Our central task is the management and coordination of the plant phenotyping infrastructure at IPK, in cooperation with internal and external partners we therefore contribute to the elucidation of plant growth and its plasticity under diverse environmental conditions. We work closely with the Research Group Bioinformatics and Information Technology (BIT) to implement a data management system for standardised documentation, sustainable storage and dissemination of phenomics datasets according to FAIR principles.

The focus of our own research is predominantly to study the plant response to abiotic stress, especially drought and heat. As this response is very environment-dependent dynamic, we use precision phenotyping systems that allow non-invasive observation under controlled environmental conditions. Our focus is on genetics and physiology and also on modelling plant growth and water use (Fig. 1). Plant materials are mainly plant genetic resources of cereals and legumes, which represent a valuable source for improving the stress tolerance of modern varieties via breeding approaches for the necessary adaptation to the ongoing climate change.

Within the German Plant Phenotyping Network (DPPN), we are expanding the existing infrastructure for plant phenotyping and making it available to users from research and industry within the framework of collaborative projects and transnational access projects (EPPN2020).

STARGATE

Within the scope of STARGATE we will support our partner in Portugal (UCP) to become an established centre of excellence on the use of sensors, multi-omics and plant phenotyping technologies.

BRACE

In BRACE we are studying mechanisms of sustainability under abiotic stresses in the first wild barley multi-parental nested association mapping (NAM) population (HEB-25) using modern automated phenotyping approaches.

BOLERO

Root development of coffee and cocoa plants is the focus of BOLERO, where we use automatic phenotyping to investigate the dynamics of root development and the response to different nutrient supply.

INCREASE

In the frame of INCREASE we are contributing to foster agricultural biodiversity in Europe by evaluating growth and drought tolerance of 200 genetic resources of chickpea via precision phenotyping and by conducting a citizen science experiment across Europe with 1,000 genetic resources of common bean. For three years, citizens throughout Europe have been called upon to participate in the bean diversity experiment. The IPK invited 100 German participants to a Citizens' Day at the institute on July 21, 2023.