Dr. Hatem Rouached: Phosphorus Signaling Networks: Pathways to Plant Resilience
Please note this event occurred in the past.
December 01, 2025 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm ET
Paige 202 or see Zoom link
Zoom link for all seminars:
https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/96515666133?pwd=2eTfLtbgkuGiAUSuH8R2r5vj1c0RTz.1
Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is an essential yet finite resource, and its scarcity poses a critical challenge for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Although genetic and physiological responses to P deficiency have been explored, the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to sense and adapt to fluctuating P availability remain only partially understood. My lab investigates how plants integrate phosphorus status with other nutrient and environmental cues to reprogram growth, photosynthesis, and developmental transitions. In this seminar, I will share recent insights into how phosphate sensing intersects with flowering time and stress adaptation. These findings illustrate how nutrient sensing networks shape phenotypic diversity and point to new strategies for engineering crops with enhanced resilience and reduced fertilizer dependence.
Bio: Hatem Rouached is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and a faculty member of the Plant Resilience Institute at Michigan State University. He is internationally recognized for his research on plant mineral nutrition, particularly phosphorus and its integration with other nutrients. Prior to MSU, he served as Research Director at INRAE (France) and Senior Scientist at BASF Plant Science (Belgium). Rouached has published over 80 papers, edited a book on phosphate in plants, and leads international collaborations to advance strategies for improving nutrient use efficiency and crop resilience. https://rouachedlab.weebly.com/publications.html