Work packages
RootEd is arranged over eight workpackages. Three WPs (1-3 ) address the research objectives of the project. A further five WPs (4-8) address the management, communication and image repository for the Consortium
WP1: Roots and the physical environment
Background: Before the advent of non-invasive root phenotyping technologies observing and measuring roots in soil was almost impossible. The ROOTED consortium includes several of the key pioneers that adopted innovative technologies (e.g. UFZ, FZJ, UON, AU, UCD, INRAE, WU) and the applied breakthrough machine learning protocols (UON, UZJ, WU) to obtain information on root systems in soil. ROOTED will unite these innovative scientists to tackle the dearth of information that remains regarding root system exploration in soil and the physical constraints that govern the resulting root architectures.
DCs 1-3
WP2: Roots and the biological environment
Background: It has been shown at the microscale that the biological component of soil can change soil physical parameters. These physical parameters induced by biological activity (microbes and roots) located there gives rise to the rhizosphere, the zone of soil influenced by roots and associated microorganisms. Due to technological advancements in non-destructive imaging technology which is accessed in ROOTED (UCD, UFZ, INRAE) we can now quantify this biogenesis at high resolution, spatially and temporally. In WP1 the DCs will work on finding the physical constraints to root exploration in soil. In WP2 the DCs will further test this by determining to what extent the biological environment impacts root phenotypes and how agricultural benefits could be harnessed.
DCs 4-6
WP3: Root plasticity in a changing chemical environment
Background: Enhancing nutrient uptake is a key priority breeding trait to support high yield potential and the potential lies in the root system, the interface where root surfaces uptake nutrients from soil. Root plastic responses is something that could be manipulated by crop breeders and ultimately food producers and root developmental responses to heterogeneous soil water distribution is a key trait to trace under future erratic climatic conditions. ROOTED aims to study root plasticity responses to variable availability of P and N, using a matrix of the two nutrients using soil-based root phenotyping technologies in combination with molecular biology. In order to link phenotype to nutrient acquisition strategies, ROOTED will use a functionalstructural plant model (FSPM) to model the observed growth plasticity and the associated N and P uptake.
DCs7-10
WP4: Root phenotyping open imaging repository
WP5: Network management and recruitment
WP6: Training and career development of doctoral candidates
WP7: Dissemination, exploitation, outreach and communication
WP8: Symposia