Climate change has intensified environmental stresses on plants, threatening global food security by reducing crop yields by up to 5% per decade [1]. While genetic modifications have traditionally enhanced crop resilience, they raise ethical and ecological concerns. Epigenetic priming, where plants retain “memories” of prior stress and respond more effectively to future challenges, offers a prospective, sustainable alternative. This review examines three key aspects of epigenetic priming: underlying mechanisms, the stability and reliability of transgenerational inheritance, and practical agricultural applications. Peer-reviewed studies from Biosis and CAB Abstracts databases were searched using epigenetic priming keywords, limited to those published in the past five years. The most consistent finding is that DNA methylation and histone modifications regulate plant stress responses, contributing to short-term, long-term, and potentially transgenerational memory. However, evidence on the stability of transgenerational inheritance remains mixed. Some studies support heritable epigenetic changes that enhance resilience, while others report inconsistent results across environments and genotypes. Practical applications are also emerging, including CRISPR-based tools for targeted epigenetic modifications and field studies demonstrating potential improvements in crop resilience and yields. Yet, variability in outcomes across crops stresses the need for specialized approaches. The discrepancies mentioned likely stem from methodological differences, such as stress application protocols and the resetting of epigenetic marks in germlines. Future research must refine methodologies to bridge these gaps, unlocking the potential of epigenetic priming to enhance crop resilience in a changing climate.

Climate change threatens crops and agriculture worldwide, bringing uncertainty and demanding investigation into how plants might respond. One of the most important plant systems to study in this context is the cellular communication pathway, which is responsible for signaling potential threats and transporting important materials from cell to cell. In this study, we investigate how temperature stress and light affect callose deposition in the plasmodesmata of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) seedlings. We hypothesized that heat shocks would increase callose deposition while differences in light would have no effect on callose deposition. We planted A. thaliana seedlings in solid media, left them to germinate in a growth room, and imaged them using a microscope under fluorescent light to illuminate callose depositions. We then counted and analyzed callose levels, with data supporting both our temperature and light hypotheses.

Plants, which are sessile organisms, are extremely vulnerable to climate change, which is pushing plants out of their desired temperature range. One particular consequence is increased mutation rates, which is a known consequence of heat that has wide-ranging implications from conservation to breeding, to agricultural practice through its impact on genetic variation. This review will discuss past and current studies into this subject matter future paths of research that could be explored in regard to the effect of heat on the mutation rate in plants.

Historically, poisonous plants have been used for medicine, decoration, and religious rituals, and even as a source of immortality around the globe. Recently, there has been a push to turn to more plant-based medicine in the hopes of decreasing drug side effects while still maintaining their effectiveness. Get ready for a journey through the past and present medicinal uses of some of the world’s most dangerous plants.

Investigating replacements for inorganic chemical controls of pests and pathogens is essential to preserve the productivity and longevity of our agricultural lands. One solution is vermicomposting, a safe, scalable, and regenerative method of managing organic waste that involves the use of worms to convert organic matter into compost. This literature review examines the effects that vermicompost and vermicompost teas have on harmful accumulations of pests, pathogens, and toxins found within our agricultural systems.

Cannabis, hemp, pot – are these all synonyms for the same plant? Also known as Cannabis sativa L., hemp is a tall, leafy green plant, with an herbaceous stem and palmate, serrated leaves. Each part of the plant has a use, from food products to construction materials to clothing. However, hemp and marijuana are unfortunately frequently conflated as the same plant, despite having significantly different chemical and physical properties and separate historical uses. Hemp is a misunderstood, underutilized plant crop, and its textile use is an untapped source in American markets.

Dr. Yann-Ru Lou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Biology. Her lab focuses on implementing synthetic biology and biochemistry approaches to investigate the evolutionary trajectories of plant chemical diversity. I joined Dr. Lou’s lab in the Spring Quarter of my first year and enjoyed every moment of learning about research practices and working with nightshade plant metabolites. Nightshade plants belong to the Solanaceae family, including tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. The Solanaceae family produces acyl sugars, which are specialized metabolites for plant herbivory defense against insects and other pests. I would like to thank Dr. Lou for sharing her thoughts on science communication and giving us an opportunity to learn more about her research. Hope everyone enjoys this lab spotlight!