News

For a decade, scientists have believed that plants sensed temperature mainly through specialized proteins, and mainly at night when the air is cool. New research suggests that during the day, another signal takes over. Sugar, produced in sunlight, helps plants detect heat and decide when to grow.

Wild-growing tomatoes are on the black-rock islands of the Galápagos are doing something peculiar. They’re shedding millions of years of evolution, reverting to a primitive genetic state that resurrects ancient chemical defenses.

A new UC Riverside-led study reveals how common small particles produced by nature as well as human activities can transform upon entering plant cells and weaken plants’ ability to turn sunlight into food.

Once thought resistant to invasion, regional deserts are losing native plants to aggressive weedy species like Saharan mustard. UC Riverside research shows its spread is disrupting biodiversity and reducing the desert’s ability to recover from extreme climate swings.

Parasitic weeds are ruthless freeloaders, stealing nutrients from crops and devastating harvests. But what if farmers could trick these invaders into self-destructing? Scientists at UC Riverside think they’ve found a way.

A new species of native California shrub famous for its twisted branches and wildfire resilience has been discovered on the central coast, but its survival is already threatened by urban development that could destroy its fragile population.

UC Riverside distinguished professor Katayoon “Katie” Dehesh has defied governments, gender expectations, and scientific beliefs.

Biofilm, a slimy bacterial layer that clings to surfaces, makes infections harder to treat when they form protective shields for bacteria on medical devices. Scientists have discovered a chemical that prevents biofilm from forming.

Scientists have discovered a way to remove toxic compounds from potatoes and tomatoes, making them safer to eat and easier to store. The breakthrough could cut food waste and enhance crop farming in extreme environments, like outer space.

With age-related conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia on the rise, the University of California, Riverside, is joining a major effort to develop treatments that delay aging and improve life for older adults. The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a $45...

Thanks to an experiment started before the Great Depression, researchers have pinpointed the genes behind the remarkable adaptability of barley, a key ingredient in beer and whiskey. These insights could ensure the crop’s continued survival amidst rapid climate change.

Three UC Riverside faculty experts weigh in on how the extreme summer heat affects our flora.

Climate resilient, nutritious long beans are unfortunately susceptible to aphids and nematodes. By creating four new pest-resistant varieties of the beans, scientists aim to reduce farmers’ reliance on pesticides.

Plants’ ability to sense light and temperature, and their ability to adapt to climate change, hinges on free-forming structures in their cells whose function was, until now, a mystery.

Ernst and Helen Leibacher's donation of land to UCR fund the establishment of an endowed chair in botany and plant sciences.

Scientists have known about a particular organelle in plant cells for over a century. However, UCR scientists have only now discovered that organelle’s key role in aging.

With three new grants totaling more than $11 million, UC Riverside is helping lead the fight against citrus greening or Huanglongbing, a disease threatening citrus industries in the U.S. and worldwide.

A new study shows the protective effect of income has largely eroded over the past 40 years, as landscape plants can’t keep up with the pace of climate warming.

The Luna UCR avocado is named by TIME as one of the best inventions of the year. Therecognition comes just months after UCR released the variety to commercial growers worldwide.

What if your house plant could tell you your water isn’t safe? Scientists are closer to realizing this vision, having engineered a plant to turn beet red in the presence of a banned, toxic pesticide.