Can a plant remember a heat wave? Danforth Center principal investigator Ru Zhang is studying how photosynthetic cells retain "heat stress memory" to help breed more heat-resilient crops. 🌿

St. Louis has spent 25 years building an ecosystem where world-class science stays and grows. Here's how. 🔬 @stlmag.bsky.social

Nebraska farmers are weighing a shift away from corn — and sorghum may be one of the smartest alternatives. Danforth Center scientist Andrea Eveland explains why this drought- and heat-resilient crop requires fewer inputs and is built for what's ahead.

Real-time crop stress monitoring. Soil sensors. Field environment data. The PheNode system is helping farmers adapt to a changing world — and Dr. Nadia Shakoor broke it all down for John Fuller on FOX 2: www.danforthcenter.org/news/agricul... #PrecisionAgriculture #FoodSecurity

New research! Danforth Center PI Erin Sparks & Bayer used the SMURF device to show that shorter corn plants have more flexible roots — helping them take wind damage at less than half the rate of conventional corn. Watch the SMURF in action 👇

This month's On the Vine is here! If you don't already know, our monthly e-newsletter is the easiest way to follow along with all that's going on at the Center. 📨 Check out our latest issue and be sure to sign up today: https://conta.cc/3RczVRv #ScienceNews #PlantScience

From our FY26 New Investigators: Leading two sorghum projects, Nadia Shakoor will generate deep-soil DNA maps and a time-resolved activity dataset. @danforthcenter.bsky.social Full portfolio: jgi.doe.gov/user-science/science-stories/jgi-announces-2026-new-investigator-portfolio

Agtech startup Agrela Ecosystems just closed a $500K funding round and is scaling its PheNode® sensor platform nationally. It's now being used for everything from research to specialty crops to transportation infrastructure, and it started here in St. Louis: www.danforthcenter.org/news/agrela-...

Agrela Ecosystems Expands Nationally as PheNode Platform Moves from Agricultural Research into Transportation Infrastructure - Danforth Plant Science Center

Danforth Center spinout Agrela Ecosystems grows PheNode platform from plant research into transportation infrastructure and specialty crops.

danforthcenter.org

Sabita Gyawali is our May Committee for Scientific Training and Mentoring Member of the Month! She studies plant-microbe interactions in the Bravo Lab and aims to eventually grow into a lead independent research role working on sustainable agriculture.

Congratulations to Dr. Ashley Snouffer, the new Director of our Plant Transformation Facility! From cassava regeneration breakthroughs to pioneering work with emerging tools, her research is helping unlock the future of crop improvement.

It's #EarthDay every day at the Danforth Center, where our scientists are advancing resilient crops and sustainable farming systems.

Here's some new research worth celebrating this #EarthDay: Dr. Nadia Shakoor's lab shows how regenerative farming practices paired with drone and field data can help sorghum growers build healthier soils without sacrificing profitability. Read more: www.danforthcenter.org/news/regener...

Meet our Committee for Scientific Training and Mentoring Member of the Month! Elisa is a scientific research contract and technology specialist who works to protect scientific breakthroughs via patents and legal agreements. She's a scientist, legal translator, and problem-solver. Congrats, Elisa!

Dr. Giles Oldroyd sat down with @kgrumke.bsky.social on @stlpublicradio.bsky.social @stlonair.bsky.social to talk about the science that brought him here — and why he believes we're at a turning point for how the world feeds itself. Listen here: www.danforthcenter.org/news/st-loui...

(St. Louis Public Radio) Plant science could spark a new Green Revolution, says Danforth Center's new president - Danforth Plant Science Center

Danforth Center President Giles Oldroyd recently sat down with Kate Grumke from 90.7’s St. Louis on the Air.

danforthcenter.org

Last night, Dr. Giles Oldroyd took the stage for his first public address as president of the Danforth Center, and he came with a vision for how plant science can save the world. Thanks to everyone who joined us—we hope you're feeling inspired. Learn more: https://campaign.danforthcenter.org/

Evaluating nitrogen uptake: Methods and applications for plant research A new #AppsPlantSci review by Pierce, @razda5.bsky.social, Huddell & @erinsparks.bsky.social bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... @danforthcenter.bsky.social #botany #plantscience #nitrogenfertilization #nanoSIMS

Nadia Shakoor, PhD, has been selected to receive the inaugural Innovation Award from the Academy of Science – St. Louis! Nadia is a principal investigator at the Danforth Center and the Chief Science Officer of Agrela Ecosystems, a St. Louis–based technology company. Congratulations, Nadia! 🎉

From lab bench to field—celebrating farmers and ag innovators who feed the world. Happy #NationalAgricultureDay #NationalAgDay

Meet our CSTM Member of the Month! Josh is a data scientist in our Data Science Facility, where his work focuses on supporting research projects and developing & maintaining the PlantCV and PCVR softwares. He's known for his fluency in the programming language R. Congrats, Josh! 🎉

This Sunday is #WorldWaterDay! Plant science can develop crops that need less water and that protect our watersheds. Take cover crops: not only do they help prevent soil erosion, but they absorb runoff to keep our streams and rivers clean 🦦🫧🐟🪷🦆 https://youtu.be/Umz5UADY45A?si=6zB88Amf2ngamdrC

SINC Animated Video

Mitigating environmental threats may have a simpler solution than you might imagine. Scientists at the Subterranean Influences on Nitrogen and Carbon Center (SINC) are looking to the underground world to discover new ways to create a sustainable future.

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Dr. Ru Zhang is leading a DOE grant to study sorghum photosynthesis. The implications could also shed light ☀️ on other crops—like maize, rice, & more: https://www.danforthcenter.org/news/danforth-center-scientist-leads-new-department-of-energy-grant-to-unlock-the-secrets-of-sorghum-photosynthesis/

Danforth Center Scientist Leads New Department of Energy Grant to Unlock the Secrets of Sorghum Photosynthesis - Danforth Plant Science Center

A new grant will fund a multi-institutional effort to improve how sorghum captures and manages energy through photosynthesis.

danforthcenter.org

Danforth Center scientists are co-authors on a landmark study published today in @nature.com: the 1st comprehensive sorghum pangenome. Breeding better sorghum has been limited by an incomplete picture of its genetic diversity—until now. https://www.danforthcenter.org/news/global-sorghum-pangenome/

Global Sorghum "Pangenome" Published in Nature Accelerates Discovery of Resilient Crop Traits - Danforth Plant Science Center

Danforth Center scientists publish a sorghum pangenome in Nature, revealing hidden genetic diversity to accelerate breeding of drought- and heat-resilient crops.

danforthcenter.org

901 curious minds showed up for PlantTech Jam 2026 to connect with Danforth Center scientists. Thanks to you, we had a blast! See the highlights and photos from the day: https://www.danforthcenter.org/news/planttechjam/

President @gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is energized by the power of plant science—and by the strength of the #STL community rising to meet the moment. Don't miss the interview in @stlmag.bsky.social: https://www.danforthcenter.org/news/st-louis-magazine-st-louis-business-500-qa-with-giles-oldroyd/

(St. Louis Magazine) St. Louis Business 500: Q&A with Giles Oldroyd - Danforth Plant Science Center

St Louis Magazine has selected Danforth Center President Giles Oldroyd, PhD for their 2026 “St. Louis Business 500” list.

danforthcenter.org

The fruit fly of plant science for #3DThursday! 🌱 #ModelOrganism 🔬: #microCT, Zeiss @zeiss-microscopy.bsky.social Versa 520 XRM (contrast-enhanced with OsO₄) 🌱: Arabidopsis thaliana 🥼: Keith Duncan @cygnusplantxray.bsky.social 🏛️: Danforth Center @danforthcenter.bsky.social 🎬: syGlass.io #syGlass

Talk about multitasking. Sentinel plants developed at @danforthcenter.bsky.social may one day not only grow our food, but also act as living biosensors to report on the conditions of their own fields. 🌱🌱🌱

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Purple Plants that Report Pollutants

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Danforth Center Scientist Antonio Brazelton's research on heirloom collard greens at JJK FAN is blending community, culture, & science in powerful ways. 🥬 Watch to see how: https://www.danforthcenter.org/news/hec-media-cultivating-a-better-collard-green/ #plantscience #collardgreens #urbanfarming

(HEC Media) Cultivating a Better Collard Green - Danforth Plant Science Center

Antonio Brazelton, a scientist at Danforth Center, is working to improve a crop with a rich cultural history: collard greens.

danforthcenter.org

🚨LAST CALL FOR APPLICATIONS! In our Summer Undergraduate Research Program, you'll work alongside world-class plant scientists & learn about the broader impact of scientific discovery. Apply by 3/2: https://www.danforthcenter.org/our-work/education-outreach/undergraduate-program/internship-program/

Our Plant Growth Facility team has transformed the way we manage pests by deploying beneficial predator insects as a natural line of defense. Read our blog to see how these tiny teammates work: https://www.danforthcenter.org/news/integrated-pest-management-growing-greener-with-beneficial-bugs/

Integrated Pest Management: Growing Greener with Beneficial Bugs - Danforth Plant Science Center

The Plant Growth Facility (PGF) team has spent over a decade developing innovative was to manage pests without relying heavily on chemical pesticides. One of our most successful efforts has been an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program built around beneficial arthropods—insects and mites that act as natural predators to common plant pests.nks to a six-week program led by our Baxter Lab.

danforthcenter.org

To every girl who's curious about how plants feed the world—you belong in science. 💡🌱 Happy #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience