Plant Cuttings

Tag: agriculture

  • The domestication of people by plants…

    The domestication of people by plants…

    Robert N. Spengler III’s “Nature’s greatest success” challenges the traditional view of agriculture’s origins, arguing that domestication was not a conscious act by humans but rather an inevitable outcome of plants’ evolution. He emphasises the partnership between plants and people, prompting critical thinking about our agricultural history and the role…

  • Humanity and fungi, a civilising combination?*

    Humanity and fungi, a civilising combination?*

    Frans Hals’ painting “The Merry Drinker” leads to a consideration of how settled agriculture and alcohol may have influenced the rise of civilizations. Whilst research by Václav Hrnčíř et al. (2025) suggests that traditional alcoholic beverages correlate with political complexity, other factors such as agriculture and religion likely played larger…

  • Ancient sand farmers of The Levant

    Ancient sand farmers of The Levant

    The plot-and-berm agroecosystem in Caesarea, established over a thousand years ago, transformed sandy soil into productive agricultural land. By creating small plots surrounded by berms, early inhabitants enhanced soil fertility and utilized groundwater for irrigation. This ingenious system showcases ancient agricultural techniques, offering insights relevant to modern farming in arid…

  • Plants suffer from viruses too… [From algae to rice plants… III]

    Plants suffer from viruses too… [From algae to rice plants… III]

    The post considers virus disease of plants and highlights research by Yu Huang et al. (2025) that reveals how rice detects and responds to viral infection. Such work is crucial for enhancing crop resilience and ensuring food security for the global human population.

  • Radishes helping themselves…

    Radishes helping themselves…

    SISRH is a self-irrigating and slow-release fertilizer hydrogel developed for sustainable agriculture. It absorbs water vapour at night and releases it during the day, reducing water consumption and enhancing nutrient delivery. Initial experiments with radish show promising results, but further research is needed to determine its impact on larger-scale and…

  • The ultimate plant cutting(!)

    The ultimate plant cutting(!)

    The natural world showcases various inter-kingdom collaborations, such as ants farming fungi. Research by Daniela Römer et al. reveals how leaf-cutter ants precisely excise leaf fragments, shedding light on their intricate cutting mechanism.

  • What’s the beef with hybrid rice?

    What’s the beef with hybrid rice?

    This post discusses various types of coloured rice, including black, purple, blue, yellow, red, and pink rice. It also considers a new “pink rice” created in a laboratory by integrating rice grains with animal cells. Two hopes for this hybrid food are to address concerns around climate change, and provide…