Australia Partnering Award: Delving down-under using advanced plant phenotyping to uncover how roots grown in hard soils
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biosciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Xiong Y
(2025)
ABA-auxin cascade regulates crop root angle in response to drought.
in Current biology : CB
Scharwies JD
(2025)
Moisture-responsive root-branching pathways identified in diverse maize breeding germplasm.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Reynolds M
(2021)
Addressing Research Bottlenecks to Crop Productivity.
in Trends in plant science
Pandey BK
(2021)
Plant roots sense soil compaction through restricted ethylene diffusion.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Pandey B
(2024)
Root RADAR: how 'rhizocrine' signals allow roots to detect and respond to their soil environment and stresses
in Journal of Experimental Botany
Mooney S
(2024)
Root-soil-microbiome management is key to the success of regenerative agriculture
in Nature Food
Mehra P
(2023)
Turning up the volume: How root branching adaptive responses aid water foraging.
in Current opinion in plant biology
Kirschner GK
(2024)
Genetic regulation of the root angle in cereals.
in Trends in plant science
Huang G
(2021)
AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORS 6 and 17 control the flag leaf angle in rice by regulating secondary cell wall biosynthesis of lamina joints.
in The Plant cell
Huang G
(2022)
Ethylene inhibits rice root elongation in compacted soil via ABA- and auxin-mediated mechanisms.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Fusi R
(2024)
The auxin efflux carrier PIN1a regulates vascular patterning in cereal roots
in New Phytologist
Colombi T
(2024)
Root plasticity versus elasticity - when are responses acclimative?
in Trends in plant science
| Description | Monthly online meetings and frequent exchanges has led to several successful paper and grant award outcomes. |
| Exploitation Route | The collaborative activities has underpinned several major awards - including a €10M ERC Synergy grant (to MJB) and €1.5M ERC Starter grant award (to ECR Bipin Poonam). |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education |
| Description | Nottinghamshire Festival of Science and Curiosity - Southwell Minster |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We presented an assortment of exhibits and activities about how roots interact with soil. We used (a) play-do for pre-school children to get them to make a root system; (b) primary school onwards - using a microscope to show them what a root looks like close up; (c) 7+ children and onwards, lego model of the Hounsfield Facility with QR code to link with online YouTube stop motion movie; (d) 12+, video screen of a movie on loop showing highlights of our work at the Hounsfield facility (made by Craig); (e) 18+, soil samples with different textures, to start discussions about soil health and its properties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Science Fair (Nottingham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 1500 members of the public (based on tickets issued for the event) attended the event. Our project was presented in lay person terms and several exhibits provided of our work and its wider societal importance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://wollatonhall.org.uk/science-in-the-park/ |
| Description | The UK and Australian partners have met online every month |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The UK and Australian partners have met online every month to - present and share their latest results - plan staff exchanges once travel internationally returns to normal - discuss sharing facilities and expertise |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |