Scarred for life?

Plants shed their organs through a self-pruning process called abscission. Tamara Montoya talks about her work deciphering the chemical make-up of the protective layer that forms over the detachment site to prevent water loss and infection. The exact substance that makes up this layer has been a matter of speculation.

Scientists use the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana to model the abscission process.

Studies are underway to determine if this layer also contributes to the smooth separation of organs from the plant body.