Nottingham scientist secures USD 2.2M grant to study plant roots and water sensing

UK – Dr. Poonam Mehra, a plant scientist from the University of Nottingham, has received a EUR 2M (USD 2.2M) grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to explore how plant roots detect and respond to water availability.

The project, titled “Water Blind,” aims to uncover how roots sense water, a key factor for plants in regions affected by climate change.

Dr. Mehra, a BBSRC Discovery Fellow in the School of Biosciences, was chosen from over 3,000 European applicants to receive the prestigious ERC starting grant.

This funding, part of a EUR 780 million (USD 861.3 million) package awarded to 494 researchers, will support her team’s work in addressing a crucial agricultural challenge—how plants adapt to water stress in an era of unpredictable rainfall.

Roots’ role in water foraging

“Water stress is one of the most significant challenges facing global agriculture, particularly as climate change disrupts traditional rainfall patterns,” said Dr. Mehra.

“We know that plant roots can adjust their shape to forage for water, but the mechanisms behind how roots sense water availability are still largely unknown.”

The research will focus on identifying “water-blind” roots, which are impaired in their ability to detect water. Through a multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Mehra and her team aim to screen plant mutants and examine the molecular networks responsible for water sensing.

The ultimate goal is to discover how these mechanisms affect plants’ ability to explore soil and locate water sources.

Impacts of climate change on global agriculture

Climate change is increasingly altering rainfall patterns, leaving farmers and scientists seeking solutions to the growing problem of water scarcity.

By addressing how plants detect water availability, the findings from Dr. Mehra’s research could support the development of climate-smart crops.

These crops would be better suited to survive in dry or unpredictable climates, helping to ensure food security in regions where water shortages are becoming more frequent.

“The ERC funding will allow me to explore this question using innovative, real-world approaches,” Dr. Mehra added. “The translational impact of this research is exciting, especially as the world faces new challenges from climate change. By better understanding how roots sense water, we can help make global food production more resilient.”

Supporting early-career researchers

The ERC starting grant competition, which attracted 3,474 proposals from across Europe, is aimed at helping early-career scientists establish themselves and pursue their most promising ideas.

Dr. Mehra’s project stood out for its potential to advance agricultural science in a meaningful way. Only 14.2% of the proposals were selected for funding, underscoring the competitive nature of the program.

With this grant, Dr. Mehra and her team will lead pioneering research in plant biology, focusing on water foraging and the root systems’ adaptability in challenging environments.

This work will contribute to long-term strategies for improving crop resilience in the face of global climate challenges.