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The approximately 2-Mb MoT mini-chromosome lacks house-keeping genes, and 52.8% of its sequences are transposons, a significant enrichment similar to what has been reported in lineage-specific chromosomes in the I Fusarium oxysporum i species complex [[5]]. Interestingly, though these two effectors are located on separate chromosomes in MoO, I PWL2 i and I BAS1 i are physically linked in the mini-chromosome of MoT, indicating the shuffling of effector genes. The enrichment and shuffling of effector genes on mini-chromosomes might have provided a reservoir of retained effector genes at the pathogen population level and promoted documented effector gene mobility through movement to new locations in core chromosome ends [[8]]. [Extracted from the article]

The authors convey their response to a feedback about their report on the selective transport and role of silicon in plants. Topics mentioned include the role of silicic acid as an intracellular signaling agent, the differences between the mechanical barrier hypothesis and the apoplastic obstruction hypothesis, and the existence of a synergistic mechanical protection by callose and silica against pathogens in horsetail.

The article offers the author's experience in science, particularly in the molecular plant science. The author talks about the four topics to which he has made a minor contribution. He shares his experience of how he often fumbled his way through research. Also tackled is his realization that investigation is never a direct path but a road full of obstacles.

As sessile organisms that are unable to escape from inhospitable environments, plants are at the mercy of the elements. Nonetheless, plants have managed to adapt, evolve and survive in some of the harshest conditions on earth. The FEBS Workshop ‘Adaptation Potential in Plants’, held at the Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Vienna, Austria from 19 to 21 March 2009, provided a forum (including 18 invited talks, 8 selected short talks and 69 posters) for about 100 plant biologists from 32 countries, working in the diverse fields of genetics, epigenetics, stress signalling, and growth and development, to come together and discuss adaptation potential in plants at all its levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stagonospora nodorum is an important pathogen of wheat and related cereals, causing both a leaf and glume blotch. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of taxonomy, control and pathogenicity of this species. Taxonomy: Stagonospora (syn. Septoria) nodorum (Berk.) Castell. and Germano [teleomorph: Phaeosphaeria (syn. Leptosphaeria) nodorum (Müll.) Hedjar.], kingdom Fungi, phylum Ascomycota, subphylum Euascomycota, class Dothideomycetes, order Pleosporales, family Phaeosphaeriaceae, genus Phaeosphaeria, species nodorum. Host range: Wheat, Triticum aestivum, T. durum, Triticale, are the main hosts but other cereals and wild grasses have been reported to harbour S. nodorum. Disease symptoms are lens-shaped necrotic lesions on leaves, girdling necrosis on stems (especially the nodes, hence ‘ nodorum’) and lesions on glumes. Mature lesions produce pycnidia scattered throughout the lesions, especially as tissue senesces. Useful websites: (taxonomic information), (disease information),  (ACNFP homepage), (genome sequence homepage), (genome sequence annotation and analysis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Features Brian Staskawicz, recipient of the Noel T. Keen Award for Research Excellence in Molecular Plant Pathology. Birth in Boston, Massachusetts; Collaboration between Staskawicz and Keen on pioneering contributions to studies on plant resistance to pathogens; Cloning of the first avr gene from Pseudomonas; Membership in the American Phytopathology Society and the American Society for Microbiology.