📢🌱 #Root2Res and BarleyMicroBreed brought together representatives from the European Commission and Parliament, researchers and breeders for a joint Parliamentary Session to present policy recommendations for breeding strategie
🎥 Watch the video: youtu.be/4WeFkKsgeFM
📢🌱Today, Root2Res and BarleyMicroBreed host a joint session at the European Parliament placing breeding strategies, emerging crop varieties and root–soil interface research at the heart of the EU #AgriculturalPolicy 🌿🌎
🎥 Join the streaming | 11:00
👉root2res.eu/parliamentary-se…
📢🎙️ New #Root2ResPodcast episode is out!
In our fourth podcast episode, “An Introduction to Plant Breeding”, we take a closer look at what plant breeding is, how it has changed & how recent developments are shaping the way we breed crops today 🌱🌿
🎧 youtu.be/-Lv6ifAAbG8?si=kIa3…
📢🎙️ New #Root2ResPodcast episode is out!
What if the key to more #ResilientCrops is right below our feet?
In “Roots in Plant Breeding”, we explore why roots deserve a much bigger role in modern plant breeding 🌱🌿
🎧 youtu.be/ANDUicEyunY?si=NNVu…
📢🌱 What an amazing week for #Root2Res!
This week we held our General Assembly in Maribor, Slovenia. A busy few days with work package and crop updates, as well as interactive sessions to discuss our progress
👀Stay tuned!
👉 f.mtr.cool/v7yicp7llx
🌿 Can plant roots adapt when the environment changes?
While a #RootIdeotype describes the ideal root system for a specific environment, #RootPlasticity is a plant's capacity to adjust its root traits in response to changing conditions 🌱
🎧 youtu.be/_VlmB0sq8Ds?si=IhkO…
🌱 What if crops could make better use of the phosphorus already in the soil?
Root2Res has developed #RootIdeotypes for improved phosphorus uptake in cereals, faba bean and potato.
👇 Explore the infographic to see an example of the Root2Res phosphorus ideotype for cereals
💧 Can we replicate the ideal root system against drought or waterlogging?
That's the idea behind #RootIdeotypes: a representation of an ideal root system for specific environmental conditions.
🌧️ Waterlogging
🌱 Early drought
☀️ Late drought
👇Check out the infographic
📢 Why are #ControlledConditions essential?
#Root2Res relies on data from different studies, including field trials, in silico simulation models and controlled environments 🔬🌿
This allow us to bridge developments before scaling from non-soil to soil experiments
🌱 Can we identify resilient plants when they are only seedlings?
The #SeedlingRootScreen system enables researchers to study root architecture during the earliest stages of plant development, when important differences between varieties are emerging
🎥 f.mtr.cool/voumaghdzi
🌱 Before roots can be measured, they need to be carefully recovered from the soil. That's where #RootWashing comes in.
This phenotyping method allows researchers to assess key root traits such as:
✔️ Root length
✔️ Root diameter
✔️ Root biomass
🎥 f.mtr.cool/mphxrvgfzd
👀 What if we could watch plants respond to water stress in real time, above and below ground?
With the #PhysioTron, we can. This phenotyping platform allows researchers to monitor hundreds of plants under carefully controlled water stress conditions
🎥 youtu.be/wceXU3s6A50?si=vb_l…
🚨🚀 The Root2Res #PhenotypingToolbox is here!
✔️Discover methods and tools to study root systems and root traits.
✔️Understand how plants thrive in different conditions.
✔️Explore practical approaches to assess crop growth under environmental stress.
👉 root2res.eu/r2r-toolboxes
🌱 Measuring roots below the surface!
Today we explore the #SoilCoringMethod, a practical approach to assess root growth and distribution throughout the soil profile 🌿🔍
🎥Take a look at the video: youtu.be/e7qtD4fiRoA?si=cIb3…
Discover more 👇
🌱 Looking deeper into the soil to understand crop resilience!
Today we explore the #SoilPitMethod, a field-based approach to measure root depth and distribution under real field conditions 🌿⛏️
Take a look👇
🌱 Watching roots grow without digging them up!
Today we explore the #MinirhizotronMethod, a non-destructive way to monitor root development over time 🌿📸
Take a look to discover how minirhizotrons reveal the hidden dynamics of root growth 👇
🔗 root2res.eu/
📢 We're presenting plant breeders with our results!
#Root2Res is expanding its network through a presentation before the @EuroseedsEU Research Committee in Sevilla. This link is crucial for upscaling breeding strategies and contribute to #FoodSecurity & #SustainableFarming 🌱
🌱 Measuring #RootTraits directly the field!
Today #ShovelomicsMethod
🔎 This method involves excavating plants with a spade and collecting the upper portion of the root system
✅ Why is it useful?
🔸Direct assessment of roots under real field conditions
🔸Low-cost and simple
🌱 How do we measure #RootTraits in the field?
#Root2Res is developing 4 methods to study roots directly underground:
🔸 Shovelomics
🔸 Minirhizotron
🔸 Soil pit
🔸 Soil coring
Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore each method in action! 👀
👉 zenodo.org/records/13683049
🌱 What makes crops resilient to drought, heat, and climate change?
#RootPhenotyping helps identify root traits that improve crop adaptation under different conditions 🌍🌾
At #Root2Res we're developing field-ready tools for more #ResilientAgriculture 🔬
📢🌎 #Root2Res#FieldSites: Transitional climate zone (Central France)
This site links the 3 main agroclimatic zones, using the #PhenofieldPlatform to control water stress with mobile rainout shelters & irrigation, allowing us to study #CropResilience under controlled conditions
🌱 #Root2Res#FieldSite: #MediterraneanAgroclimaticZone (Morocco)
Here, crops face:
🌾 Pre-flowering water deficit
💧 Post-flowering water deficit
🧪 Phosphorus availability deficit
Satellite sites in Spain, France, Italy & South Africa help address local climate needs
📢🌱 #Root2Res#FieldSites: #HumidContinental agroclimatic zone (Slovenia)
Crops here face key #AbioticStresses:
🌾 Post-flowering water deficit
🧪 Phosphorus availability deficit
Satellite sites in Germany & Switzerland help address local climate & technical variability.
📢💪 #CoCreation in action!
In #Root2Res we develop tools to improve #RootTraits together with farmers, agronomists & breeders ✨
Their input ensures our research meets real needs and leads to practical solutions for #ResilientCrops. 🌱🌿
👉 root2res.eu/
🔍 How can we make crops more resilient?
As farmers have always done: identifying #RootTraits that give crops a survival advantage
#Root2Res Process:
🌱 Define #RootIdeotypes
🧰 Assess #RootPhenotypes
🧬 Identify candidate markers
📊 Quantify plasticity of new cultivars
🎄✨ Happy Holidays from the #Root2Res team!
This year has been amazing, and what comes next will be even better. We’re excited about what lies ahead as we continue working to improve #CropResilience
Thank you all for accompanying us this year 💚
🚀 New #Root2Res Practice Abstracts!
Curious about how we study root architecture directly in the field? 🔬🔎
Explore the Shovelomics method in our new Practice Abstracts applied to:
🌾 Cereal root systems
🌱 Faba bean root systems
👉 Check them out: root2res.eu/knowledge-center…
📢💥 What a Blast in Dublin!
This week, #Root2Res held its 3rd General Assembly! 🌱
A big thank you to @teagasc for their warm hospitality, and wishing safe travels to everyone heading home! ✈️✨
Don’t miss any details!
➡️Read more here: shorturl.at/9dr9D
🌱 Explore the #Root2Res Knowledge Center!
All project outputs in one place💻🌿
🔸Comm materials
🔸Scientific publications
🔸Policy briefs
🔸Pactice abstracts
🔸Podcast episodes
🔸Deliverables
Also on EU CAP Network, Zenodo & CORDIS.
➡️ root2res.eu/knowledge-center…
We’re happy to share that our colleague Ignacio Romero Lozano won a prize at the #Rhizo6 Conference for the Best Student Talk! 🎉
His presentation focused on the identification of microbial markers for resistance against pea root rot. 🌱🌿
✨🎉Congratulations!
📢 Exciting news!
Our latest #Root2Res Policy Brief is out: "The Role of Plant Roots in Soil Health" 🌱📃
Discover how roots play a key role in:
🔸 Soil carbon storage
🔸 Water retention
🔸 Soil structure formation
🔸 Biodiversity and resilience
➡️ root2res.eu/policy-briefs/
📢 Save the Date!
Our partners at @Arvalisofficiel are hosting #MecaCulturales!
📆 September 10–11
📍 Saint-Agnet, Landes (France)
This in-field agricultural show will combine agronomic, technical and agricultural machinery innovations.
➡️ lesculturales.com/en/
📚 New Scientific Publications Available!
We’re excited to share the latest from #Root2Res. Our newest scientific articles are now available in the Knowledge Center section of our website.🌱🔬
➡️ Explore them here: root2res.eu/knowledge-center…
📢 Save the Date!
The Austrian Seed Association will host the 76th Plant Breeder’s Meeting 🌎✨
🔬 Theme 2025: Breeding for the "hidden half", which focused on #RootTraits
📍 Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Austria
📅 24–26 Nov 2025
➡️ saatgut-austria.at/page.asp/…
📢 #Root2Res & @BreedMicro are co-hosting a session at #Rhizosphere6 on 16–19 June in Edinburgh.
🌱 “Manipulating the Rhizosphere with Crop Genetics”.
🎤 Featuring talks from Mette Vestergård, Tim George & more!
📍 Read more: root2res.eu/root2res-joins-b…
🚨 Final Call for Poster Abstracts – Rhizosphere 6! 🚨
#Rhizosphere6 – Rooting for Earth will be on June 16–19th, 2025, in Edinburgh! 🌱
🗓️ Want to present a poster?
Submit your abstract by May 15th
➡️ Follow the guidelines and send your abstract here: rhizo6.org/abstracts
We’ve been working to improve the #Root2Res#KnowledgeCenter to provide better access to the latest results from the project. 🚀
You can easily find:
📢 Communication materials
🌱 Root2Res in practice
📚 Scientific publications
📄 Deliverables
👉 root2res.eu/knowledge-center…
🎥 New Root2Res Video!
We dive into the challenge of combining exudation and rhizosphere #Sampling from the same plant without damaging the #RootSystem. 🌱🔬
✨Watch the full video and learn our method to combine both processes: youtube.com/watch?v=Rkif6BbJ…