Understanding the Rules of Life in Crop Systems

The way plants interact with their environments are shaped by their genetic makeup and the complex biological networks within them. These interactions determine how plants grow, adapt, and thrive across diverse conditions. By studying these relationships in depth, we can unlock new insights into how plants function and evolve.

Our research focuses on how genetics and environmental factors interact with programmed plants. By applying computational modeling and advanced measurement tools, the team aims to explore previously inaccessible traits and discover how plants adapt to changing environments. This work has the potential to expand the adaptive capacity of crops, improve sustainability, and enhance productivity across a wide range of agricultural systems.

Leads Anthony Studer, Michael Gore

Senior Personnel Meagan Lang, Amy Marshall-Colon, Steve Moose, Abraham Stroock, Duke Pauli, Robert Shepherd, Hakim Weatherspoon, Taryn Bauerle, Kelly Robbins, April Gu

Research Goals: Through advanced computational modeling and experimentation, the team focuses on:

  • Uncovering Hidden Traits: Identifying and quantifying previously inaccessible plant traits to expand our understanding of plant biology.
  • Enhancing Adaptability: Exploring how programmed plants behave under diverse environmental conditions, with the goal of improving their resilience and performance.
  • Gene discovery: incorporate evolutionary theory into gene networks to prioritize conserved regulators of plant development, architecture, and stress responses
  • Mapping the Rhizosphere: Unraveling the complex underground networks of biology, biogeochemistry, and physics that support plant growth.

Objectives:

  • Program plants with extreme phenotypes to explore deep biological pathways.
  • Quantify plant responses to environmental stimuli to understand their adaptability.
  • Develop multi-scale models that integrate biological, physical, and computational data.
  • Use these models to predict plant responses to environmental challenges and optimize traits for agricultural success.

Image Courtesy of TerraSentia