#Plants5

24 Feb 2026

Warm winter and early buds in Washington

Last December was the warmest on record in Washington and the state has had a mild winter. Many garden plants already show small buds, and a University of Washington specialist has discussed how warmer winters might change flowering time.

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Photo by Peter Robbins, Unsplash

2 Feb 2026

How Vines Find and Attach to Trees

Researchers described a formula that explains how vines search for and attach to other plants. The study used common bean vines and found a role for elongation, directed movement and special contacting cells.

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26 Dec 2025

Outer root layer controls twisted root growth

A research team found that the outer cell layer of roots (the epidermis) can control whether roots grow twisted or straight. Lab measurements and computer models explain why this layer has more mechanical influence, with implications for crops.

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24 Dec 2025

How mangroves survive saltwater

Scientists studied mangrove trees to learn why some plants tolerate repeated saltwater flooding. They found small cells and thicker cell walls help mangroves stay strong in salty, waterlogged conditions and suggest this could help make crops more salt-tolerant.

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5 Dec 2025

How Roots Push Through Compacted Soil

Soil compaction from heavy machinery and drought makes farming harder. Researchers found how roots thicken, swell and reinforce their outer layer so they can push into dense soil; a protein (a transcription factor) helps this process.

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