Roots and microbes

Lead researcher: Dr Gabriel Castrillo

Microbes and plant roots have a history going back 407 million years. This symbiotic relationship allows branching roots to explore the soil environment, maximising resource capture of both water and nutrients. Co-cultivation of many plant species with specific root microbiota bacterial strains drive significant and specific changes in root branching patterns. Roots are key to plant stability and growth. 

This project explores the ways microbiota modify plant roots and affect root branching, concentrating on the regulatory gene networks that govern interactions between microbes and root branching. This research provides a unique opportunity to make use of plant microbiota benefits in order to secure future food production.

This project is funded by The Leverhulme Trust.