A unique partnership takes UC Davis students to Lassen Volcanic National Park to study the flora of this special area in far-northeastern California. Local communities and park visitors benefit, too.
UC Davis researchers used advanced microscopy to observe plant cell division in real-time, uncovering three phases of cell wall formation. Their work, published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, provides insights into cytokinesis and material recycling.
Daniel Potter is the new chair of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, overseeing research, teaching, and outreach. A botanist and herbarium director, he aims to improve student connections and expand lab space.
The UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity Herbarium houses 300,000 preserved plant specimens, serving researchers, students, and the public. Using both traditional and modern techniques, it supports biodiversity studies, ecological research, and digital preservation efforts worldwide.
This year, we are excited for the 2024 UC Davis Plant Sciences Symposium to represent work across the plant sciences with the theme, “Plant diversity from genes to ecosystems.”
Researchers in Brian Bailey’s Plant Simulation Lab at UC Davis are using 3D models and virtual reality to visualize plant processes like light absorption and growth. The VR demo at Picnic Day will show how bean traits impact photosynthesis and yield.
UC Davis hosted a USDA working group on indoor farming, gathering U.S. and Canadian scientists to share research on growing food and medicine in vertical farms and greenhouses using controlled environments and LED lights.
The 8th International Symposium on Almonds and Pistachios, hosted by UC Davis, brings experts together to discuss challenges in the tree nut industry, including water scarcity, pests, and climate change. Researchers share solutions for better cultivation.
UC Davis scientists have discovered the PLATZ1 gene in wheat. This gene controls plant height and boosts yield, especially in water-scarce conditions. It also helps produce longer coleoptiles for deeper planting, improving moisture access.
UC Davis researchers, led by Georgia Drakakaki, created a biophysical model and animation to explain cytokinesis, the essential process of plant cell division. Funded by the NSF, the model provides new insights into membrane structures and cell wall formation.
For the sixth year in a row, Department of Plant Sciences faculty Eduardo Blumwald has been named a Highly Cited Researcher by an international database of scientific journals. Blumwald, a plant biologist, is among 10 UC Davis researchers to receive the distinction for 2022.
Graduate students Amy Groh and Kimberly Gibson from UC Davis were named 2021 Borlaug Scholars by the National Association of Plant Breeders. The prestigious program supports their growth as future leaders in plant breeding.
"This gift will make a tremendous impact that honors Barbara and her groundbreaking achievements as a leader and a woman in plant sciences who is fondly remembered by our long-serving faculty and staff,” said Gail Taylor, professor and chair of the Department of Plant Sciences.
Story by Kristin Burns
At 5 feet, 2 inches, Plant Sciences Professor Emerita Barbara D. Webster may have been petite in stature, but she was a powerhouse when it came to reducing barriers for women in academia.
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, suggests that photorespiration wastes little energy and instead enhances nitrate assimilation, the process that converts nitrate absorbed from the soil into protein.
