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, 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.