Dr. Nicole Louise Thomson

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element that supports physiological processes in all life forms, but plants struggle to efficiently acquire this macronutrient because its major form, orthophosphate (Pi), has low soil solubility. My research aims to understand how a plant 'decides' where to allocate resources under different environmental signals, and to use this knowledge to design engineered plant prototypes with improved P acquisition through optimised root architecture (lateral root and root hair promotion) and exudate release (to attract symbiotic microbiota, or to directly modify the rhizosphere through organic acid secretion) strategies.