Young Minds Award Winners
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The importance of iodine in human diets is well understood, but despite over 100 years of research, little is known about how iodine impacts plants. Prior research has shown that the addition of exogenous iodine has led to a variety of responses based on species (and even varieties), application timing, the form of iodine, and […]14 December 2024 -
Luka Batistič is a researcher and Ph.D student at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, working under the supervision of Prof. Dr. S. Trdan. Together with his colleagues, Batistič is focused on developing eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, specifically exploring the use of mechanical pest control methods. Shield bugs (Pentatomidae) are a major concern […]14 December 2024 -
Insects are the primary pollinators of most wild flora and food crops around the world. However, global declines in pollinator populations threaten the provision of the ecosystem services that insects provide in both managed and natural ecosystems. Urban agricultural sites are expanding in cities, potentially enhancing sustainability by providing sources of habitat for biodiversity. Yet, […]14 December 2024 -
Urban areas are under increasing pressure to contribute to the mitigation of the climate impacts arising from urbanisation. Urban greenspaces, including natural lawns, are recognised as critical resources for ecosystem service provision. Natural lawns contribute a variety of ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, water absorption, and mitigation of the urban heat island effect. However, in […]14 December 2024 -
New varieties of red-fleshed kiwifruit have recently been introduced into the market and are widely appreciated by consumers. The use of LED lighting offers a novel opportunity to improve the postharvest quality during storage. The aim of this study was to determine if the postharvest application of exogenous light radiation affected the colorimetric characteristics of […]5 October 2024 -
Ilex crenata or box-leaved holly has gained popularity for use as an ornamental shrub for topiary and hedges in Western Europe. I. crenata prefers acidic soils, which makes it less than ideal for the typically pH-neutral private garden. When grown in neutral pH soils, I. crenata experiences problems with nutrient uptake. A higher soil pH […]5 October 2024 -
Biennial bearing is not a novel concept for perennial fruit trees. Biennial bearing, or alternate bearing, is characterized by a heavy crop one year (the “on” year), accompanied by little to no crop the following year (the “off” year). While environmental factors such as spring frosts and drought can initiate a biennial bearing cycle in […]5 October 2024 -
Francisca Carrasco-Cuello is a PhD student at the IRTA Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology in Lleida, Spain. Francisca’s work is currently focused on gaining a greater understanding of calcium uptake by peach and nectarine roots and its subsequent distribution to the aerial parts of the tree. She is also studying the role of calcium […]5 October 2024 -
The phytohormone ethylene plays a pivotal role in climacteric fruit ripening. However, the knowledge on molecular regulation of ethylene biosynthesis remains limited in pears. In our study, a new basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, PbbHLH164, was identified based on the transcriptome analysis of developing and ripening fruit. Transient expression in pear fruits and genetic transformation in […]5 October 2024 -
Unveiling the impact of far-red light on carbohydrate allocation and yield in dwarf tomato cultivarsMaria Mastoraki, a PhD candidate at the Horticulture and Product Physiology group of Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, is investigating the impact of far-red light on carbohydrate partitioning in dwarf tomato plants. Supervised by Dr. Ep Heuvelink and Professor Leo Marcelis, her work focuses on understanding how photosynthetically fixed carbon is allocated to […]5 October 2024