senescence

futurity_medicine 00039.txt

It's the equivalent in adults of six years of biological aging Gotlib says but it's not at all clear that that makes them 18

futurity_sci_tech 00953.txt

a key step in the plant's pathway for controlling senescence that had been eluding scientists. At the start of that pathway is salicylic acid precursor of the active ingredient in aspirin

Plant senescence is estimated to involve 10 percent of genes in the genome. Plants use an expedited hypersensitive process to thwart pathogens by sacrificing infected cells to protect the surrounding healthy tissues.

Gan expects further research to enable the delay of senescence for weeks. In the current transport and storage-based food system senescence after harvest whittles away at fruit and vegetable quality.

Gan envisions applications that will produce leafy greens that stay fresh floral bouquets that last longer and crops that keep their nutrients with an extended shelf life and less postharvest loss.

Much of the progress plant breeders have made in improving plant yields is actually due to delaying leaf senescence Gan says.

and seeds so senescence limits the yield of many crops. His lab group is already working with other genes in the salicylic acid pathway including a master regulator gene with promising results.

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