Our Research

Plant–Microbiome Interactions (Primary Research Focus)

Healthy plants are ecosystems. Like all higher organisms, plants host complex microbial communities containing beneficial, commensal, and pathogenic species. These communities play central roles in disease resistance, nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and overall plant function.

A major focus of the lab is to understand how plant physiology, environmental stress, and microbial community structure interact, particularly in the phyllosphere (leaves). We use metabarcoding, metagenomic and community profiling approaches integrated with plant physiological analysis to study these dynamic systems.

Current research themes include:

• Designing Inherited Microbiomes for Sustainable Agriculture
• Interaction of plant circadian rhythms with the phyllosphere microbiome
• Interaction of light responses with the phyllosphere microbiome
• Fungi as a biological control for invasive plant species
• Effects of plant stress on the phyllosphere microbiome
• Impacts of pesticides and foliar treatments on microbial communities
• Antibiotic resistance genes in the plant phyllosphere
• Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) supplements and insect herbivory
• Regulation of plant volatiles by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), including in rosemary

This work underpins the development of new integrated pest management strategies, contributes to climate-resilient crop production, and provides tools for monitoring ecosystem health, including in polluted or recovering environments

Plant Responses to Light and Environmental Signalling (Foundational Strength)

Our long-standing research on plant photoperception and light signalling provides the mechanistic foundation for much of our current work on plant–environment and plant–microbe interactions.

We are particularly interested in how plants interpret light signals to coordinate growth, development, and resource allocation. Two major areas have been central to this work:

Light input to the circadian clock
The circadian clock synchronises plant physiology and metabolism with the daily light–dark cycle. Although the clock can run without external cues, daily entrainment by light is essential for accurate timing and optimal performance.

Time lapse images of plants in constant light, expressing a clock regulated luciferase reporter gene

The shade avoidance response
Many plants respond to competition for light by increasing elongation growth. Phytochrome photoreceptors detect red-depleted light reflected from neighbouring vegetation, triggering this “shade avoidance syndrome”. While adaptive in natural ecosystems, this response can significantly reduce agricultural yield by diverting resources from biomass accumulation.

(L) A plants-eye view darker colours show low red:far red ratio light specifically reflected from plants. (R) The effect of shade avoidance at high density. Photographs by James Gillies (L) and Sandra Smith (R).

 

Controlled Environments, Crop Quality, and Industrial Translation

A core mission of the lab is to translate plant environmental biology into practical solutions for horticulture, controlled-environment agriculture, and the agri-tech sector. We work closely with industry partners to develop biology-informed strategies for improving crop quality, resilience, and post-harvest performance.

Current and recent projects include:

• Improving chilling tolerance and preventing leaf breakdown in basil
• Regulation of basil aroma and volatile compounds
• Control of lettuce heading
• Regulation of lily flower opening (in collaboration with Cardiff)
• Improvement of rose vase life
• Development and application of automated imaging and hyperspectral imaging platforms

These projects sit at the interface of plant biology, environmental control, and technology, and are directly relevant to vertical farming, glasshouse production, and high-value crop supply chains.

Industry Engagement and Collaboration

We maintain strong links with industry across controlled-environment agriculture, horticulture, crop protection, and agri-tech. We offer:

• Mechanism-driven approaches to crop improvement
• Microbiome-informed plant health strategies
• Experimental platforms for testing environmental and biological interventions
• Collaborative research projects, studentships, and translational funding applications

We actively welcome new academic and industrial partners interested in sustainable, science-led crop production systems.

Our Approach

Across all our work, we combine:

• Plant physiology and environmental signalling
• Microbial ecology and community analysis
• Imaging, phenotyping, and controlled-environment experimentation

This integrated approach allows us to move from mechanism to application, and from single signals to whole-system behaviour.