Mary Williams @PlantTeaching
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plantteaching.bsky.social
Mary Williams @PlantTeaching
@plantteaching.bsky.social
4K followers 4.4K following 5.3K posts
Promoting SciComm, teaching, equity & inclusion in plant biology. #PlantScience
PI NSF RCN: ROOT&SHOOT. https://rootandshoot.org/
Features Editor ThePlantCell, PlantPhysiology
@[email protected]
https://linktr.ee/PlantTeaching 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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plantteaching.bsky.social
We had a wonderful few days visiting my parents in California where it is still autumn and beautiful, but apparently the dog is missing us ❣️ so we are heading home tomorrow.
My mum's macular degeneration is getting serious, so our visits are particularly special to her 🥺.
Blue sky above a shorn hillside with Tom in a t shirt enjoying the lovely weather. Mary and Tom smiling in front of a vibrant red-leaved tree. Mary, Tom, Pat, and Pete standing before a dry cliffside where water sometimes flows. Mary and Tom smiling in front of a damp rock face
November 30, 2025 at 4:38 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
It's gift-giving season!
Why not give the gift of plant knowledge?
Here are some excellent, accessible books to engage & excite.
Fantastic offerings from @berondam.bsky.social (& a new one out in Jan)
@jondrori.co.uk (& a new kids book)
@razda5.bsky.social 💚
@ferrisjabr.bsky.social 👍
Novels too!
Plants need champions! People who can tell engaging stories about plants. People who understand plants and explain how plants function People who can explain that plants are critical for human survival. Books shown from David Attenborough, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Jonathan Drori, Richard Powers, Danny Chamovitz, Ferris Jabr, Malcolm Wilkins, Charlotte McConaghy, Andy Weir, Beronda Montgomery, and Amanda Rasmussen.
November 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I'm thankful that I can still go hiking with my parents in our 7th and 9th decades, respectively 💚.
We did great, 3.5 mostly flat miles. Today we will add in a bit of hill in anticipation of our mostly vegan #Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanks for the great photo @tomclearwood.bsky.social ❣️
A man and woman in their 80s wearing sunhats and their daughter, standing in front of a reservoir with the sun shining from the side.
November 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I'm a big fan of the "Around the world in 80 plants/trees" books, so was delighted to see that Jon Drori has a plant book developed for children. It arrived today & I love it, I can't wait to share it with my granddaughters.
Beautifully illustrated, factual, engaging 💚💚💚💚💚#PlantSci
@jondrori.co.uk
Book cover, "the stuff that stuff is made of". A green background with drawings of cotton, dandelion, vanilla orchid, etc. A photo of an inside page on bamboo. Rawlings of pandas , a child, a mouse, and objects made of bamboo, along with text.
November 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
Frosty cold morning out with the dog. My shadow is enormously long and we're still a month out from the solstice.
My husband took a picture of me as I was playing with my shadow. I think I look a bit Frankenstein-y 🧟
Self portrait of my huge shadow that stretches far across the frozen field, with dogs playing in the distance. Playing with my shadow from the very low sun.
November 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
And, although I didn't know it at the time, our final collaboration was the @plantphys.bsky.social Focus Collection on Numeracy, Realism, & Relevance in Plant Science. academic.oup.com/plphys/pages...
We can honor Andrew's memory by continuing to challenge the status quo and thinking big. 💚
Webinar announcement, Numeracy, Realism, and Relevance. Hosted by Plant Physiology.
November 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
Plant Science Research Weekly Nov 14, 2025 (2/2) plantae.org/plant-scienc...
SP6A links heat tolerance & defense;
TYLCV reprograms tomato scent and whitefly senses;
How parasitic plants avoid being parasitized.
@shirasulab.bsky.social
A virus-infected tomato plant is induced to produce a volatile that attracts whiteflies that are not carrying the virus (nonviruliferous). When the whitefly carries the virus, its sense of smell is affected, so it is no longer attracted to the virus-infected plants. Instead, it finds healthy tomato plants, and passes the infection on to them.
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
#PlantScience Research Weekly, November 14, 2025 plantae.org/plant-scienc...
Reviews on non-photochemical quenching and hydraulic traits;
Oat pangenome/pantranscriptome;
Non-enzymatic functions of isoamylase complex; Quantification of organ geometry (1/2)
@howarthoats.bsky.social
On the left, a diagram shows that as water becomes scarce, plants modify stomatal aperture, but as it becomes more scarce, they induce tolerance mechanisms. On the right, a Venn diagram showing greater water use efficiency, drought avoidance, with limited transpiration in the overlap.
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
しちごさん
Shichigosan for my second granddaughter today.
I didn't make it in person but I am enjoying the cute pictures 🩷🩷, and I will be in Japan when she turns four in a few weeks 🇯🇵.
A three-year old Japanese girl wearing a traditional kimono and hifu as she prepares for shichigosan. A three-year old Japanese girl wearing a traditional kimono and hifu as she prepares for shichigosan. She is standing in front of a shrine and smiling. Three small girls, aged 5, 3, and 1, sitting on a bench and smiling, two wearing western dresses and one in a kimono. Another photo, this time with Mom. The girls are making silly faces and mom smiles happily.
November 14, 2025 at 7:07 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
We took the dog past the horse pasture for the first time, and her reactions were brilliant. I'm not sure what was going on in her head, but she thought these huge creatures were fascinating.
(She probably liked the smell too, she's very scent-sitive ❣️)
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I'm trying to finish prepping for my Friday night workshop, but someone has other ideas.
I agree baby, Friday night is not a fun time to work, but that's the price we pay for living in Europe and working with USians 🤪.
Only two more sessions after tonight 😁
A black Labrador is sitting on a footstool resting her chin on the table holding a laptop with a look in her eyes that says, "Play with me"
November 7, 2025 at 5:12 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I had an appointment to get a flu vaccine, the car is in the shop, & it rained heavily all day.
But, Tom came along with me on the bus & we had lunch out.
On top of that, it's "fireworks night", the banging and flashing has been relentless for >three hours 🫨.
A little too much stimulation today 🤪
Mary and Tom beneath a huge umbrella in the pouring rain. Tom with his rain hat and umbrella preparing to flag down the bus.
November 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
Thrilled with Scotland's performance so far, but I'm not a fan of the new kit, it reminds me of past laundry catastrophies 🩷
#SCOvUSA
Scotland kit, pale pinky purple
November 1, 2025 at 5:51 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I'm just wondering if it's a coincidence that when I got up this morning I put on my Australia shirt under my Scotland jersey 😂
#rugby
#Wallabies
#ENGvAUS
Mary realized she's supporting Australia today
November 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
#PlantScience Research Weekly (2/2) plantae.org/plant-scienc... Salicylic acid fluorescent sensor; Sucrose transporter connects plant/fungus/bacteria; Exotoxin differentiates foe from friend; Phylogenetic distribution of poricidal "buzz-pollinated" flowers; A manifesto for plant science education.
Phylogenetic distribution of poricidal flowers with representative flowers illustrated. These flowers release pollen through a small pore and are often buzz-pollinated.
October 31, 2025 at 7:49 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
Plant Science Research Weekly Oct 31, 2025. plantae.org/plant-scienc... What makes a tree a tree? Secret strategy of far-red photosynthesis; Unwinding the Spirogyra genome; H2O2 role in P starvation response; Viral evasion of cap-independent translation defense (1/2)
Structure of the far-red photosystem I from cyanobacteria that indicates the position of the chlorophyll f molecules that enable the cells to use far-red light for photosynthesis.
October 31, 2025 at 7:49 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
“Diverse” Does Not Mean “Not White”
"When “diversity” and “ethnic” become code for “non-white,” they stop being tools for inclusion and start serving the very hierarchies they claim to challenge."
Good article 👇
www.laprogressive.com/racism/diver...
A photograph showing a group of people of various non-white ethnic and racial backgrounds faces the camera, and in the foreground with their back to the camera a white looking person (blond, pale skin) faces the group.
October 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
Does Disney espouse my feminist world view?
No.
Am I going to berate my granddaughters for wearing princess Halloween costumes?
No.
There's a lot to be said for the innocence of children, and I'm happy to let them experience this uncomplicated time of their lives 💕💕💕
Tomorrow is another day!
A 1, 5, and three year old, dressed in princess costumes, smiling and blowing kisses A happy group of 1, 3, and 5 year olds in princess Halloween costumes.
October 25, 2025 at 9:08 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
We LOVED the German Technology Museum & spent all day there. Paper & print making, trains, ships & more.
The airplane exhibition was particularly impactful, because of course the technology was propelled by two world wars.
Should technologists support a corrupt regime??
Plenty to think about.
The airplane suspended at the top of the museum, silhouetted against a grey sky. Tom is in his element, surrounded by machines people have created, from airplanes to steam engines. Tom in front of a sign reading : Do it yourself, why make things? It allows us to customize, design, and create things we can't buy. Along the way, we learn new skills and can express ourselves. Two tired technologists on a train.
October 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
Thank you everyone for the lovely hospitality and excellent participation in the "culture of science" workshop today at IPK.
What a nice surprise to receive a plant-themed thank you gift.
The back of the reusable cup says "We are rooting for plant science".
Yes we are, and plant scientists too! 💚
A hand holding a reusable mug with the IPK logo. Also, a notebook, pen and sticky notes, all celebrating plants
October 21, 2025 at 11:37 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
It's such a pretty campus, especially right now 🍂
Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung | Leibniz-Institut (IPK)
www.ipk-gatersleben.de
The fourth picture is a sculpture called "High tech fruit" by Tomas Leu. I bet most of you can figure out what it represents, right??
Beautiful ochre colored buildings with an orange- leaved tree standing before it. Striking red-leaved tree. Another stunning autumn tree A metal sculpture in the shape of a well-known tropical fruit (papaya), which has been genetically modified to be resistant to a virus.
October 21, 2025 at 6:37 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I'm at the IPK (Institute of Plant Genetics) in Gatersleben, Germany to talk about academic culture, structural and implicit biases, and what we can all do to make our discipline more welcoming to everyone.
It's a beautiful morning!
Map of the campus, showing research buildings and endless greenhouses. Autumn morning. A statue of two cranes stands on a lawn in front of trees with senescing leaves.
October 21, 2025 at 5:55 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
I was reading a book and I came across a word I don't know: credioility.
I thought "Wow, that's a cool word, I wonder why I haven't seen it before?" After some hunting, I realised it's a slightly misprinted "credibility" 😂
Photo of a printed page including the word "credioility"
October 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
plantteaching.bsky.social
#PlantSci Research Weekly OCT 17 plantae.org/plant-scienc.... (2/2) Mechanosensor in flytrap;
Glutamine leakage attracts microbes;
Heat suppresses systemic acquired resistance;
Making microbiome studies more reproducible
@tonnigrubeandersen.bsky.social
@hueihsuantsai.bsky.social
Diagram showing the role of the Casparian strip (CS) in blocking the outward flow of metabolites such as glutamine. In regions without an effective CS barrier, the metabolites leak out from the roots and serve as chemoactractants to microbes.
October 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM
plantteaching.bsky.social
PSRW OCT 17 plantae.org/plant-scienc...
4 reviews:
Beautiful mutations:
Chemical defense arsenal;
Understanding viral symptom development;
Cell fate determination.
Also, Reprogramming somatic embryogenesis. (1/2)
@somssich.bsky.social @geminiteamlab.bsky.social @likeyoda1.bsky.social
Diagram highlighting the different chemical families that contribute to defense compounds, including the phenylpropenoid pathway, tryptophan deriviatives, and terpenoids.
October 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM