Rhizosphere

Rhizosphere interactions are a main focus area of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences as it is the literal and functional interface between the crops we grow and the soils that support them. The rhizosphere is key for sustainable production of food and fuel to support the rising global population. A highly interdisciplinary, dynamic area of study, the rhizosphere has been established as an important frontier with rapidly growing discoveries and interactions involving chemistry and nutrient dynamics, as well as phenomics, genomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. Carbon and nutrient cycling is uniquely influenced by the rhizosphere, which sustains both plant and microbial communities, results in reciprocal community engineering, and maintains ecosystem services at every level.

Faculty

Kim Garland Campbell, USDA-ARS

kgcamp@wsu.edu

My research focuses on identification and manipulation of mechanisms of genetic resistance to cold and improvement of wheat end use quality, specifically for club and soft white wheat. My research also focuses on statistical methods of identifying, controlling, and exploiting genotype by environment interaction.

Pete Jacoby

jacoby@wsu.edu

Studies are underway to investigate influence of direct root-zone micro-irrigation in wine grapes and its influence on carbon partitioning to above- and below-ground plant parts. Both field and greenhouse studies are being conducted at present.

Kevin Murphy

kmurphy2@wsu.edu

My program, the Sustainable Seed Systems Lab, is focused on the breeding and agronomy of barley, quinoa, millet, spelt, and perennial wheat. We work closely with farmers on regional to international scales to develop high yielding, nutritionally dense seed crop varieties for a diversity of cropping systems.

Karen Sanguinet

karen.sanguinet@wsu.edu

My research program focuses on the molecular genetic and genomic cues that govern root development in grasses. We use B. distachyon as a model as well as wheat to study how roots grow in their native and diverse soil environments. In addition, we study how the plant cell well and hormones mediate morphogenesis in the root.

Tarah Sullivan

t.sullivan@wsu.edu

My research emphasizes linking the function and phylogeny of the soil microbiome, specifically with regard to interactions with plant roots and impacts on metal bioavailability and plant uptake. The soil microbiome is key in the biotransformations of many micronutrients and metals in the rhizosphere; these consortia and the mechanisms involved, drives my work.

Research

Crops

Soils