Stomatal-based systems analysis of water use efficiency
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Essex
Department Name: Biological Sciences
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.
Technical Summary
We will incorporate transpiration and carbon fixation explicitly within the OnGuard software, and will test, by in silico modelling and experimental validation, the hypothesis that significant erosion in the efficiency of water use by plants arises because of the mismatch in environmental responses between stomata and photosynthesis. These studies will explore also the connection to oscillations known to occur in stomatal aperture and in the signalling events (e.g. cytosolic-free [Ca2+]) previously documented at the cellular level in single guard cells and reproduced in the first-generation OnGuard models. The modelling and experimental methods proposed are independent, but their combination gives added value to both. Model development will incorporate recent advances in Bayesian inference to enable fast, automated searching for computational solutions. These are proven methods and naturally compute the confidences in model predictions and their relation to observed data. Bayesian methods also address questions such as 'Which parameters are critical to defining a specific set of behaviours?', questions that are important in directing model development. The experimental work will build on methods at the research forefront in analysing water use efficiency in real time from single plants and in scaling for data capture in the field by eddy flux (covariance) and stable isotope discrimination analysis. Experiments will assess stomatal response to light, humidity and CO2 to extract stomatal kinetics and their association with oscillations in transpiration and carbon assimilation. We will use these data to parameterise models and to test the micro-macro link of the models in predicting transpiration and water use efficiency. Thus, we fully expect new and exciting insights into the behaviour of stomata in the leaf and crop canopy, much as our previous modelling efforts provided hitherto unexpected insights into the physiology of the isolated guard cell.
Planned Impact
This proposal is for fundamental research developing new concepts at the core of ideas emerging within the international plant and systems biology communities. The research will stimulate thinking around strategies for systems modelling, especially in relation to membrane transport, plant growth, development and pathology, and it should facilitate in silico methodologies for approaching crop engineering. Thus, the research is expected to benefit fundamental researchers as well as agriculture and industry through conceptual developments as well as the introduction of new computational technologies for the analysis of plant water use efficiency and productivity. The research will feed into higher education training programmes through capacity building at the postgraduate and postdoctoral levels. Additional impact is proposed through public displays and the development of teaching resources building on the background work for this proposal. Finally the research will help guide future efforts in applications to agricultural/industrial systems. The applicants have established links with industrial/technology transfer partners and research institutes to take advantage of these developments. Further details of these, and additional impacts will be found in Part 1 of the Case for Support and in the attached Impact Pathways.
Organisations
Publications
Driever SM
(2014)
Natural variation in photosynthetic capacity, growth, and yield in 64 field-grown wheat genotypes.
in Journal of experimental botany
Flütsch S
(2020)
Guard Cell Starch Degradation Yields Glucose for Rapid Stomatal Opening in Arabidopsis.
in The Plant cell
Horrer D
(2016)
Blue Light Induces a Distinct Starch Degradation Pathway in Guard Cells for Stomatal Opening.
in Current biology : CB
Lawson T
(2019)
Speedy stomata, photosynthesis and plant water use efficiency.
in The New phytologist
Lawson T
(2014)
Mesophyll photosynthesis and guard cell metabolism impacts on stomatal behaviour.
in The New phytologist
Lawson T
(2016)
Evolutionary trade-offs in stomatal spacing.
in The New phytologist
Lawson T
(2014)
Stomatal size, speed, and responsiveness impact on photosynthesis and water use efficiency.
in Plant physiology
Lawson T
(2018)
The Leaf: A Platform for Performing Photosynthesis
Matthews JSA
(2017)
Diurnal Variation in Gas Exchange: The Balance between Carbon Fixation and Water Loss.
in Plant physiology
Matthews JSA
(2018)
Acclimation to Fluctuating Light Impacts the Rapidity of Response and Diurnal Rhythm of Stomatal Conductance.
in Plant physiology
McAusland L
(2015)
Rhythms in Plants - Dynamic Responses in a Dynamic Environment
McAusland L
(2016)
Effects of kinetics of light-induced stomatal responses on photosynthesis and water-use efficiency.
in The New phytologist
McElwain JC
(2016)
Using modern plant trait relationships between observed and theoretical maximum stomatal conductance and vein density to examine patterns of plant macroevolution.
in The New phytologist
Minguet-Parramona C
(2016)
An Optimal Frequency in Ca2+ Oscillations for Stomatal Closure Is an Emergent Property of Ion Transport in Guard Cells.
in Plant physiology
Minguet-Parramona C
(2015)
Rhythms in Plants - Dynamic Responses in a Dynamic Environment
Santelia D
(2016)
Rethinking Guard Cell Metabolism.
in Plant physiology
Vialet-Chabrand S
(2017)
Global Sensitivity Analysis of OnGuard Models Identifies Key Hubs for Transport Interaction in Stomatal Dynamics.
in Plant physiology
Vialet-Chabrand S
(2017)
Importance of Fluctuations in Light on Plant Photosynthetic Acclimation.
in Plant physiology
Vialet-Chabrand S
(2016)
Modelling water use efficiency in a dynamic environment: An example using Arabidopsis thaliana.
in Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
Vialet-Chabrand S
(2019)
Dynamic leaf energy balance: deriving stomatal conductance from thermal imaging in a dynamic environment.
in Journal of experimental botany
Vialet-Chabrand S
(2020)
Thermography methods to assess stomatal behaviour in a dynamic environment.
in Journal of experimental botany
Vialet-Chabrand SRM
(2017)
Temporal Dynamics of Stomatal Behavior: Modeling and Implications for Photosynthesis and Water Use.
in Plant physiology
Wang Y
(2017)
Unexpected Connections between Humidity and Ion Transport Discovered Using a Model to Bridge Guard Cell-to-Leaf Scales.
in The Plant cell
| Description | We have shown that the speed of stomatal response influence photosynthesis and water use efficiency and that this is influence by both anatomy and function of stomata. These findings could provide novel tool for incorporation into breeding programmes to improve water use efficiency. This has also provide further fundamental understanding on the way stomata function which will be vital to on going research. |
| Exploitation Route | The finding of this work has been taken up by many other research labs demonstrated by the number of recent publications that have recently been published that investigate the speed of stomatal behaviour to improve plant performance in some way. It also provide targets for potential manipulation for these processes. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| URL | https://www.tlawsonlab.co.uk/projects.html |
| Description | Agritech Event (Essex) to show case research activities to the industry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | To showcase and describe research funding at Essex as well as our expertise and capabilities for interacting with the agriculture sector in order to facilitate collaborative research across the faculty and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.agritech-east.co.uk/agri-tech-member/university-of-essex/# |
| Description | Agritech Week event Essex |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | University of Essex Agritech event. The event show cased research from Biological Sciences, including the expertise for the Lawson lab. It included presentations, lab-tours and workshop o see and discuss latest developments that are being applied in agricultural sector including: • Drones • Image analysis • Measurement of plant performance • Stress and disease monitoring |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| Description | Chairing a session at the Annual SEB meeting 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Co-chairing an SEB session on Stomata and photosynthetic regulation of water use efficiency at the annual SEB meeting in Seville. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sebiology.org/events/event/seb-seville-2019/programme/plant-biology#stomatal |
| Description | Invited seminar speaker Viikki Plant Science Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Seminar describe current research and findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/news/science-news/vips-invited-seminar-december-2020 |
| Description | Nominated and selected as Co-chair of the GRC CO2 assimilation, USA 2019, and Chair of GRC on the next conference in Italy May 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Nominated and selected by peer to be the co-chair for the 2019 conference, and chair for the 2021 GRC conference on CO2 assimilation. https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/ https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2021/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/ |
| Description | Organisor of Photo-physiology Phenotyping workshop as part of UK PPN |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised a workshop at Essex for the UK Plant Phenotyping next work on Photo-physiology Phenotyping. Sponsorship and attendance by industrial manufactures was sort to support the expenses of international key note speakers in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Organisor of satellite meeting of the International Photosynthetic congress in Essex |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Organised Phenotyping for Photosynthesis and productivity meeting. This included raising sponsorship from industry to pay for the event. Keynote speakers who were experts in the field were invited from around the world and their expenses paid for. The meeting show cased the latest technology and developments in the field. A review is currently under revisions that provides an overview of the meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2016 |
| Description | PEPG workshop 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Plant Environmental Physiology Group (PEPG) is a special interest group of the Society for Experimental Biology and the British Ecological Society The Workshop provided a unique opportunity for MSc, PhD students and early career researchers to gain hands-on experience and training in plant ecophysiology techniques from leading scientists and manufacturers. There were 65 student from all around the world. The practical sessions stimulated research discussion and approaches. A poster session also provided the students with the opportunity to interact with established scientist and ask questions of their own research and approaches. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/prod/view/pepg-workshop |
| Description | Plant Ecophysiology group workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The PEP group is a special interest group of the SEB and BES. In 2012 Lawson organised a techniques workshop to train the next generation of scientists in some of the key physiological techniques. The week long event comprised of morning lecturer/seminar for expert researchers in the field followed by hands on practical sessions supported by the Industrial manufacturers. Lawson organised the 2014 sessions and is co-organiser of the 2016 and 2018 events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2014,2016,2018 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/prod/view/drrjwebster/pepg-workshop |
| Description | Ran Gatsby Summer school activity |
| 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 | Gatsby summer class to engage year 13s in plant science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Royal Society Partnership grant which included a 2.5 day visit to local 6th form school (Suffolk one). |
| 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 | The Royal Society partnership grant enabled thermal camera to be purchased by the school. Lawson visited the school to present a seminar about the effect of climate change on stomatal behaviour and the use of thermal cameras to monitor plant performance. This was followed by a practical session involving droughted and water watered plants. As part of the assessment the students had to prepare and present posters to explain their findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Royal Society student conference (London RS) December |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This event followed the Royal Society partnership award that between myself at the University of Essex and Dr Tanja Hofmann One, Ipswich. This event included poster presentation by the school students as well as a display stand to demonstrate the application and benefits of using thermography to assess plant performance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Saclay Plant Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar series to present recent work and findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www6.inrae.fr/saclay-plant-sciences_eng/Events/Online-SPS-Seminars/Tracy-Lawson-19-10-2020 |
| Description | School Seminar (Bristol University) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lunch time seminar showcase research activities and finding based on funded research within the lab. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | School Seminar (Glasgow University) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lunch time seminar showcase research activities and finding based on funded research within the lab. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar speaker for the 1st Brazilian photosynthesis meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Research seminar to share data and findings |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.even3.com.br/brsymphotosynthesis20/ |
| Description | Speaker at the PEPg workshop (Lisbon) 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Plant Environmental Physiology Group (PEPG) is a special interest group of the Society for Experimental Biology and the British Ecological Society The Workshop provided a unique opportunity for MSc, PhD students and early career researchers to gain hands-on experience and training in plant ecophysiology techniques from leading scientists and manufacturers. There were 65 student from all around the world. The practical sessions stimulated research discussion and approaches. A poster session also provided the students with the opportunity to interact with established scientist and ask questions of their own research and approaches. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://sites.google.com/prod/view/pepg-workshop/Home?authuser=0 |