Just like human beings, plants get sick. Microorganisms such as fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses and nematodes (tiny worm like organisms) can infect their plant hosts, with deadly consequences. This might not be […]
When you buy your packet of squash seeds each spring, you plant them in the ground, and expect plants to sprout! It seems like an easy process, but there’s a lot of […]
Are you friends with a person who can eat anything they want and still not gain weight? Part of that could be in how their body metabolizes the food they eat. Of […]
Global warming and changes in the amount – and location – of water, are key factors in the need to continue crop breeding programs. In addition, there are many diseases that affect […]
You most likely know that all living things have DNA. This ladder-like, complex, molecule found in each cell carries the genetic information to control growth and functioning of that organism. DNA is […]
Cranberries are an essential part of many a Thanksgiving meal in the U.S. and Canada. The annual family debate is about the best way to eat the beautiful, red fruit. Whether you […]
There are a lot of fun sayings out there that involve the word “hay”. “We better make hay while the sun shines.” “It is time to hit the hay,” and so on. […]
Did you know that sunflowers are the only major global crop that is native to the United States? And, that this native plant has about 64 species and subspecies that grow wild […]
Native Americans used wild cranberries harvested from their natural habitats and introduced them to settlers hundreds of years ago. Today, most of the cranberries that people eat come from wild selections that […]
Climate fluctuations make life difficult for the plants we eat. Unlike us, they can’t move if it’s too hot, too cold, or they don’t have enough water. This is the story of the humble […]