From plant science to field crops – manipulating individual plant growth in-field to reduce crop variability and wastage

Variability in the growth of high value leafy vegetable crops such as lettuces or brassicas leads to variation in weight and maturity at harvest. While breeders have made significant advances in reducing the genetic components of intra-plant variation, the lack of uniformity in the growing environment significantly affects relative plant growth rates. Imaging technology e.g. UAV mounted cameras, is now being routinely used to quantify individual plant size across a field. This opens up the potential to manage small numbers of plants and deliver bespoke treatments to them. 

The student will utilise their knowledge of plant physiology to develop and evaluate novel localised treatments that manipulate plant development i.e. hasten, slow or pause plant growth. This work will help to reduce waste in crop production by increasing the proportion of the crop that can be harvested. 

Project aims

·Identify treatments to alter relative growth rates of plants from seedling to maturity.

.Establish the underlying physiological basis of the treatment(s). 

·Demonstrate the practical application of growth rate manipulation in lettuce and brassica crops.

This project will give the student training and experience in plant physiology, agronomy, soil and crop assessments and spatial statistical analyses as well as experience of the technical challenges of commercial crop production.