Volcani Voice

Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani Center

Message from the Editors

Welcome to the first edition of Volcani Voice which highlights research advances at the Agricultural Research Organization. The articles found in this newsletter, written by our researchers, serve as a platform for learning about our innovative research and engaging with us. The mission of ARO is summed up as:Excellence in research and development for the promotion of agriculture and sustainability of the environment.  
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Using metabolomics in basic & applied agricultural research

Metabolite analysis, or metabolomics, is a discipline with a major impact on both basic and applied agricultural sciences.The technologies being developed for analysis of small molecules, metabolites present in organic extracts made from plant materials, are greatly changing our way of thinking about what is possible in plant biology. A range of different separation and detection techniques are being refined and expanded, and their combination with advanced data management and data analysis approaches is already giving plant scientist's far deeper insights into the complexity of plant metabolism and plant metabolic composition than was imaginable just a few years ago.
We recently applied metabolomic analyses to several different research projects. Here we present two examples; one for the use of metabolomics in applied research and the other to demonstrate the role of metabolomics in basic research.
 
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Yellow shading nets impede whiteflies invasion and decrease the incidences of whiteflies -transmitted viral diseases in tomatoes

Yellow color is known to attract insect pests. Indeed, whiteflies landed 40 times more often on yellow shading net than on black net. However, growing tomatoes under yellow shading net provided a significant protection from whiteflies and the viral diseases they transmit, in comparison to growing them under black net. 
 

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A new role for sugars in stomatal closure

For a century, scientists have believed that sugars function as osmolytes that open stomata. This recent study undermines this paradigm, showing that sugars close stomata through hexokinase, a sugar sensor, thus allowing coordination of photosynthesis with water loss.
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Focus on Microbial Food Safety: Is it really worth washing leafy greens?

Fresh or minimally processed ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables are healthy, tasty, and convenient foods. Nevertheless, the last few decades have witnessed increased numbers of foodborne outbreaks following consumption of fresh produce contaminated with enteric bacteria. A new study sheds light on a potential novel mechanism for leaf contamination by penetration of human enteric pathogens inside the leaf tissue. The internalized bacteria reside in a favorable milieu, rich in water and nutrients and potentially protected from the external environment, including washing and disinfection.
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