help Crops Need Less Fertilizer appeared first on Seed World.Researchers at Whitehead Institute have created a detailed map of seed development th
GridScore NEXT helps crop researchers collect cleaner field data, reduce phenotyping errors and accelerate plant breeding.The post GridScore NEXT Speeds Up Plant Breeding Research appeared first on Seed World.An international team of researchers, led by The James Hutton Institute, has unveiled a pow
From June 22–25, ISTA 2026 will bring together seed testing professionals, technical experts, regulators, and industry leaders from around the world to discuss the issues shaping global seed movement, market access, harmonization, and emerging technologies in seed testing. In the interview above, In
Researchers developed low-cost 3D-printed devices to study bacterial movement along fungal “highways” in soil and plants. Created by Rothamsted Research and collaborators, the scalable platform reveals how fungal networks transport bacteria under varying conditions, improving understanding of microb
Plant breeding requires patience, discipline and long-term learning to develop better varieties and stronger seed sector leadership.The post Why Plant Breeding Persistence Matters in Seeds appeared first on Seed World.From developing new varieties to building stronger companies, real progress often
DeepTYLCV, developed at Sungkyunkwan University, uses artificial intelligence and viral genome sequence data to predict tomato yellow leaf curl virus virulence. Published in Plant Communications, the model identifies mild and severe TYLCV strains before field symptoms appear, supporting early diseas
Researchers in Japan have discovered a copper-dependent hydrogen peroxide sensing system in plants, reshaping understanding of crop stress signaling and immunity. Published in Nature Communications, the study shows CARD1/HPCA1 detects H₂O₂ through metal-based redox chemistry, offering new insights f
Rothamsted Research has planted the UK’s first crop under a Precision Bred Organism Release Notice, marking a milestone for gene-edited field trials. The CRISPR-Cas9 Camelina sativa trial will test increased seed size, yield and oil content, supporting future oilseed crop innovation, sustainable agr
New research from ISTA shows that plants use two parallel cAMP signaling pathways to manage normal cell functions and stress responses. The discovery could help scientists better understand plant resilience and support future crop development for changing climates.The post Scientists Decode Crop Str
JIC and CIMMYT are advancing wheat research through molecular breeding, disease surveillance and rapid diagnostics, linking discovery science with farmer-focused delivery to develop more resilient, nutritious wheat varieties.The post CIMMYT and John Innes Centre Partnership Advances Wheat Research a
Tunisian researchers sequenced the complete genomes of Mahmoudi and Chili durum wheat landraces, uncovering valuable traits for drought tolerance, disease resistance and climate resilience. The genomic data, available through OpenDurumGPT on Zenodo, supports global wheat breeding efforts while prese
Researchers identified a novel Fusarium Head Blight resistance locus in Elymus repens, a wild wheat relative, and successfully transferred it into cultivated wheat. The new locus, Fhb.Er-1StL, reduced diseased spikelets by up to 69% in greenhouse trials and 60% in field trials, offering a valuable n
Scientists have developed a comprehensive watermelon super-pangenome integrating 138 wild and cultivated genomes, revealing genetic variants linked to sweetness, flesh colour, and disease resistance. Published in Nature Genetics, the research provides a powerful new resource for genomics-assisted br
Rothamsted Research and University of Oxford spin-out SugaROx has secured £2.5 million from The Mosaic Company to advance precision crop biostimulants. The Series A investment will support field trials, regulatory work, commercial scale-up, and development of SugaROx’s T6P-based platform, designed t
Researchers used genome editing to alter flavonoid production in red-leaf lettuce, removing red pigmentation while increasing beneficial compounds such as quercetin. The modified lettuce maintained normal growth, highlighting a potential crop breeding strategy for developing functional lettuce varie
New University of Bristol research published in Nature finds that pollinator decline threatens crop production, human nutrition and farm incomes. Studying smallholder farms in Nepal, researchers found pollinators support 44% of farming income and more than 20% of key vitamin intake, highlighting the
Representatives from eight leading Nordic research institutions gathered at the University of Helsinki in late March to officially launch NordPheno, the Nordic Research Infrastructure Hub for Digital Plant Phenotyping.The five-year NordForsk-funded network (2026–2030) brings together partners from F
A new report by Leaps by Bayer, Boston Consulting Group and Ipsos UK examines public trust in agricultural innovation, including new genomic techniques and cultivated meat. Based on interviews in China, Germany and the United States, and a 2025 survey of more than 13,000 people across 13 countries,
University College Dublin researchers identified a genetic sex switch in cannabis that may also control sex in hops. The study, published in New Phytologist, found key genes on the X chromosome that influence male, female and monoecious development, offering potential benefits for cannabis and hop b
New research finds maize under simultaneous root and leaf pest attack releases distinct root chemicals that strongly attract wireworms. Scientists recreated the cue as a synthetic blend, effective in lab, semi-field and field tests. The discovery highlights the rhizosphere’s role in crop protection
