Water

Water for plant growth and yield production first needs to be accessed and taken up by the plant roots. Water is the most precious resource for agriculture and natural systems, and the frequency and intensity of water for plants is changing due to climate.

We discover how root systems of plants take up water in the dynamic rainfall patterns of Australia. Plant roots and their associated microbiomes constantly adapt at the cellular and developmental levels to take up water. With microbiologists and fluidics scientists, we image, mathematically model, and optimise dynamics of root uptake of variable water supplies.

Our research generates new knowledge that we publish and new designs for plant types that save water, land, and energy for the environment and farming systems.

Technologies include time live imaging, miniature ecosystems that fit under a microscope, and 4D visualisation of roots in soil using computed tomography, working with the Melbourne Brain Imaging Centre Unit. We study Australian native plants, crops, and model plants.

These projects are funded by the Australian Research Council and the National Imaging Facility.