The article “Scientists find immune molecule that supercharges plant growth” has been rewritten to provide clarity, structure, and style while maintaining its core ideas. The rewritten version is as follows:

Unlocking Nature’s Potential: Scientists Discover Key Molecule to Supercharge Plant Growth

For years, researchers have known about a molecule called itaconate that plays a vital role in the human immune system. However, its presence and functions in plants remained largely unexplored – until now. Biologists at the University of California San Diego have conducted the first comprehensive study on itaconate’s functions in plants, revealing its significant role in stimulating plant growth.

“We found that itaconate is made in plants, particularly in growing cells,” said Jazz Dickinson, a senior author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. “Watering maize (corn) plants with itaconate made seedlings grow taller, which was exciting and encouraged us to investigate this metabolite further and understand how it interacts with plant proteins.”

The researchers used chemical imaging and measurement techniques to confirm that plants produce itaconate. They also discovered that itaconate plays multiple key roles in plant physiology, including involvement in primary metabolism and oxygen-related stress response.

Optimizing the natural benefits of itaconate could be crucial for safely maximizing crop growth to support growing global populations. “This discovery could lead to nature-inspired solutions to improve the growth of crops, like corn,” said Dickinson. “We also hope that developing a better understanding of the connections between plant and animal biology will reveal new insights that can help both plant and human health.”

The study, supported in part by funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, was published in the journal Science Advances on June 6, 2025. The findings have exciting implications for improving crop growth using nature-inspired solutions, while also offering fresh information for understanding the molecule’s role in human development and growth.

The article highlights groundbreaking research conducted by Colorado State University and Cornell University that demonstrates how solar arrays can aid grasslands during drought. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, reveals that photovoltaic (PV) arrays located in grassland ecosystems can reduce water stress, improve soil moisture levels, and increase plant growth by up to 20% or more compared to open fields.

Researchers found that plants beneath and around the solar systems benefited from partial shading and additional water that collects on panels. During a dry year, grass growth on the east side of panels was significantly higher than in neighboring open sites. This positive response was reduced during wet and normal years but still demonstrated the potential benefits of co-locating solar power infrastructure with ecosystem preservation.

The study’s lead author, Matthew Sturchio, emphasizes that small changes in array design, configuration, and management could unlock untapped benefits, particularly those related to water use. The researchers are now exploring ways to optimize solar array placement and design to maximize the benefits for grassland ecosystems.

Alan Knapp, a University Distinguished Professor at CSU, notes that their research has significant implications for restoring grassland ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions. He suggests that building solar facilities in areas where they can benefit from strategic placement is an obvious win-win. The team plans to investigate the functional underpinnings of this idea at a newly constructed research facility.

This pioneering study showcases the potential for solar arrays to support grassland conservation, especially during drought-prone seasons. As researchers continue to explore and refine this concept, it may provide valuable insights into creating more resilient and sustainable ecosystems for generations to come.

The world’s food supply is facing unprecedented challenges due to Earth’s rapidly changing climate. University of Hawai’i scientists are among a team of researchers who have discovered an innovative way to help adapt food crops around the world to these new conditions. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change reveals how plant genebanks, also known as “living libraries,” can speed up the process of breeding crops better suited for climate change.

These living libraries store seeds and other genetic material from millions of genetically diverse plants worldwide. They provide a vital resource for plant breeders working to develop new crop varieties that have traits such as drought resistance, disease tolerance, or improved yields. The researchers used sorghum, a grain grown for food, fuel, and livestock feed, to test a new method called environmental genomic selection.

This approach combines DNA data with climate information to predict which plants are best suited for future conditions. It can be applied to any crop that has the right data, including sorghum, barley, cannabis, pepper, and dozens of other crops. By using a smaller, diverse “mini-core” group to forecast how crops will perform in different environments, scientists can quickly select the best parents for new, climate-resilient varieties.

“This method will help us keep pace with the hotter temperatures and increased risk of flooding from Earth’s changing climate and help develop new varieties to ensure food security,” said co-author Michael Kantar of the UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR).

The researchers also discovered that nations with high sorghum use may need genetic resources from other countries to effectively adapt to climate change. This highlights the value of global teamwork in securing the world’s food supply.

In conclusion, living libraries can play a crucial role in helping us adapt food crops to climate change. By leveraging these genetic resources and innovative breeding techniques, we can develop more resilient crop varieties that will ensure global food security for generations to come.