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The article focuses on the research conducted under the RootsPlus project, funded by the European Union, which aims to develop more resilient varieties of roses and apples using bacterial genes to enhance their ability to withstand drought conditions. It states that this involves the integration of bacterial DNA from Rhizobium rhizogenes into plant genomes, resulting in the formation of "hairy roots" that facilitate improved water uptake and stronger resistance to diseases and drought.

The article offers information on the research project from Leibniz University of Hanover (LUH) on how plants be made more drought tolerant by changing their tissues in contact with specific soil bacteria. It mentions approaches of use "Bacterial Cultivation" can to various root properties change of plants. It also mentions horticulture already led to this approach more compact and therefore more attractive ornamental plants.

The newly identified aquaporin coding sequences presented here pave the way for further insights into the plant–water relations in the commercial strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). Aquaporins are water channel proteins that allow water to cross (intra)cellular membranes. In Fragaria x ananassa, few of them have been identified hitherto, hampering the exploration of the water transport regulation at cellular level. Here, we present new aquaporin coding sequences belonging to different subclasses: plasma membrane intrinsic proteins subtype 1 and subtype 2 (PIP1 and PIP2) and tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIP). The classification is based on phylogenetic analysis and is confirmed by the presence of conserved residues. Substrate-specific signature sequences (SSSSs) and specificity-determining positions (SDPs) predict the substrate specificity of each new aquaporin. Expression profiling in leaves, petioles and developing fruits reveals distinct patterns, even within the same (sub)class. Expression profiles range from leaf-specific expression over constitutive expression to fruit-specific expression. Both upregulation and downregulation during fruit ripening occur. Substrate specificity and expression profiles suggest that functional specialization exists among aquaporins belonging to a different but also to the same (sub)class. Insights into the mechanisms behind cellular water transport within strawberry plants could help optimize crop management and yields. Strawberry plants have shallow root systems, large leaves and produce fruit with a high water content, and so good water management is essential for optimizing commercial strawberry crops. However, the precise mechanisms inherent in cellular water management in strawberries are not clear. Marie-Christine Van Labeke at Ghent University in Belgium, and co-workers identified and coded three sub-classes of cellular water channels called aquaporins in the commercial strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa. Aquaporins form gated pores in cellular membranes, which open and close to control water transport within the plant. The researchers found that aquaporin sub-classes are expressed differently in stalks, leaves and fruits dependent on ripening stage, and, even within the same sub-class, they have individual specialized functions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the methane (CH4) reducing potential of a combination of prenatal and/or postnatal treatment with coconut oil medium chain fatty acids (CO MCFA) in goat kids. The hypothesis is that influencing rumen function during early life has more chances for success than in the adult life, related to the resilience of the mature rumen microbiota. Forty-eight pregnant does were split into two experimental groups: treated does (D+) received 40 g/d of CO MCFA in a test compound feed, while control does (D−) received a control compound feed, during the last 3 wk of gestation. Twin kids from 10 does of each group were split up into a treated (K+) and nontreated (K−) group, resulting in four experimental groups: D+K+, D+K−, D−K+, and D−K−. The K+ kids received 1.8 mL/d of CO MCFA from birth until 2-wk postweaning (11 wk). Irrespective of treatment, the experimental rearing conditions resulted in absence of rumen protozoa at all sampling times, assessed by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In vitro incubations with rumen fluid at 4 wk old showed 82% lower CH4production of inoculum from D+K+ kids compared to D−K−kids (P= 0.01). However, this was accompanied by lower total volatile fatty acids (tVFA) production (P= 0.006) and higher hydrogen accumulation (P= 0.008). QPCR targeting the mcrAand rrsgenes confirmed a lower abundance of total methanogens (P< 0.02) and total eubacteria (P= 0.02) in D+K+ kids at 4 wk old. Methanogenic activity, as assessed by mcrAexpression by RT-qPCR, was also lower in these kids. However, activity did not always reflect methanogen abundance. At 11 and 28 wk old, prenatal and postnatal effects on in vitro fermentation and rumen microbiota disappeared. Nevertheless, lower milk replacer intake in the first 4 wk resulted in reduced BW in K+ kids, persisting until 28 wk of age. Additionally, differences assigned to postnatal treatment were found in papillae density, width, and length in different areas of the rumen, recorded at 28 wk old. Conclusion: prenatal and postnatal supplementation with CO MCFA reduced in vitro CH4emissions until 4 wk old by depressing methanogen abundance and activity but at the expense of rumen fermentation and eubacterial abundance. Unfortunately, daily gain of K+ kids was suppressed. Some rumen papillae characteristics differed at 28 wk old due to postnatal treatment which ended at 11 wk old, indicating rumen papillary development can be affected by the early-life nutritional circumstances.

The article informs on a new European Union joint project called "RootsPlus," in which horticultural scientists from Leibniz University Hannover to make plants more drought tolerant by exposing their tissues to specific soil bacteria. It mentions that the core of the investigations is the soil bacterium Rhizobium rhizogenes, which is widespread in nature, and it could make an important contribution to achieving the goal of drought tolerance, along with breeding techniques.