Key aims and expertise
Key aims relate to closing research gaps in sustainable agri-environmental management supporting global food security priorities. Example projects include attempts to identify novel root architectural traits that underpin yield, nitrate and water uptake efficiency by characterising a wide range of wheat elite lines, mapping populations and unique alien introgressions using our micro X-ray CT phenotyping platform. Our interdisciplinary team comprises soil biologists, chemists and physicists who readily link with environmental modellers, climate change scientists and plant biologists.
Current projects
Systematic Functional Analysis of Nitrogen/Phosphate Use Efficiency in Crops (JAAS Hodgman, Lu)
Truly Predicting Water Uptake Efficiency in Wheat (BBSRC Mooney, Crout, Bennett, Foulkes)
FUTUREROOTS – Redesigning root architecture for improved performance (ERC Bennett, Mooney, Foulkes, Broadley, Wells)
Significant results
The group has lead the development on in situ non-invasive imaging of root architecture in 4-D including the development of automated root segmentation software (RooTrak, Mairhofer et al. 2012). This is currently being used to gain new insights into root responses to abiotic and biotic stresses.