Of nutrients and toxicants: Plant root membrane transport in a time of major flux

We are living through turbulent times. Chief among the myriad global challenges we face is sustainably feeding an estimated 9.5 billion people by mid-century while simultaneously combating (and mitigating) a host of environmental issues which modern agriculture, itself, has contributed to (e.g., the rises in pollution, soil erosion, pests, disease, drought, and salinity stress). Using a range of experimental techniques, both classical (e.g., radioisotopic flux analysis and electrophysiology) and modern (e.g., heterologous expression systems and fiber-optic photometry), my research aims to address this challenge by investigating the underlying molecular, cellular, and physiological transport mechanisms of mineral nutrient and toxicant acquisition in the roots of the world’s foremost crops. I will discuss my work on plant silicon (Si) transport and Si-derived resilience against a wide range of environmental stressors, both biotic and abiotic, and how we can effectively exploit this elusive but beneficial nutrient to mitigate crop stress and reduce our reliance on pesticides and fungicides. I will also discuss my work on root ammonium (NH3/NH4+) transport, particularly in the contexts of ammonium toxicity and reducing the prodigious waste and environmental damage caused by N fertilization. Lastly, I will discuss my aims to elucidate the nature of primary sodium (Na+) uptake under conditions of salinity stress, and what low-affinity potassium (K+) transport can reveal about this process.