UPSC Seminar

Juan Alonso Serra

Center of Excellence in Tree Biology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki, Finland

Title: On growth and flow: hydraulic control of above ground meristems

Host: Ove Nilsson

UPSC Seminar

Mingyuan Zhu

Postdoc Associate, Benfey Lab, Duke University, Durham, USA

Title: Single-cell insights into root adaptation to soil compaction

Host: Stéphanie Robert

Abstract

Soil compaction represents a major challenge to modern agriculture. One major problem caused by soil compaction is that it exerts water stress on roots as moisture release is reduced from the smaller soil pores. Despite its agronomic importance, how roots respond to compacted soil conditions at the cellular level remains unclear. Here, we pioneered the use of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics on rice roots grown in soils to delve into the cell-level mechanisms governing root responses to soil compaction. Through differential expression analysis comparing non-compacted and compacted soil-based single-cell transcriptomic data, we identified a significant up-regulation in the expression of genes responsible for water impermeable barrier formation in the outer root tissues (Exodermis). This gene up-regulation was induced by an enhanced biosynthesis of plant hormone, abscisic acid (ABA) and its release from the inner tissues (Phloem). The role of ABA in responses to soil compaction was further highlighted by the suppression of barrier formation in the exodermis in ABA-deficient rice mutants. In summary, our single cell resolution study revealed how root tissues coordinate to facilitate the retention of water in root tips during soil compaction stress.

https://mingyuanzhu.com/

Seminar series "Outside of Academia"

Title: Working for AFRY

Speaker: Greta Nilén

Do you want to know which career paths are waiting for you outside of academia? Then listen to Greta Nilén from AFRY.

Greta Nilén is working as an environmental consultant at AFRY. Greta's background is in biology with a focus on environmental toxicology. Before leaving academia, Greta finished her PhD at Örebro University with a focus on the risks associated with combinations of chemicals and to identify the mechanisms behind the toxicity. Now she works at AFRY, an engineering and consulting company operating across the globe.

In the food and life science department, AFRY works closely together with its clients and focuses on the development and automation of production lines, the development of medical devices and the support of the clients R&D department.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.

Contact:

For questions, please contact the organisers Laura Tünnermann (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Tinkara Bizjak (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

UPSC Seminar

Leonard Blaschek

Copenhagen Plant Science Center (CPSC), Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Title: Redundancy and Specificity in Wood Formation

Host: Ove Nilsson