Root2Res: Root phenotyping and genetic improvement for rotational crops resilient to environmental change

The overall goal of Root2Res is to increase the resilience of rotational crops to climate change impacts. The project will focus on established crops such as barley, wheat, potatoes, faba beans, peas as well as emerging crops like sweet potatos and lentils. The aim is to develop innovative tools to characterize root traits associated with increased tolerance against abiotic stress (water deficit or excess, nutrition deficiency) and carbon storage in soils. This will be achieved by:

• Identifying root and rhizosphere ideotypes for a changing environment
• Providing a complete set of tools to consider root traits
• Multiplying germplasms for phenotyping activities and identify new candidate genes connected to root traits
• Quantifying plasticity of extended root phenotype
• Actively engaging with relevant stakeholders and exploiting results

In Root2Res, 22 project partners from Europe and Africa form an international research team. All in all, Root2Res will generate understanding on the genetic control of the root and rhizosphere traits in rotational crops that are associated with adaptation to climate change.

• European Commission, Horizon Europe
• State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI

• Arvalis Institut du Vegetal (Arvalis)
• Kws Lochow Gmbh (Kws-L)
• International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
• Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
• Institut de Recerca I Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA)
• Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU)
• Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ)
• Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)
• Fundacion Empresa-Universidad Gallega (FEUGA)
• Neiker-Instituto Vasco de Investigacion y Desarrollo Agrario Sa (NEIKER)
• Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Het Idee (SOLYNTA)
• Wageningen University (WU)
• Universita Politecnica delle Marche (UPM)
• Kmetijski Institut Slovenije - Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS)
• Universidad de Vigo (UVIGO)
• Agricultural Research Council Institute for Soil Climate and Water (ARC)
• Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc)
• Aarhus Universitet (AU)
• Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau FiBL
• The James Hutton Institute
• RSK ADAS Limited
• University of Dundee

• Bodenhausen Natacha (Department of Soil Sciences)

• Gfeller Valentin (Department of Crop Sciences)
• Kemper Laura (Department of Extension, Training & Communication)
• Messmer Monika (Department of Crop Sciences)
• Romero Lozano Ignacio (Department of Soil Sciences)
• Thanner Sophie (Department of Extension, Training & Communication)
• Willer Helga (Department of Extension, Training & Communication)

Project Partner and Work Package co-lead (WP7)

• Advisory tools (Department of Extension, Training & Communication, FiBL Switzerland)
• Nutrient Management & Symbiosis (Department of Soil Sciences, FiBL Switzerland)
• Plant Breeding (Department of Crop Sciences, FiBL Switzerland)
• Project communication (Department of Extension, Training & Communication, FiBL Switzerland)