In an article published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of São Paulo’s Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP) in Brazil describe for the first time how strigolactones, plant hormones discovered several decades ago, control flowering and fruiting in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The findings of their study point to a new opportunity for management of fruiting time and could have a significant impact on total yields for this crop.

Derived from carotenoids, strigolactones are a relatively new group of phytohormones, identified as such only in 2008. Their importance to the tomato plant’s development, its stress response and its interaction with microorganisms in the rhizosphere (the soil in which the roots grow) has been described in the scientific literature, but their role in the reproduction process was hitherto unknown.

Now in this new study, scientists at ESALQ-USP were able to demonstrate this function and explain it in more detail using techniques such as sequencing and processing of mRNA data, gene transcript quantification by qRT-PCR, mass spectrometry, and statistical and functional analysis.

To this end, they analyzed and compared two groups of plants: one group had been genetically modified to impair strigolactone production, while the other comprised plants with a synthetic version of the phytohormone, which they found to promote faster and better flowering, which yielded more fruit.

The researchers also identified details of how the mechanism functions.

“We showed that strigolactones control flowering in the tomato by regulating the microRNA319 pathway and levels of gibberellin [regulators of plant growth and germination],” said Fábio Tebaldi Silveira Nogueira, co-author of the article and principal investigator for the Thematic Project of which the study was part. He is a researcher at the Plant Development Molecular Genetics Laboratory in ESALQ-USP’s Department of Biological Sciences.

“When strigolactone levels in leaves and meristems increase, the plant tends to reduce gibberellin levels and raise levels of this microRNA.”

Economic interest

The results obtained by the researchers can have a direct impact on tomato crop management and yields.

“The findings clearly show that the plant flowers more easily in the presence of strigolactone, with numbers of flowers and fruit increasing considerably. This means we can now rely on a novel phytohormone to control flowering time,” Nogueira said.

Next steps will include investigating whether other microRNA pathways and hormones interact and influence the plant’s development, increasing fruit yield and size, he added. The researchers also plan to test the effects of strigolactone on other crops of economic interest, such as soybeans and corn.

The study was conducted in partnership with scientists affiliated with StrigoLab, an Italian startup based at the University of Turin in Italy; with the same university’s Plant Stress Laboratory, led by Francesca Cardinale, last author of the paper; and with Palacký University’s Growth Regulator Laboratory in Czechia and the Czech Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Experimental Botany.

The Australian government this week announced it would spend A$18 million over four years on a new center aimed at keeping safe the undersea cables that power the nation’s internet.

The Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center is tasked with protecting the critical undersea telecommunications cables throughout the Indo-Pacific region from deliberate interference from malicious actors, or accidental damage.

This is a crucial undertaking. The internet directly contributes $167 billion or more a year to the Australian economy. These cables enable everything from mundane social media updates to the colossal transactions that drive the global economy.

But what is driving Australia’s urgency to better protect these crucial cables now?

The backbone of the internet

Undersea telecommunications cables are laid on the ocean floor at depths down to 8,000 meters. They trace their origins back to the mid-19th century, driven by business interests and the need for imperial control.

The British Empire invested in these cables to connect and control its distant territories. In fact, they were referred to as the “nervous system of the British Empire.”

The first transatlantic cable in 1858 demonstrated the potential for rapid communication between continents. This revolutionized business and governance.

These cables are typically no wider than a garden hose. They contain optical fibers wrapped in a thick layer of plastic for protection. They can transmit data from one end of the cable to the other at speeds of up to 300 terabits per second.

For context, 20 terabits per second can stream approximately 793,000 ultra-high-definition movies at the same time. With a capacity of 300 terabits per second, the possibilities for handling digital data are virtually limitless.

There are currently around 1.4 million kilometers of submarine cables in service globally. Only 15 known international cables manage 99% of Australia’s data traffic.

What will the new center do?

The new center will provide technical assistance and training across the Indo-Pacific. It will also support other governments in the region to develop better policy regarding undersea cables.

This continues Australia’s longstanding commitment to protecting undersea cables from threats such as accidental damage by fishing activities or attacks by malicious actors, including both state and non-state entities.

In 2011, Australia was the first country to join the International Cable Protection Committee (which works to improve the security of undersea cables).

Australia has designated protection zones and stringent regulations for undersea cables. Other countries and industry bodies see this as the gold standard.

Australia has established the new Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center to address vulnerabilities posed by its growing dependency on the internet.

But global techno-political developments have also played a significant part.

New threats

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the defining feature of the United States-China competition for technological dominance. And we have access to internet-based AI tools because of undersea cables.

Breakthroughs in AI could also revolutionize productivity, industry and innovation. AI is already being used in medical research, diagnosis, banking and to streamline workflows. And the defense sector is growing increasingly reliant on AI for data analysis and advanced weaponry.

This further underscores the urgent need for robust data protection—which includes keeping undersea cables safe.

So the new Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center is not merely an economic necessity. It is also crucial to national security. It allows Australia to position itself as a key digital security provider in the region.

Nuance is needed

But the specialized nature of undersea cable technology requires a nuanced approach.

Though staffed by Australian public servants, the new center’s success hinges on close collaboration with private sector experts experienced in manufacturing, laying and monitoring cables.

This partnership is crucial for addressing physical and digital vulnerabilities, while navigating complex industry and geopolitical dynamics.

The dominance of tech giants such as Google and Amazon is another complicating factor. They control more than 20% of new subsea cable installations in the cable industry.

The government’s new center must balance national interests with industry control to avoid power concentration. This is particularly crucial as big tech grows more influential.

The government has said the new center is an important contribution to Quad– a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan and the US. But the center will need to engage with other international partners, too.

For example, Australia can learn from countries such as Singapore, which has ambitious cable management strategies. These include plans to double Singapore’s cable network by 2033.

Engaging with countries beyond Quad will also bolster Australia’s digital infrastructure resilience.

A new way forward

The newly announced Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center heralds a shift in Australia’s approach to digital infrastructure security.

Historically, Australia has taken a confrontational stance towards containing Chinese tech. This is exemplified by its 2016 rejection of Huawei’s bid to build the Coral Sea Cable, citing national security concerns.

However, the fact the new center sits within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade signifies a transition towards a more diplomatic approach.

It reflects Australia’s intent to mitigate China’s influence over subsea infrastructure, AI and technology standards while balancing national security with diplomatic engagement.

Will it work? Only time will tell. But the shift from confrontation to diplomacy is a welcome development. It will likely help Australia navigate an increasingly complex global technological landscape.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.