Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis

10/15/2026

NewsBytes: 10/15/2026

Recent plant research news.

• UC Davis: Prescribed burns protect sequoias from extreme wildfires
Giant sequoias treated with prescribed fire were nearly four times more likely to survive extreme wildfires than untreated trees. Researchers estimate the earlier burns saved about 1,900 trees, showing how planned fires can protect these ancient forests from increasingly severe wildfires.

• UC Davis: Researchers breed more nutritious watercress for indoors
Researchers studied 32 wild watercress lines to improve nutrition, flavor and yields for indoor farming. The team identified six promising varieties for breeding better indoor crops while noting that extra blue light increased carotenoids but reduced some other nutrients.

• UC Riverside: Desert mosses may harbor unexpected fungal partners
Scientists found fungal DNA and structures inside desert mosses, challenging the belief that these plants lack fungal partners. The fungi differed between dry and wetter environments, raising questions about whether they help mosses survive harsh conditions and exchange nutrients.

• UC Davis: Single gene controls avocado flowers’ daily s*x shifts
A single gene controls when avocado flowers function as male or female, a pattern dating back 42 million years. Researchers identified genetic markers that could help breeders distinguish flowering types in seedlings, years before the trees produce flowers.

• UC Berkeley: Climate change threatens California parks with wildfires
Under high emissions, wildfire frequency could double or triple in four California national parks, spreading into areas where fires are now rare. Researchers found that current management methods overlook emerging risks, while lower emissions could limit future increases.

Have a great week!

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10/08/2026

NewsBytes: 10/08/2026

Recent plant research news.

• UC Davis: Gray mold tailors attacks to individual plants
Gray mold changes how it attacks different plants, while each plant species mounts its own distinct defense. Researchers say understanding how the fungus recognizes its host could lead to new ways of protecting many crops from this widespread disease.

• UC Davis: Wildflowers reveal risks from California’s shifting rains
California jewelflowers evolved to germinate and reproduce within narrow temperature ranges, but later rains are pushing growth into colder conditions and reducing seed production. Researchers are studying which traits could help these plants, and other California species, adapt to shifting seasons.

• UC Riverside: Megafire spares fungi beneath burned Joshua trees
Soil fungi remained largely intact after a Mojave Desert megafire killed most Joshua trees. Researchers found no decline in fungal biomass or diversity, suggesting other factors drive the trees’ poor recovery and that restoration may not require replacing their fungal partners.

• UC Davis: Winter grains reduce pressure on groundwater supplies
Winter grains can keep San Joaquin Valley farmland productive while using little irrigation and relying mostly on seasonal rain. Research shows they use only slightly more water than fallow fields and may help recharge groundwater during wet years.

• UC Davis: Mountain jewelflowers struggle as local climates change
High-elevation mountain jewelflowers survived and reproduced less successfully than plants from warmer, lower elevations, suggesting local adaptations no longer match changing conditions. Researchers are testing whether crossing populations can combine useful traits and help the species adjust to future climates.

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09/29/2026

NewsBytes: 9/29/2026

Recent plant research news.

• UC Davis: Stripe rust resistance strengthens future pasta wheat
New durum wheat lines have durable resistance to stripe rust, a major threat to wheat production. New cultivars could reach farmers within three years, while researchers are combining several resistance genes to give bread wheat longer-lasting protection.

• UC Davis: Equipment cleaning helps contain parasitic tomato w**d
California tomato growers are cleaning farm equipment to slow the spread of branched broomrape, a parasitic w**d that threatens production. Researchers are testing faster cleaning methods, while an industry agreement helps affected growers keep harvesting without spreading the w**d.

• UC Davis: Tissue culture raises mutation rates in clones
Plants produced through tissue culture accumulated far more mutations than clones grown in fields, with clonal embryos showing 35 times more. Researchers say spending less time in tissue culture and screening plants earlier could reduce unwanted mutations during breeding programs.

• UC Davis: Habitat loss drives plant extinctions under warming
Up to 16% of studied plant species could lose most of their range by 2100. The main threat is disappearing habitat, not plants moving too slowly, suggesting that protecting and restoring habitat must accompany efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• UC Davis: Radiation adds genetic diversity to cloned peppermint
Researchers used radiation to create more than 250 genetically distinct peppermint plants, adding variation to a crop cloned for centuries. The new plants could help scientists identify genes for disease resistance, flavor and other traits, and breed improved peppermint varieties.

UC Davis | California's College Town

09/24/2026

Last Week in Plants: 09/24/2026

The new academic year began yesterday, and the week has been filled with orientations and experiences for new graduate, first-year, and transfer students.

We want to welcome all the new students to the plant sciences programs across campus. The faculty across Plant Sciences, Viticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Pathology and Ecology are all excited to work with you over the next few years.

Have a great week and a fantastic quarter. We’ll stay in touch along the way.

Thank you for being part of our community.

Have a great week.

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09/23/2026

Take a moment: Let’s give a big welcome to everyone new and returning to the UC Davis campus!

And so, the seasons change again. Autumn is starting with the new academic year. There are so many in the plants community; it’s difficult to mention them all. But we still try.

Students work at the Student Farm and SCOPE. Faculty and college staff work in research greenhouses and fields. We also have staff across campus supporting the Arboretum and campus landscaping.

Whatever your journey in 2026-27, we wish you all the best.

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Post description: A collection of plant photos from across the UC Davis campus.

04/21/2026

NewsBytes: 4/21/2026
Plant news from across the UC system.

• UC Davis: Tomato supply chain shows resilience to rising heat
UC Davis research found California’s tomato processing system maintains low postharvest losses despite higher temperatures and traffic. Analysis of 1.4 million truckloads showed that damage increases slightly under heat and congestion, but overall losses remain minimal due to supply chain efficiency.

• UC Davis: Model predicts cone ripening for efficient seed collection
UC Davis research uses decades of records to model when conifer cones ripen, helping improve seed collection timing. The work aims to boost California’s understocked seed bank and support reforestation efforts after severe wildfires by increasing efficiency and availability.

• UC Davis: Study reveals causes of pistachio hull splitting
UC Davis researchers identify cellular and genetic factors underlying pistachio hull splitting, linking changes in pectin and uneven cell growth to hull breakdown. The data may inform the development of more resilient varieties, reducing crop losses and improving pistachio and fruit crop quality.

• UC Davis: Goopy bacterial film drives rapid plant wilting
UC Davis researchers found that a viscous bacterial secretion enables Ralstonia to spread through plant vessels, causing rapid wilting. The unique polysaccharide flows under pressure, clogging xylem, and helps explain why this pathogen is especially destructive to crops.

• UC Davis: Bacteria hijack plant signals to open stomata
UC Davis researchers found that Salmonella induces auxin production in plants, tricking stomata into reopening and allowing infection. This discovery reveals how pathogens bypass plant defenses and could guide breeding of leafy greens with improved resistance to contamination and disease.

• UC Davis: Calcium spray tested to reduce smoke taint
UC Davis and USDA researchers are testing whether calcium sprays can reduce the absorption of wildfire smoke by grapes. By strengthening grape skin, the treatment may reduce smoke taint in w**e, with ongoing studies analyzing chemical and physical effects on fruit.

03/31/2026

NewsBytes: 3/31/2026

Plant and agriculture news.
• UC Davis: AI-designed foods aim to improve sustainability outcomes
A $2 million grant will support the development of an AI-powered tool to redesign foods for improved nutrition, sustainability and cost. Researchers aim to replace resource-intensive ingredients with alternatives while maintaining taste, using extensive molecular food data and predictive modeling systems.

• UC Davis: Schoolyards heat up as tree canopy declines
Researchers measured extreme heat at California schools, where limited tree cover leaves students exposed. Some campuses lost significant canopy and recorded dangerous temperatures. The findings highlight the need for trees and nature-based solutions to reduce heat risks as climate change intensifies.

UC Davis: High elevation tree search reveals climate shifts
Researchers in the Sierra Nevada found Jeffrey pines growing thousands of feet above known ranges. Their presence suggests warming conditions and bird-driven seed dispersal are reshaping forests, linking to how species respond to climate change at environmental extremes.

UC Davis: Dense olive orchards require less fertilizer input
A study found high-density olive orchards maintained yield and oil quality with reduced nitrogen fertilizer. Compost improved nitrogen uptake and soil health, while trees’ nitrogen needs came from soil and stored nutrients.

UC Davis: Breeding lima beans for flavor and resilience
UC Davis researchers are developing improved lima bean varieties with higher yields, better taste, improved nutrition, and greater adaptability. Studies include genetic analysis, pest resistance and consumer testing, with promising candidates moving toward regional trials to meet grower needs and market preferences.

UC Davis: W**e grape retains ancestral molecular memory for centuries
UC Davis researchers found Cabernet Sauvignon maintains stable epigenetic marks from its parent varieties after centuries of clonal propagation. These molecular signatures may influence traits such as stress response, offering insights into resilience and quality in long-lived perennial crops.

Have a great week.

03/31/2026

01/26/2026

NewsBytes: 1/26/2026

Plant and agriculture news from across the UC system.

• UC Davis: AI app enables real-time crop monitoring
UC Davis researchers developed an AI-powered spectrometry tool that delivers real-time nutrient and stress information in fields. Using scans and machine learning, the app helps farmers optimize fertilizer use, reduce runoff, cut costs, and improve crop yields.

• UC: AI irrigation system advances water efficiency research
UC Merced and UC ANR researchers installed an AI-powered irrigation system in an almond orchard to optimize water use. The project compares AI and traditional methods.

• UC Davis: Database tracks agricultural byproducts for upcycling innovation
UC Davis researchers launched an online database mapping food processing byproducts statewide. The tool catalogs materials such as tomato skins and nut hulls, detailing their composition, location, and availability to support upcycling, reduce waste, and create sustainable products across industries.

• UC Merced: UC Almond Board partnership advances sustainable innovation
The University of California and the Almond Board of California signed a five-year agreement to collaborate on automation, sustainability, and the development of new almond varieties. The partnership establishes research plots, supports student training, and accelerates the adoption of innovative farming practices for growers statewide in California.

• UC Davis: Gene catalog reveals controls of plum ripening
UC Davis researchers identified gene groups linked to plum softening rates and ethylene production. The findings clarify ripening control mechanisms, inform breeding strategies, and could help growers manage harvest timing, reduce losses, improve fruit quality, and lower waste across crops.

• UC Riverside: Farm conservation offers the cheapest water savings
UC Riverside researchers found agricultural conservation projects save Colorado River water at a lower cost than supply infrastructure. Analyzing 462 federally funded projects, the study shows incentive-based farm programs deliver the highest savings.

Have a great week.

01/21/2026

NewsBytes: 1/21/2026

It’s been a while. Let’s highlight some fall plant research across the UC system.

• UC Davis: Heat-reflecting film boosts greenhouse efficiency
UC Davis engineers developed a multilayer greenhouse coating that reflects heat-causing infrared light while transmitting photosynthetically useful radiation. Models show reduced cooling energy and water use in hot regions with minimal yield losses.

• UC Merced: Agricultural Experiment Station expands fire expertise
UC Merced’s Agricultural Experiment Station added three faculty members specializing in wildfire, insect management, and soil systems. The hires strengthen interdisciplinary research and outreach supporting sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in the San Joaquin Valley.

• UC Davis: Plant biomanufacturing project targets Earth and space
UC Davis received a three-million-dollar NSF grant to develop low-resource plant biomanufacturing systems. The EPiC project will test engineered plant platforms on Earth and the International Space Station, advancing sustainable production, workforce training, and decentralized manufacturing globally.

• UC San Diego: Ocean warming threatens mangrove recovery
UC San Diego researchers project ocean warming will offset expected mangrove restoration gains by 2100, leading to global losses of about 150,000 hectares and $28 billion in annual ecosystem services. The study highlights unequal impacts and the need for emissions reductions.

• UC Davis: Student breeders advance new organic crop varieties
UC Davis SCOPE students unveiled new zinnia, tomato, and wheat varieties nearing commercial release for organic farmers. Field day updates highlighted breeding progress, farmer feedback, and trials in celtuce and sweet potatoes, expanding crop diversity, resilience, and market opportunities statewide.

• UC ANR: Latent pathogens and climate drive tree deaths
UC researchers found latent fungal pathogens, activated by drought stress, are driving tree decline across California. Climate change, pests, and urbanization contribute, but pathogens also play a role.

Have a great week.