Project

Smart plants: sensors and models as the key to deciphering and innovatively harnessing plant responses

Code
bof/baf/4y/2024/01/1056
Duration
01 January 2024 → 31 December 2025
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Ecophysiology and ecomorphology
    • Plant morphology, anatomy and physiology
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Agricultural plant protection
    • Crop science
    • Forest protection
    • Horticultural crop production
Keywords
Plant sensors climate change plant-water relations mechanistic plant models plant-based microclimate control TreeWatch plant and tree health elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration heatwaves stem or woody tissue photosynthesis drought Agrotopia endowed chair
 
Project description

Plants silently communicate their responses to environmental changes through water transport, growth, and carbon metabolism. My research in applied plant ecophysiology deciphers and innovatively harnesses this "secret language" using advanced plant sensors (both commercially available and custom-developed in my lab), mechanistic models, and medical imaging techniques. This multidisciplinary approach not only unlocks deeper insights into the dynamic interactions between plants and their environment but also drives the development of innovative tools and technologies.

Spanning crops and trees, our work integrates real-time sensor data with advanced models wherever feasible to address critical climate challenges both indoors and outdoors. By transforming plants into biological indicators, this research provides essential knowledge for advancing sustainable horticulture, agriculture, and forestry in a rapidly changing climate.