Research Interests:
My current research focus is on the development of high throughput 2D and 3D growth, imaging and analysis systems to study plant root system growth and response to abiotic stresses found in acid soils, while primarily focusing on Aluminum (Al) toxicity and Phosphorus (P) deficiency. This interdisciplinary work requires a mixture of engineering (computer programming, optics, and mechanics) and biological (plant physiology, plant breeding and genetics) skills.
Two software packages I have developed to complement the imaging systems and assist with root phenotyping are RootReader2D and RootReader3D. These software tools will soon be publically available as Java Webstart applications on this website: www.plantmineralnutrition.net/rootreader.htm.
The hydroponics based 2D imaging system and RootReader2D software tools have recently been used to screen for Al tolerance in rice, maize and sorghum mapping populations and diversity panels. We have also begun using RootReader2D tools to phenotype root growth responses of arabidopsis to micronutrient deficiencies (Cu and Zn) in hydroponic and agar plate systems. Currently my main interests with the 2D phenotyping system are to evaluate the Al tolerance of different root types (primary, basal, lateral) in a maize association panel and to begin incorporating and investigating root growth response traits of rice and maize under P deficient conditions.
The 3D imaging system tools that were developed use a semi-sterile gellan gum growth system and RootReader3D software to create and quantify 3D root models. The main purpose of this system is to investigate the dynamic changes of root system architecture over-time and in relation to nutrient deficiencies and osmotic stress. While improvements are being made to all aspects of this system, from growth to imaging to quantification, my future research will focus on screening rice and maize mapping populations for desirable root architectural traits in relation to P deficiency.
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