Development of Climate-Resilient Crops by
Employing ROOTomics

The UGA Group's mission is to clarify how crop root systems respond to stresses, such as drought, high temperature and low nitrogen, based on modeling using multi-omics data. We will obtain and analyze large amounts of imaging data of plant root systems grown in high-tech pots that can control the soil environment, including water content and temperature. Our other mission is to validate models of ideal RSAs constructed based on ROOTomics data under natural field conditions that include stress exposure. To determine "ideal RSAs" that can withstand environmental stresses, we will attempt to visualize and digitize root movements that are hidden under the ground.

The TANABATA Group's mission is to develop phenotyping technologies for ROOTomics data. This includes: high-tech pots that can control the soil environment and high-throughput root phenotyping software from X-ray CT images. Our other mission is to develop a platform for effectively processing large amounts of 'omics' data collected in the ROOTomics project.

The KAWAKATSU group studies systemic responses to stresses perceived by underground roots. By monitoring transcriptome dynamics, we are working to develop biomarkers for these stress responses. We are also working to identify genes associated with stress-resilient crops to understand the underlying mechanisms. This information will greatly improve the modeling of "ideal RSAs", leading to the development of climate-resilient crops.