Scientists discover primary wound signal that promotes plant regeneration

In a study published in Cell on May 22, researchers led by Prof. Li Chuanyou from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences report their discovery that REGENERATION FACTOR1 (REF1) is the primary local wound signal that instigates plant regenerative responses. This discovery suggests a convenient method for improving the transformation efficiency of difficult-to-transform crops by boosting their regeneration capacity.