Project
Potato root and shoot responses to dynamic salinity and drought stress
This project focuses on potato shoot and root responses to simultaneous salt and drought stress, which causes significant yield losses.
Background
The increasing frequency of dry periods as well as the problems associated with salinity in irrigated and coastal areas frequently result in the co-occurrence of drought and salinity stress in agro-ecosystems. Both drought and salinity can reduce plant growth due to the high osmotic potential in the soil, leading to osmotic stress. Water and nutrients are not homogeneously distributed in the soil, and therefore the spatial and temporal arrangement of the root system is crucial for the optimal capture of soil resources and stress avoidance. Understanding plant traits that enhance plant performance in drought and salinity will enable the development of more resilient and productive crops and cropping systems, and could provide useful breeding targets for crop improvement.
We will work to understand and characterize root and shoot traits in various temporal drought and salinity stress regimes for the development of more productive crops. Combined approaches, including experiments in controlled environments and fields, will be implemented in the coming periods.
Objectives and methods
Field experiment
To analyze potato growth, development, and yield performance under salinity and drought stress.
Greenhouse experiment
To identify plant responses, including roots and leaf photosynthetic reponses, to spatially dynamic salinity and drought stress regimes.
Required
Skills/knowledge in performing field or greenhouse experiments.
At least one of these courses is needed:
- CSA30806 Research Methods in Crop Science
- CSA30306 Advanced Crop Physiology
- CSA32806 Modelling Functional Diversity in Crop Systems
- CSA34806 Advanced Agronomy
- HPP31806 Methods in Plant Ecophysiology
Types of research/work
Crop physiology
Period
March 2024 - July 2026, negotiable, please contact the contact person for more detailed time management plan.
Field experiment starts around May and ends in September.
Greenhouse experiment will be around March or September.