Recognizing Brian Larkins

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Brian Larkins, a career-long ASPP/ASPB member and former Society president, Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell, architect of our Centennial fundraising successes, and editor of the recently published update to ASPB’s history, let us know last week that he was suffering from an incurable blood disease and had decided to enter hospice care. Amidst our grief … Read more

ASPB Journals Move to Continuous Publication

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Readers and authors will notice a significant change starting with the January issues of both Plant Physiology and The Plant Cell. Both journals have moved to a continuous publication model, which will allow accepted articles to be indexed in an issue faster than ever before. Benefits of Continuous Publication Continuous publication differs from the previous publication model … Read more

Policy Update: Federal Judge Vacates USDA Rule Regulating Biotech Crops

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On December 2, 2024, the United States District Court of the Northern District of California vacated the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) SECURE Rule, which was finalized in 2020 as an update that enabled the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to provide regulatory guidance for gene-edited crops. The SECURE Rule was adopted after … Read more

Your input requested: Assist the US Department of Labor in updating its definition of “Soil and Plant Scientist”

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ASPB staff were recently approached by a contractor for the O*NET Data Collection Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Billed as the nation’s most comprehensive source of occupational data, O*NET is a free resource and provides instant access to detailed descriptions on more than 900 occupations that drive the U.S. economy. … Read more

ASPB Supports Farm Bill Funding for Orphan Programs

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With a new Senate majority, a new incoming Administration, and new leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee coming in the next Congress, changes are afoot in Washington, DC, with unknown consequences on the much-anticipated farm bill. These changes present continued opportunity for ASPB  to advocate for funding for programs that benefit and support stakeholders in … Read more

The Plant Cell Welcomes Brian Gregory as First Deputy Editor

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Effective January 1, 2025, there will be a new addition to The Plant Cell editorial leadership: Brian Gregory has been appointed to the newly created Deputy Editor (DE) role at the journal. The DE role was established to enhance the journal’s academic leadership and to more appropriately assign key duties to an academic scientist. As DE, … Read more

December 6: Plant Physiology Webinar, Focus on Root Development

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Plant Physiology Webinar: Root Development Celebrating the December 2024 Focus Issue on Root Development Recorded Friday, December 6, 2024 About This Webinar The December 2024 Focus Issue of Plant Physiology, edited by Sigal Savaldi-Goldstein, Christa Testerink, Ji-Young Lee and Ikram Blilou, spotlights research on root development. Roots provide anchorage to the growing plant while foraging for … Read more

DOE Announces Funding Opportunity for Genomics-Enabled Understanding and Advancing Knowledge on Plant Gene Function(s)

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The federal government has many opportunities for researchers, including not only funding calls but also opportunities to provide feedback, such as requests for information (RFIs). With so many potential ways to engage, it is easy to miss something important, such as a well-aligned funding opportunity from an unexpected agency or a request for comment that … Read more

Meet ASPB’s New President: Hong Ma

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ASPB is delighted to welcome its new President, Hong Ma, who was elected in 2023 as President-elect and served in this role starting October 1, 2023. He stepped into his role as ASPB President on October 1, 2024 following the end of now-Past President Leeann Thornton’s term. “A top priority is to support and train … Read more

Pablo Manavella Appointed Next Editor-In-Chief of The Plant Cell

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The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) is excited to announce Pablo Manavella will serve as the next Editor-in-Chief of The Plant Cell. The Plant Cell is a leading international society journal that publishes novel research of special significance in plant biology, especially in the areas of cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, development, and … Read more

Oct. 17: The Plant Cell Webinar Focus on Photosynthesis

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Celebrating the October 2024 Focus Issue on Photosynthesis Recorded October 17, 2024 It is difficult to overstate the importance of photosynthesis to life on Earth. Despite its importance, critical gaps remain in our understanding of photosynthesis, its interplay with other metabolic pathways, and the adaptation and acclimation processes that allow photosynthetic organisms to live almost … Read more

Science Policy Update: EPA Releases Final Herbicide Strategy

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By Elizabeth Stulberg, PhD, and Victoria Swiler, Lewis-Burke Associates LLC The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final Herbicide Strategy on August 20, a move that it anticipates will protect more than 900 federally endangered and threatened (“listed”) species from the potential impacts of herbicides. Since the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973, … Read more

Sept. 23: The Plant Cell Webinar Focus on Proteolysis

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Celebrating the September 2024 Focus Issue on Proteolysis September 23, 2024 1:00 PM UTC | 9:00 AM EST Proteolysis is an essential cellular function that mediates the processing and turnover of proteins. Proteolytic post-translational control of protein stability is also a central feature of cellular signaling and crucial for almost all aspects of plant biology, including vegetative … Read more

ASPB Webinar Sept. 13: Demystifying the NSF Fellowship Application Process

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A Webinar by the ASPB Early Career Plant Scientists (ECPS) Section September 13, 2024 12 PM Eastern time The ASPB Early Career Plant Scientists (ECPS) Section proudly presents the first in our career development series: “Demystifying the NSF Fellowship Application Process.” Writing a fellowship can be hard. We’re here to help make it easier! In this … Read more

ASPB President’s Update: Your Perspective Matters!

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Dear ASPB members, My efforts in the past eight months have been focused on understanding the many people involved in carrying out the ASPB mission and looking for ways to build connections and remove barriers to inclusion. ASPB unites us as a community of people who support the growth and development of the field of … Read more

Plant Physiology Focus Issue Webinar: Vegetable Crops, June 5, 2024

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Plant Physiology Webinar: Vegetable Crops Celebrating the June 2024 Focus Issue on Vegetable Crops Recorded Wednesday June 5, 2024 About this webinar Vegetable crops encompass over 200 plant species utilized as human food. They have been domesticated from their wild progenitors that have undergone a process influenced by human preferences and diverse environmental factors. Because … Read more