The region of the soil surrounding plant roots is the site of active root secretion and microbial activity involved in the cycling of nutrients. In the Rhizosphere Group, we aim to understand the physiology of traits which affect resource capture within the rhizosphere and their genetic control.

• Improved barley cultivars for better nutrient acquisition
• The role of potato rooting and rhizosphere microorganisms in mineral nutrients acquisition
• Heterologous expression of genes encoding extracellular enzymes to improve access to organic forms of mineral nutrients
• Effects of dwarfing genes on root growth and nutrient acquisition of wheat and barley (joint work with the Genetics Programme)
• Response of root growth to soil water potential (joint work with Plant-Soil Interactions Group)

There are opportunities to join this research group as a PhD, MSc/MRes or BSc (Hons) student, currently we are offering projects entitled:

• Rhizosphere properties which enhance manganese efficiency in barley
• Genetic characterisation of arsenate tolerance in barley
  
• Drivers of plant species diversity in the Machair: the role of root phytases in tolerating micronutrient deficiency in calcareous grasslands
• The impact of glyphosate application on the availability of micronutrients in soil and impacts on selection of weed ecotypes.