Gut environments harbour dense microbial ecosystems in which plasmids are widely distributed. Plasmids facilitate the exchange of genetic material among microorganisms while enabling the transfer of a diverse array of accessory functions. However, their precise impact on microbial community compo...

Plant monocultures growing for extended periods face severe losses of productivity. This phenomenon, known as 'yield decline', is often caused by the accumulation of above- and below-ground plant antagonists. The effectiveness of plant defences against antagonists might help explain differences i...

During seed imbibition, lipids are engaged in membrane reorganization while facing free radical-mediated oxidative injury. In the present work, we explored changes in lipid components at different timepoints of imbibition (0.5, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h) in the legume Medicago truncatula, by combining bio...

The increased positive impact of plant diversity on ecosystem functioning over time is often attributed to the gradual accumulation of mutualists and dilution of antagonists in diverse plant communities. While increased plant diversity alters traits related to resource acquisition, it remains unc...

Plants exhibit dynamic physiological and biochemical responses to herbivory that often involve extensive metabolic reprogramming. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), a globally important medicinal plant, is susceptible to herbivory by the pest Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, resulting in signif...