ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0566-2009
Current Organisation
Forschungszentrum Jülich
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Biological Mathematics | Microbial Ecology | Soil Chemistry (excl. Carbon Sequestration Science) | Microbiology
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Management of Water Consumption by Plant Production | Climate Change Mitigation Strategies | Carbon and Emissions Trading |
Related Links
Publications
Multilab EcoFAB study shows highly reproducible physiology and depletion of soil metabolites by a model grass
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-01-2019
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.15662
Transcriptional regulation of ZIP genes is independent of local zinc status in Brachypodium shoots upon zinc deficiency and resupply
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-07-2021
DOI: 10.1111/PCE.14151
Abstract: The biological processes underlying zinc homeostasis are targets for genetic improvement of crops to counter human malnutrition. Detailed phenotyping, ionomic, RNA‐Seq analyses and flux measurements with 67 Zn isotope revealed whole‐plant molecular events underlying zinc homeostasis upon varying zinc supply and during zinc resupply to starved Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) plants. Although both zinc deficiency and excess hindered Brachypodium growth, accumulation of biomass and micronutrients into roots and shoots differed depending on zinc supply. The zinc resupply dynamics involved 1,893 zinc‐responsive genes. Multiple zinc‐regulated transporter and iron‐regulated transporter (IRT)‐like protein (ZIP) transporter genes and dozens of other genes were rapidly and transiently down‐regulated in early stages of zinc resupply, suggesting a transient zinc shock, sensed locally in roots. Notably, genes with identical regulation were observed in shoots without zinc accumulation, pointing to root‐to‐shoot signals mediating whole‐plant responses to zinc resupply. Molecular events uncovered in the grass model Brachypodium are useful for the improvement of staple monocots.
Molecular Mechanisms of Pseudomonas-Assisted Plant Nitrogen Uptake: Opportunities for Modern Agriculture
Publisher: Scientific Societies
Date: 09-2023
DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-10-22-0223-CR
Abstract: Pseudomonas spp. make up 1.6% of the bacteria in the soil and are found throughout the world. More than 140 species of this genus have been identified, some beneficial to the plant. Several species in the family Pseudomonadaceae, including Azotobacter vinelandii AvOP, Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501, Pseudomonas stutzeri DSM4166, Pseudomonas szotifigens 6HT33bT and Pseudomonas sp. K1 can fix nitrogen from the air. The genes required for these reactions are organized in a nitrogen fixation island, obtained via horizontal gene transfer from Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Azotobacter vinelandii. Today, this island is conserved in Pseudomonas spp. from different geographical locations, which in turn have evolved to deal with different geo-climatic conditions. Here, we summarize the molecular mechanisms behind Pseudomonas driven plant growth promotion, with particular focus on improving plant performance at limiting nitrogen (N), and improving plant N content. We describe Pseudomonas-plant interaction strategies in the soil, noting that the mechanisms of denitrification, ammonification, and secondary metabolite signalling are only marginally explored. Plant growth promotion is dependent on the abiotic conditions, and differs at sufficient and deficient N. The molecular controls behind different plant response are not fully elucidated. We suggest that superposition of transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome data and their integration with plant phenotype development through time will help fill these gaps. The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge behind Pseudomonas driven nitrogen fixation and to point to possible agricultural solutions
Transcriptional regulation of ZIP genes is independent of local zinc status in Brachypodium shoots upon zinc deficiency and resupply
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 23-11-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.23.393827
Abstract: The biological processes underlying zinc homeostasis are targets for genetic improvement of crops to counter human malnutrition. Detailed phenotyping, ionomic, RNA-Seq analyses and flux measurements with 67 Zn isotope revealed whole plant molecular events underlying zinc homeostasis upon varying zinc supply and during zinc resupply to starved Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) plants. Although both zinc deficiency and excess hindered Brachypodium growth, accumulation of biomass and micronutrients into roots and shoots differed depending on zinc supply. The zinc resupply dynamics involved 1893 zinc-responsive genes. Multiple ZIP transporter genes and dozens of other genes were rapidly and transiently down-regulated in early stages of zinc resupply, suggesting a transient zinc shock, sensed locally in roots. Notably genes with identical regulation were observed in shoots without zinc accumulation, pointing to root-to-shoot signals mediating whole plant responses to zinc resupply. Molecular events uncovered in the grass model Brachypodium are useful for the improvement of staple monocots.
The Metabolic Response of Brachypodium Roots to the Interaction with Beneficial Bacteria Is Affected by the Plant Nutritional Status
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-06-2021
Abstract: The potential of plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria in improving the performance of plants in suboptimal environments is increasingly acknowledged, but little information is available on the mechanisms underlying this interaction, particularly when plants are subjected to a combination of stresses. In this study, we investigated the effects of the inoculation with the PGP bacteria Azospirillum brasilense (Azospirillum) on the metabolism of the model cereal Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) grown at low temperatures and supplied with insufficient phosphorus. Investigating polar metabolite and lipid fluctuations during early plant development, we found that the bacteria initially elicited a defense response in Brachypodium roots, while at later stages Azospirillum reduced the stress caused by phosphorus deficiency and improved root development of inoculated plants, particularly by stimulating the growth of branch roots. We propose that the interaction of the plant with Azospirillum was influenced by its nutritional status: bacteria were sensed as pathogens while plants were still phosphorus sufficient, but the interaction became increasingly beneficial for the plants as their phosphorus levels decreased. Our results provide new insights on the dynamics of the cereal-PGP bacteria interaction, and contribute to our understanding of the role of beneficial microorganisms in the growth of cereal crops in suboptimal environments.
Monitoring of Plant Protein Post-translational Modifications Using Targeted Proteomics
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 17-08-2018
N-dependent dynamics of root growth and nitrate and ammonium uptake are altered by the bacterium Herbaspirillum seropedicae in the cereal model Brachypodium distachyon
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-05-2022
DOI: 10.1093/JXB/ERAC184
Abstract: Nitrogen (N) fixation in cereals by root-associated bacteria is a promising solution for reducing use of chemical N fertilizers in agriculture. However, plant and bacterial responses are unpredictable across environments. We hypothesized that cereal responses to N-fixing bacteria are dynamic, depending on N supply and time. To quantify the dynamics, a gnotobiotic, fabricated ecosystem (EcoFAB) was adapted to analyse N mass balance, to image shoot and root growth, and to measure gene expression of Brachypodium distachyon inoculated with the N-fixing bacterium Herbaspirillum seropedicae. Phenotyping throughput of EcoFAB-N was 25–30 plants h−1 with open software and imaging systems. Herbaspirillum seropedicae inoculation of B. distachyon shifted root and shoot growth, nitrate versus ammonium uptake, and gene expression with time directions and magnitude depended on N availability. Primary roots were longer and root hairs shorter regardless of N, with stronger changes at low N. At higher N, H. seropedicae provided 11% of the total plant N that came from sources other than the seed or the nutrient solution. The time-resolved phenotypic and molecular data point to distinct modes of action: at 5 mM NH4NO3 the benefit appears through N fixation, while at 0.5 mM NH4NO3 the mechanism appears to be plant physiological, with H. seropedicae promoting uptake of N from the root medium.Future work could fine-tune plant and root-associated microorganisms to growth and nutrient dynamics.
Dynamics in plant roots and shoots minimize stress, save energy and maintain water and nutrient uptake
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-08-2020
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.15955
Abstract: Plants are inherently dynamic. Dynamics minimize stress while enabling plants to flexibly acquire resources. Three ex les are presented for plants tolerating saline soil: transport of sodium chloride (NaCl), water and macronutrients is nonuniform along a branched root water and NaCl redistribute between shoot and soil at night-time and ATP for salt exclusion is much lower in thinner branch roots than main roots, quantified using a biophysical model and geometry from anatomy. Noninvasive phenotyping and precision agriculture technologies can be used together to harness plant dynamics, but analytical methods are needed. A plant advancing in time through a soil and atmosphere space is proposed as a framework for dynamic data and their relationship to crop improvement.
Plant Growth Promotion and Heat Stress Amelioration in Arabidopsis Inoculated with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN Rhizobacteria Quantified with the GrowScreen-Agar II Phenotyping Platform
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 30-10-2022
Abstract: High temperatures inhibit plant growth. A proposed strategy for improving plant productivity under elevated temperatures is the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). While the effects of PGPR on plant shoots have been extensively explored, roots—particularly their spatial and temporal dynamics—have been hard to study, due to their below-ground nature. Here, we characterized the time- and tissue-specific morphological changes in bacterized plants using a novel non-invasive high-resolution plant phenotyping and imaging platform—GrowScreen-Agar II. The platform uses custom-made agar plates, which allow air exchange to occur with the agar medium and enable the shoot to grow outside the compartment. The platform provides light protection to the roots, the exposure of it to the shoots, and the non-invasive phenotyping of both organs. Arabidopsis thaliana, co-cultivated with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN at elevated and ambient temperatures, showed increased lengths, growth rates, and numbers of roots. However, the magnitude and direction of the growth promotion varied depending on root type, timing, and temperature. The root length and distribution per depth and according to time was also influenced by bacterization and the temperature. The shoot biomass increased at the later stages under ambient temperature in the bacterized plants. The study offers insights into the timing of the tissue-specific, PsJN-induced morphological changes and should facilitate future molecular and biochemical studies on plant–microbe–environment interactions.
Energy costs of salt tolerance in crop plants
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-07-2019
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.15864
Abstract: Agriculture is expanding into regions that are affected by salinity. This review considers the energetic costs of salinity tolerance in crop plants and provides a framework for a quantitative assessment of costs. Different sources of energy, and modifications of root system architecture that would maximize water vs ion uptake are addressed. Energy requirements for transport of salt (NaCl) to leaf vacuoles for osmotic adjustment could be small if there are no substantial leaks back across plasma membrane and tonoplast in root and leaf. The coupling ratio of the H
Energy costs of salinity tolerance in crop plants
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-11-2019
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.15555
Time-resolution of the shoot and root growth of the model cereal Brachypodium in response to inoculation with Azospirillum bacteria at low phosphorus and temperature
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S10725-020-00675-4
Abstract: A non-invasive plant phenotyping platform, GrowScreen-PaGe , was used to resolve the dynamics of shoot and root growth of the model cereal Brachypodium ( Brachypodium distachyon Bd21-3) in response to the plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria Azospirillum ( Azospirillum brasilense Sp245). Inoculated Brachypodium plants had greater early vigor and higher P use efficiency than non-inoculated Brachypodium at low P and low temperature conditions. Root systems were imaged non-invasively at eight time points and data combined with leaf area, shoot biomass and nutrient content from destructive subs les at 7, 14 and 21 days after inoculation (DAI). Azospirillum colonisation of roots improved Brachypodium shoot and, to a greater degree, root growth in three independent experiments. Inoculation promoted P use efficiency in shoots but not P concentration or uptake, despite increased total root length. Longer roots in inoculated plants arose from twofold faster branch root growth but slower axile root growth, detected at 11 DAI. Analysis of the spatio-temporal phenotypes indicated that the effects of Azospirillum inoculation increased as shoot P concentration declined, but the magnitude depended on the time after inoculation and growth rate of branch roots compared to axile roots. High throughput plant phenotyping platforms allow the details of plant-microorganism symbioses to be resolved, offering insights into the timing of changes in different tissues to allow molecular mechanisms to be determined.
Related Organisations
Max Planck Institute For Molecular Plant Physiology
Location: Germany
Universite De Liege Département Des Sciences De La Vie
Location: Belgium
Related Funding Activities
Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP220101544
Start Date: 12-2022
End Date: 12-2025
Amount: $389,258.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity