Tag Plants
Controlling invasive milfoil with lake-wide herbicide could do more harm than good to native plants
New research could help lake managers make more informed decisions about their invasive species control strategies.
University helps state growers cope with voracious, invading fruit fly
“These insects have invaded everywhere in the world that grows fruit,” says researcher Hanna McIntosh. “If the mulch works here, it’s probably applicable to people who grow fruit in other places.”
Study suggests trees are crucial to the future of our cities
According to a new UW–Madison study, the right amount of tree cover can lower summer daytime temperatures in a city by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Barley experiment reveals plant science to fifth-graders
A big part of 5th grade science project is the emphasis on using controls and variables in scientific experiment. How much water did you use? How often did you water? Did using hot or cold water make a difference?
THOR wrangles complex microbiomes into a model for improving them
A growing understanding of microbial communities and their influence on human health or crop productivity has led to the dream of changing these communities to produce benefits. New research addresses this head-on.
To expand exports, Wisconsin ginseng industry relies on UW–Madison expert
The Wisconsin Ginseng Board came to Professor Ann McGuidwin to explore ways to assure Taiwan that the fresh roots would contain none of the R. similis nematode.
Corn that acquires its own nitrogen identified, reducing need for fertilizer
The corn secretes copious globs of mucus-like gel harboring bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, answering a longtime quest of scientists.
UW project asks: What happens to irrigation water in Wisconsin’s Central Sands?
“You can't grow much here without irrigation," says farmer Justin Isherwood, "but we’re not sure how much is enough, and how to leave the same groundwater resource for the next generation."
Spring splendor
Little can compare to spring in the UW Arboretum — especially when that spring was slow to show its face. In the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, the blossoming trees, buzzing bees and strutting turkeys celebrate the return of warm weather in Madison.
UW researcher to send cotton into space to improve its growth on Earth
Botanist Simon Gilroy will study cotton seedlings grown on the International Space Station in a project that could help researchers understand how to develop plants that use water more efficiently.
Tribal forests in Wisconsin are more diverse, sustainable
Researchers found that many of the differences between tribal and nontribal forests can be traced back to the lower density of deer on the tribal lands.
GreenHouse program coordinator blends sustainability, student life
The learning community, one of 10 organized by University Housing, lets students explore sustainability and agricultural systems through seminars and hands-on experiences that are integrated with residential life.
New Arboretum director continues legacy of restoration, teaching
As fall slowly hardens to winter in Madison, part of Karen Oberhauser’s new job is to walk the trails of the UW–Madison Arboretum, getting a sense not just for the geography, but for the land itself. That’s because the land Oberhauser walks is now under her care.
Breeding highly productive corn has reduced its ability to adapt
Researchers studied corn planted across North America to find out whether selecting for corn that is acclimated to particular locations has changed its ability to adapt to new or stressful environments.
Tropical trees show coexistence is path to diversity
The findings confirm that climate seasonality plays a role in the higher biodiversity scientists observe near the equator, but they highlight that this coexistence mechanism also varies with latitude.
UW researchers discover an evolutionary stepping stone to beet-red beets
The new findings can aid beet breeding programs and provide tools and information for scientists studying how to turn tyrosine into its many useful derivatives, which include morphine and vitamin E.
Arboretum conference offers native gardeners guidance, ideas Sept. 17
As fall approaches and the sun gets lower in the sky, mark the end of one growing season by planning for the next at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum’s annual Native Gardening Conference.
Lakeshore researchers learn to fight weeds by studying them
Six student volunteers are helping pare back invasive weeds in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve while also advancing research on how to best control invasive species in disturbed environments.
Plants under attack can turn hungry caterpillars into cannibals
A researcher found a tomato plant can make itself taste so horrible that a caterpillar, which would typically munch on its leaves, might eat another caterpillar instead.
Newly identified gene helps time spring flowering in vital grass crops
The discovery may help plant breeders and engineers get more from food and energy crops.