British Plant Research Center to Open

An $18 million British research center to open next week will focus on the development of drought-resistant crops for developing countries.

Officials said the Center for Plant Integrative Biology at The University of Nottingham will conduct cutting-edge research into plant biology — particularly the little-studied area of root growth, function and response to environmental cues.

Center Director Professor Charlie Hodgman said the new facility will endeavor to set a prime example of how multi-disciplinary teams can bring novel ideas to, and discoveries in, crucial aspects of plant science.

Since it is difficult to study roots — all their growth occurs below ground level — Hodgman said center scientists from various disciplines will develop a virtual root using modern mathematical modeling techniques.

By developing computer models of the root that exactly mimic biological processes, scientists will be able to observe what is happening at every stage from the molecular scale upward, he said.

A Monday ceremony was planned to mark the official opening of the center.