Thu 26 May 13:00: Small RNA-directed Reprogramming of Gene Expression During Host-bacteria Interactions
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Professor Lionel Navarro, IBENS
- Thursday 26 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 09 Jun 13:00: Exploring Cell-to-Cell Connectivity in C4 Photosynthesis
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Dr Tina Schreier, Department of Plant Sciences
- Thursday 09 June 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Wed 18 May 10:30: Crop Science Seminar: NSP2 and the Regulation of the Symbiotically Permissive State
Whilst inorganic fertilisers have been instrumental in dramatically increasing crop yields to meet the demand of an ever-growing world population, their unsustainable nature and environmental cost have led to alternatives being sought. The beneficial symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi has been recognised as potentially playing the role of a natural biofertiliser for our crops. However, one of the long-known limitations of AM symbiosis in this context is its suppression under high nutrient conditions, diminishing its use in fertilised agricultural settings. Nodulation Signalling Pathway (NSP) proteins are GRAS transcription factors that have been found to sit at the interface between nutrient signalling and the regulation of symbiosis and excitingly have the capability through overexpression to override the nutrient suppression of symbiosis in barley. This talk will discuss how NSP proteins are able to integrate environmental status in their control of symbiosis, and how that control is executed.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Darius Zarrabian, Oldroyd Lab, Crop Science Centre
- Wednesday 18 May 2022, 10:30-11:30
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Wed 18 May 10:30: Crop Science Seminar: Root System Architecture Traits Supporting High Yielding Winter Wheat
Understanding the physiological limitations to yield formation and the adaptations of plants to abiotic stresses such as drought. The current research emphasis is on wheat, although past work involved maize, oats, sugar beet and tropical legumes. New information and tools are needed to increase food production and the effective use of water. One key area is identifying superior germplasm under field conditions using advanced phenotyping techniques. This work is done in close collaboration with commercial plant breeders. Other related projects were initiated in response to needs by the agriculture industry and funded almost entirely by industry partners. Earlier work involved studying the role of drought-induced abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating maize endosperm development and cell division, kernel growth, and genes for carbohydrate metabolism and storage proteins. Further studies were on the role of ABA in regulating maize root growth maintenance, osmotic adjustment, and signalling changes in rhizosphere water availability at the cell membrane level. Root tissue O2 relations were also studied by inventing an O2 micro-sensor. Expertise is in the areas of crop physiology, field phenotyping, plant water relations, regulation of growth and grain development during water deficit, and hormonal regulation of root growth and osmotic adjustment.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Eric Ober
- Wednesday 18 May 2022, 10:30-11:30
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 12 May 13:00: Stomatal evolution and using knowledge of stomatal function to breed more resilient crops
Stomata are pores found, typically, on the surfaces of leaves and their acquisition is believed to be one of the key factors leading to the successful radiation of the early terrestrial flora. They are surrounded by two guard cells. In responses to changes in the environment and, or endogenous signals, the guard cells increase or decrease in turgor causing the pore to open or close. Changes in stomatal aperture result in changes to transpirational water loss and the uptake of carbon dioxide. These in turn, play out in terms of alterations in dry matter accumulation, leaf cooling, nutrient uptake and the ability to withstand reductions in soil water availability. A complex intracellular signalling network is responsible for coupling extracellular signals to alterations in guard cell turgor. This lecture will focus on stomatal evolution where there are still many fundamental questions that remain unanswered and also, if time permits, will discuss recent results that have relevance to developing crops that are more resistant to climate and environment change.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Professor Alistair Hetherington, University of Bristol
- Thursday 12 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Pallavi Singh.
Thu 16 Jun 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Professor Mathew Lewsey, La Trobe University
- Thursday 16 June 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 09 Jun 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Dr Tina Schreier, Department of Plant Sciences
- Thursday 09 June 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 26 May 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Professor Lionel Navarro, IBENS
- Thursday 26 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 19 May 13:00: Belowground Microbial Community Responses to Climate Change: Resistance, Resilience, and Alternative States
A vast diversity of microbial life is found in soil, forming one of the most complex ecological communities on Earth. These soil microbial communities play major roles in shaping terrestrial ecosystems, but they are increasingly challenged by perturbations associated with human-induced environment change, including climate extremes, which are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity with ongoing climate change.
In this talk, I will present recent research exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the capacity of soil microbial communities to resist and recover from climate extremes, and their capacity to trigger abrupt transitions to alternative microbial states.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk.
- Speaker: Professor Richard Bardgett, University of Manchester
- Thursday 19 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: cjh92.
Thu 19 May 13:00: Belowground Microbial Community Responses to Climate Change: Resistance, Resilience, and Alternative States
A vast diversity of microbial life is found in soil, forming one of the most complex ecological communities on Earth. These soil microbial communities play major roles in shaping terrestrial ecosystems, but they are increasingly challenged by perturbations associated with human-induced environment change, including climate extremes, which are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity with ongoing climate change.
In this talk, I will present recent research exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the capacity of soil microbial communities to resist and recover from climate extremes, and their capacity to trigger abrupt transitions to alternative microbial states.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Richard Bardgett, University of Manchester
- Thursday 19 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: cjh92.
Thu 09 Jun 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Dr Tina Schreier, Department of Plant Sciences
- Thursday 09 June 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 26 May 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Lionel Navarro, IBENS
- Thursday 26 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 19 May 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Richard Bardgett, University of Manchester
- Thursday 19 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 12 May 13:00: Stomatal evolution and using knowledge of stomatal function to breed more resilient crops
Stomata are pores found, typically, on the surfaces of leaves and their acquisition is believed to be one of the key factors leading to the successful radiation of the early terrestrial flora. They are surrounded by two guard cells. In responses to changes in the environment and, or endogenous signals, the guard cells increase or decrease in turgor causing the pore to open or close. Changes in stomatal aperture result in changes to transpirational water loss and the uptake of carbon dioxide. These in turn, play out in terms of alterations in dry matter accumulation, leaf cooling, nutrient uptake and the ability to withstand reductions in soil water availability. A complex intracellular signalling network is responsible for coupling extracellular signals to alterations in guard cell turgor. This lecture will focus on stomatal evolution where there are still many fundamental questions that remain unanswered and also, if time permits, will discuss recent results that have relevance to developing crops that are more resistant to climate and environment change.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Alistair Hetherington, University of Bristol
- Thursday 12 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Pallavi Singh.
Thu 12 May 13:00: Stomatal evolution and using knowledge of stomatal function to breed more resilient crops
Stomata are pores found, typically, on the surfaces of leaves and their acquisition is believed to be one of the key factors leading to the successful radiation of the early terrestrial flora. They are surrounded by two guard cells. In responses to changes in the environment and, or endogenous signals, the guard cells increase or decrease in turgor causing the pore to open or close. Changes in stomatal aperture result in changes to transpirational water loss and the uptake of carbon dioxide. These in turn, play out in terms of alterations in dry matter accumulation, leaf cooling, nutrient uptake and the ability to withstand reductions in soil water availability. A complex intracellular signalling network is responsible for coupling extracellular signals to alterations in guard cell turgor. This lecture will focus on stomatal evolution where there are still many fundamental questions that remain unanswered and also, if time permits, will discuss recent results that have relevance to developing crops that are more resistant to climate and environment change.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Alistair Hetherington, University of Bristol
- Thursday 12 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online / Plant Sciences LLT for Department members only.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Pallavi Singh.
Wed 11 May 10:30: Crop Science Seminar: Ensembl Plants - An Overview
Ensembl Plants is a genome centric platform for visualisation and analysis of plant genomics data, with over 100 species currently displayed (May 2022). The Ensembl platform is used to access and visualize genomes through our web browser, API and BioMart tools. We also provide comparative genomics and variation effect predictions to support functional analyses.
We currently host the wheat Pan Genome (http://www.10wheatgenomes.com/), with genes projected from the reference IWGSC assembly v1.0 and de novo genes for nine of the chromosome level assemblies. In addition to displaying these genomes in our genome browser we have run our comparison analysis pipeline (Compara) to create a wheat specific gene tree which includes the de novo genes and also genes from other wheat relatives and progenitors. We are currently working on multiple whole genome alignments for the wheat cultivars which will be a useful resource for wheat breeders and scientists.
This talk will give an overall view of Ensembl and how to use it, with an emphasis on wheat and the wheat pan genome.
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Guy Naamati, Ensembl Plants Project Leader
- Wednesday 11 May 2022, 10:30-11:30
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 16 Jun 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Mathew Lewsey, La Trobe University
- Thursday 16 June 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 09 Jun 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Dr Tina Schreier, Department of Plant Sciences
- Thursday 09 June 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 26 May 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Lionel Navarro, IBENS
- Thursday 26 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.
Thu 19 May 13:00: Plant Sciences Seminar
Due to having to go online, we are restricting the talks to University of Cambridge and alumni to keep them as informal as possible.
Contact reception@plantsci.cam.ac.uk for a Zoom link prior to a talk if you are not on our mailing list.
- Speaker: Professor Richard Bardgett, University of Manchester
- Thursday 19 May 2022, 13:00-14:00
- Venue: Online.
- Series: Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars; organiser: Katherine Maltby.