How plants control the formation of wood cells
Monday, May 30, 2011 - 11:31
in Biology & Nature
An international group led by researchers in Finland has discovered the genetic process that controls the development of wood cells in the roots of plants. Xylem (wood cells) is the vascular tissue that transports water and nutrients upward from the root, also contributing to the formation of the woody element in the stem. The work presents a potential method for engineering plants to produce more wood.