Plants and Food Security

We study the response of plants to the environment at the molecular, whole plant and ecological levels. This includes interactions with nematodes, insects and microbes.

About

Within the group there are 4 main areas of research:

Plant molecular biology: we research a wide range of crops from wheat, barley and rice, to crops that are currently underutilised, but have future potential as staple foods.
Agricultural ecology: we study the interaction of plants and other organisms in the context of agricultural ecosystems.
Crop pests and pollinators: we focus on the interaction of crops with both beneficial insects such as pollinators, as well as a range of important agricultural pests.
Human nutrition: we look into the consequences of altered nutrition on human health and development including epigenetic control of gene expression.

Research highlights

Securing food for the future

Environment, sustainability and clean growth

Health and wellbeing

Future societies and communities

Our researchers are finding ways to provide food security for the future.

People, projects and publications

People

Professor Matthew Terry

Professor of Molecular Plant Biology

Research interests

Chloroplast development and retrograde signalling to the nucleus
Light regulation of wheat growth and development
Improving algal photosynthesis

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Matthew

Email: mjt@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 2030

ORCID

Dr Negusse Kitaba

Senior Research Fellow

Research interests

My current research mainly involves working with DNA methylation data to identify epigenetic marks for periconceptional paternal smoking exposure across generations. This Epigenome Wide Association Study is part of the Rhinessa multicentre population project. My expertise includes integrating multi-omic data such as SNP, transcriptome, methylation and interactome (PPI) at the system level to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the origins of complex diseases. In my former position, I worked on the epigenetic effects of Maternal Gestation Diabetes (GDM) using the UPBEAT Offspring data supported by Diabetes UK.

Connect with Negusse

Email: N.T.Kitaba@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 2381208783

ORCID