Skip Navigation

Darwin Reviews


The Journal of Experimental Botany publishes primary research papers and high-quality reviews on topics across the plant sciences. The JXB Darwin series is our premier review series. Darwin Reviews will present modern, contemporary reviews from leading researchers chosen for the excellence of their work across the various fields of plant biology. Authors will write on the state of their science today in order to present clear, timely perspectives on topics of importance and relevance to experimental scientists and their students.

The Darwin series is a growing collection of varied and exciting reviews launched to celebrate the inheritance of Charles Darwin. Authors need not make any connection to Darwin’s work or ideas, although a surprising number do link to descriptions he made of plant life.

The Darwin Reviews add to the regular review collections and opinion articles in the journal. I hope that they inspire everyone to explore plant biology with the vigour and delight that Darwin himself displayed.

Most plant biologists will recall Darwin’s detailed records on grass coleoptiles bending towards his study window. Fewer will be aware of the quantity of his other plant studies. His works are available for everyone to appreciate free of charge at http://darwin-online.org.uk.



Richard Napier, Reviews Editor


Darwin Reviews articles in 2011


Andrea Nardini, Sebastiano Salleo, and Steven Jansen
More than just a vulnerable pipeline: xylem physiology in the light of ion-mediated regulation of plant water transport
J. Exp. Bot. (2011) 62(14): 4701-4718 first published online July 16, 2011
doi:10.1093/jxb/err208

White R. G. and Barton D. A.
The cytoskeleton in plasmodesmata: a role in intercellular transport?
J. Exp. Bot. (2011) 62 (15): 5249-5266
doi: 10.1093/jxb/err227

Karin Weitbrecht, Kerstin Müller, and Gerhard Leubner-Metzger
First off the mark: early seed germination
J. Exp. Bot. (2011) 62(10): 3289-3309 first published online March 23, 2011
doi:10.1093/jxb/err030

Bruno Müller
Generic signal-specific responses: cytokinin and context-dependent cellular responses
J. Exp. Bot. (2011) 62(10): 3273-3288 first published online January 6, 2011
doi:10.1093/jxb/erq420

Ivo Frébort, Marta Kowalska, Tomáš Hluska, Jitka Frébortová, and Petr Galuszka
Evolution of cytokinin biosynthesis and degradation
J. Exp. Bot. (2011) 62(8): 2431-2452 first published online February 14, 2011
doi:10.1093/jxb/err004

Jutta Ludwig-Müller
Auxin conjugates: their role for plant development and in the evolution of land plants
J. Exp. Bot. (2011) 62(6): 1757-1773 first published online February 9, 2011
doi:10.1093/jxb/erq412

Buschhaus C, Jetter R.
Composition differences between epicuticular and intracuticular wax substructures: how do plants seal their epidermal surfaces?
J. Exp. Bot. 2011 62: 841-853

Ludwig-Müller J.
Auxin conjugates: their role for plant development and in the evolution of land plants
J.Exp.Bot. 2011. First published February 2011

Ball S, Colleoni C, Cenci U, Nirmal Raj J, Tirtiaux C.
The evolution of glycogen and starch metabolism in eukaryotes gives molecular clues to understand the establishment of plastid endosymbiosis


Darwin Reviews articles in 2010


Naoyuki Uchida and Masao Tasaka
Intersections between immune responses and morphological regulation in plants
JXB Advance Access published on May 9, 2010
J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 2539-2547

Ruth C. Martin, Po-Pu Liu, Natalya A. Goloviznina, and Hiroyuki Nonogaki
microRNA, seeds, and Darwin?: diverse function of miRNA in seed biology and plant responses to stress
JXB Advance Access published on March 24, 2010
J. Exp. Bot., May 2010; 61: 2229 – 2234

Jon Falk and Sergi Munné-Bosch
Tocochromanol functions in plants: antioxidation and beyond
J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 1549-1566

Andrew D. Friend
Terrestrial plant production and climate change
JXB Advance Access published on March 4, 2010, J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 1293-1309

Amada Pulido and Patrick Laufs
Co-ordination of developmental processes by small RNAs during leaf development
JXB Advance Access published on January 22, 2010, J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 1277-1291

Robin Allaby
Integrating the processes in the evolutionary system of domestication
JXB Advance Access published on January 12, 2010, J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 935-944

Keara A. Franklin and Peter H. Quail
Phytochrome functions in Arabidopsis development
JXB Advance Access published on October 8, 2009. J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 11-24

Hendrik Schäfer, Natalia Myronova, and Rich Boden
Microbial degradation of dimethylsulphide and related C1-sulphur compounds: organisms and pathways controlling fluxes of sulphur in the biosphere
JXB Advance Access published on December 10, 2009. J. Exp. Bot. 2010 61: 315-334

Darwin Reviews articles in 2009

Aaron M. Ellison and Nicholas J. Gotelli
Energetics and the evolution of carnivorous plants-Darwin's 'most wonderful plants in the world'
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 19-42;

E. Wassim Chehab, Elizabeth Eich, and Janet Braam
Thigmomorphogenesis: a complex plant response to mechano-stimulation
JXB Advance Access published on December 16, 2008 J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 43-56;

Bruno Moulia and Meriem Fournier
The power and control of gravitropic movements in plants: a biomechanical and systems biology view
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 461-486;

Richard D. Firn and Clive G. Jones
A Darwinian view of metabolism: molecular properties determine fitness
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 719-726;

Bruce McClure
Darwin's foundation for investigating self-incompatibility and the progress toward a physiological model for S-RNase-based SI
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 1069-1081;

P. R. Shewry
Wheat
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 1537-1553

Jennifer J. Holland, Diana Roberts, and Emmanuel Liscum
Understanding phototropism: from Darwin to today
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 1969-1978

Thorunn Helgason and Alastair H. Fitter
Natural selection and the evolutionary ecology of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Phylum Glomeromycota)
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 2465-2480

Sylviane Comparot-Moss and Kay Denyer
The evolution of the starch biosynthetic pathway in cereals and other grasses
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 2481-2492

Anna-Liisa Laine
Role of coevolution in generating biological diversity: spatially divergent selection trajectories
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 2957-2970

Robert B. Heinen, Qing Ye, and Francoise Chaumont
Role of aquaporins in leaf physiology
JXB Advance Access, Published on June 19th 2009 J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60:2971-2985

Shingo Takagi, Hideyasu Takamatsu, and Nami Sakurai-Ozato
Chloroplast anchoring: its implications for the regulation of intracellular chloroplast distribution
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 3301-3310

Zhefeng Lin, Silin Zhong, and Don Grierson
Recent advances in ethylene research
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 3311-3336

Purbasha Sarkar, Elena Bosneaga, and Manfred Auer.
Plant cell walls throughout evolution: towards a molecular understanding of their design principles.
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 3615-3635

John A. Raven, John Beardall, Kevin J. Flynn, and Stephen C. Maberly
Phagotrophy in the origins of photosynthesis in eukaryotes and as a complementary mode of nutrition in phototrophs: relation to Darwin's insectivorous plants
J. Exp. Bot. 2009 60: 3975-3987

Some of the major publications by Charles Darwin

The voyage of the Beagle: Journal and Remarks (1839)
On the origin of species (1859)
The movements and habits of climbing plants (1865)
The variation of animals and plants under domestication (1868)
Insectivorous plants (1875)
The descent of man, and selection in relation to sex (1871)
The effects of cross and self-fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom (1876)
The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species (1877)
The power of movement in plants (1880)
The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms (1881)