Conference Reports
7th International Conference on Duckweed Research and Applications: Depicting an Era of Advancing Research Translation Toward Practical Applications
Plants 2025, 14(14), 2143; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14142143
Duckweeds are aquatic monocotyledonous plants known to be the smallest and the fastest growing angiosperms. The 7th International Conference on Duckweed Research and Applications (7th ICDRA) was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 12th to 16th November 2024. The conference drew young and experienced scientists from across the world who presented their research in varied fields. This conference report presents the highlights of the advancements in the field of duckweed research and application in the sections: Genomics and Cell Biology; Diversity, Ecology, Evolution; Physiology, Reproduction, Metabolomics; Microbiome and Interactions; Applications; and Future Outlook. The next conference, 8th ICDRA, will be held in Naples, Italy, in 2026.
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Sustainable Stress Management: Aquatic Plants vs. Terrestrial Plants
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112208
The Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC) funded an Indo-German Workshop on Sustainable Stress Management: Aquatic plants vs. Terrestrial plants (IGW-SSMAT) which was jointly organized at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany from 25 to 27 July 2022 by Prof. Dr. Ralf Oelmüller, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany as the German coordinator and Dr. K. Sowjanya Sree, Central University of Kerala, India as the Indian Coordinator. The workshop constituted researchers working in this field from both India and Germany and brought together these experts in the field of sustainable stress management for scientific discussions, brainstorming and networking.
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Sixth International Conference on Duckweed Research and Applications Presents Lemnaceae as a Model Plant System in the Genomics and Postgenomics Era
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2134; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112134
The 6th International Conference on Duckweed Research and Applications (6th ICDRA) was organized at the Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) located in Gatersleben, Germany, from 29 May to 1 June 2022. The growing community of duckweed research and application specialists was noted with participants from 21 different countries including an increased share of newly integrated young researchers. The four-day conference focused on diverse aspects of basic and applied research together with practical applications of these tiny aquatic plants that could have an enormous potential for biomass production.
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Proceedings of the 7th Series of Seminars on Advances in Apomixis Research
Plants 2021, 10(3), 565; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030565
These proceedings contain the abstracts for the presentations given at the 7th biennial Seminars on Advances in Apomixis Research, held virtually on 2–3 and 9 December 2020. The first day hosted the kick-off meeting of the EU-funded Mechanisms of Apomictic Development (MAD) project, while the remaining days were dedicated to oral presentations and in-depth exchanges on the latest progress in the field of apomixis and plant reproductive biology research.
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Evaluating the Role of Seed Treatments in Canola/Oilseed Rape Production: Integrated Pest Management, Pollinator Health, and Biodiversity
Plants 2016, 5(3), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants5030032
The use patterns and role of insecticide seed treatments, with focus on neonicotinoid insecticides, were examined for canola/oilseed rape production in Canada and the EU. Since nearly all planted canola acres in Western Canada and, historically, a majority of planted oilseed acres in the EU, use seed treatments, it is worth examining whether broad use of insecticidal seed treatments (IST) is compatible with principles of integrated pest management (IPM). The neonicotinoid insecticide (NNI) seed treatment (NNI ST) use pattern has risen due to effective control of several early season insect pests, the most destructive being flea beetles (Phyllotreta sp.). Negative environmental impact and poor efficacy of foliar applied insecticides on flea beetles led growers to look for better alternatives. Due to their biology, predictive models have been difficult to develop for flea beetles, and, therefore, targeted application of seed treatments, as part of an IPM program, has contributed to grower profitability and overall pollinator success for canola production in Western Canada. Early evidence suggests that the recent restriction on NNI may negatively impact grower profitability and does not appear to be having positive impact on pollinator health. Further investigation on impact of NNI on individual bee vs. hive health need to be conducted. Predictive models for flea beetle emergence/feeding activity in canola/oilseed rape need to be developed, as broad acre deployment of NNI seed treatments may not be sustainable due to concerns about resistance/tolerance in flea beetles and other pest species.
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Canola/Rapeseed Protein: Future Opportunities and Directions—Workshop Proceedings of IRC 2015
Plants 2016, 5(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants5020017
At present, canola meal is primarily streamlined into the animal feed market where it is a competitive animal feed source owing to its high protein value. Beyond animal feed lies a potential game-changer with regards to the value of canola meal, and its opportunity as a high quality food protein source. An economic and sustainable source of protein with high bioavailability and digestibility is essential to human health and well-being. Population pressures, ecological considerations, and production efficiency underscore the importance of highly bioavailable plant proteins, both for the developed and developing world. Despite decades of research, several technologies being developed, and products being brought to large scale production, there are still no commercially available canola protein products. The workshop entitled “Canola/Rapeseed Protein—Future Opportunities and Directions” that was held on 8 July 2015 during the 14th International Rapeseed Congress (IRC 2015) addressed the current situation and issues surrounding canola meal protein from the technological, nutritional, regulatory and genomics/breeding perspective. Discussions with participants and experts in the field helped to identify economic barriers and research gaps that need to be addressed in both the short and long term for the benefit of canola industry.
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