Research
In the next 40 years, the worlds' population will increase from 6 billion to 9 billion, with most of the increase occurring in the developing world. To avoid food shortages on an unprecedented global scale, crop yields must be increased by a similar margin, in the same timeframe and preferably with a corresponding geographical profile. A central goal of the P21C Crops program is to increase crop yields and thereby alleviate global food security concerns.
We have identified three priority areas for crop improvement; 1) photosynthesis – increasing the efficiency of harvesting solar energy; 2) stress resistance – enhancing growth in suboptimal conditions; 3) nutrient and water uptake – improving the ability to acquire water and nutrients that are in short supply.
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Dr Peter Darrah, University Lecturer in Plant Sciences: Rhizosphere and soil sustainability. |
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Prof. Liam Dolan, Sherardian Professor of Botany: Enhancement of nutrient uptake in crop plants. |
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Prof. Sarah Gurr, Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology: Molecular and cellular pathology of rice blast fungus. |
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Prof. Nicholas Harberd, Sibthorpian Professor of Plant Sciences: Evolution and adaptation in wheat. |
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Prof. Jane Langdale, Professor of Plant Development, Head of Plant Sciences Department: Modification of photosynthesis in rice. |
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Dr Gail Preston, Departmental Lecturer and Systems Biology Doctoral Training Centre Programme Director: Environmental factors affecting crop disease. |
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Dr Lee Sweetlove, Reader in Plant Biochemistry: Metabolite regulation in crop plants. |
Confronted with complex and accelerating environmental change, the need to document the many thousands of plant species that constitute the world’s botanical resources, and to provide a scientific basis for their protection and effective utilization, is more pressing than ever before. To date, 'hotspots' that are rich in rare species have only been well publicised on continental scales, yet more local knowledge is necessary to inform decisions on the selection of areas for conservation or for sustainable economic development. Our research aims to provide innovative ways to capture, analyse and publicise the large volumes of plant diversity data that are needed to underpin conservation and wider environmental action.
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Mr Denis Filer, Senior Research Associate: Development of online applications to monitor and evaluate global plant diversity. |
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Dr Stephen Harris, Druce Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria, University Research Lecturer: Conservation biology. |
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Dr Will Hawthorne, Senior Research Associate: Plant diversity assessment in the tropics. |
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Dr Roosa Leimu, Departmental Lecturer: Conservation biology. |
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Dr Robert Scotland, Reader in Systematic Botany: Plant taxonomy and species discovery. |
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Mr John Wood, Senior Research Associate: Plant taxonomy and species discovery |
Trees have historically been valued for the timber that they produce and for the land on which they grow. However, natural forest ecosystems contain the majority of terrestrial biodiversity and trees are also important crop plants. A major challenge for the 21st century is to find ways in which forests can be managed, potentially as components of integrated agricultural systems, in order to maximize cropping whilst maintaining biodiversity. Formerly forested lands that have been degraded by misuse must also be returned to beneficial use. All of this in the context of rapidly changing climatic conditions – a situation that means many trees will face an unfavourable climate before reaching maturity.
Our research investigates how forests respond to both natural and human inflicted disturbance and uses the data obtained to inform policies for sustainable management.
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Dr David Boshier, Senior Research Associate: Reproductive biology and population genetics of trees. |
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Dr Nick Brown, University Lecturer in Forestry: Forest ecology. |
