Image: The fast-forward talks are short presentations of newly emerging research and get publicly voted on by the membership of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network (NAPPN). The NAPPN Annual Conference was held at the University of Georgia on February 22-25, 2022. NAPPN includes countries of Canada, Mexico and the US and more than 70 fast-forward talks were presented during the competition. Congratulations, Momo! Momo is a graduate student in the lab of Alexander Bucksch, Associate Professor in Plant Biology and her research is part of Dr. Bucksch’s CAREER award from National Science Foundation (NSF). The project aims to establish that plant roots have a phenotypic spectrum that can be used to categorize plants of the same species according to differences in their root traits (phenotypes). The project works with the common bean as a model plant to associate these different root phenotypes with other differences between the plants, such as degrees of drought resistance or need for fertilizers. The ultimate goal of this research is to utilize root phenotypes to help plant breeders identify and cultivate those plants that best resist impacts of climate change.
