Plant Physiology Laboratory at UMaine
The RESEARCH of this lab is on plant physiology focusing on the response of plant/ecosystem water use, carbon balance (photosynthesis) and nutrient economy to environmental stresses and climate change. We use multiple-scale approaches and integration to reveal general principles regulating plant and ecosystem function and dynamics.
We mainly work on wild blueberries and trees.
For graduate study, undergraduate research, visiting research, or collaboration opportunities, please contact Dr. Zhang at yongjiang.zhang@maine.edu
Research Topics
Wild blueberries and trees in Maine under climate change, plant stress physiology, crop water use and nutrition, plant hydraulics, forest canopy physiology, principles regulating plant responses to environmental change, ecosystem water and carbon balance, and sustainability science.
Plant structure and water transport
Crop stress physiology
Canopy Physiology
Forest water and carbon balance
Regional hydrology and drought response
Sustainability and Precision Agriculture
Research Program
Plants and ecosystems are dynamic biological systems in a changing physical environment. Revealing the principles that underlie plant responses to environmental stresses and climate change is fundamental for predicting the future of natural and agricultural systems and for developing sustainable natural resource management strategies. The aim of our research is to unfold mechanisms that regulate the responses of plant water use, carbon balance and nutrient economy to environmental stresses and climate change. Currently, we are studying structural and physiological mechanisms regulating plant responses to water stress, low temperature stress, warming and elevated carbon dioxide concentration. Multiple scale approaches (laboratory and greenhouse studies, field works, modeling, and larger scale monitoring) are used in our lab attempting to uncover general principles in plants. As a symbol of Maine’s agricultural heritage, wild blueberries are used as a model system in our lab.
Research directions
1) Physical and physiological mechanisms regulating plant water transport under water stress;
2) Water use and drought tolerance of different crop varieties;
3) The response of plant water use, carbon balance, and nutrient economy to warming and elevated carbon dioxide concentration;
4) Abiotic and biotic characteristics determining sensitivity of ecosystems to climate extremes;
5) The interaction in water and carbon fluxes between natural and human-dominated systems.
'Spaceships' (OTCs; Open-Top Chambers) used to study climate change impacts on wild blueberries (Blueberry Hill Farm, Jonesboro, ME). @ 2019 Winter. By Photographer: Xiaoxue Mo