Dr DARREN WELLS's Outputs (7)

Microbial drivers of root plasticity (2025)
Journal Article
Dini‐Andreote, F., Wells, D. M., Atkinson, J. A., Atkinson, B. S., Finkel, O. M., & Castrillo, G. (2025). Microbial drivers of root plasticity. New Phytologist, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.70371

Soils are highly heterogeneous and dynamic systems, experiencing a constant flow of plant root exudates and moisture fluctuations that affect nutrient distribution, soil physicochemical properties, and microbial metabolisms. Plant roots adjust their... Read More about Microbial drivers of root plasticity.

Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits (2025)
Journal Article
Nakombo-Gbassault, P., Arenas, S., Affortit, P., Faye, A., Flis, P., Sine, B., Moukouanga, D., Gantet, P., Komba, E. K., Kane, N., Bennett, M., Wells, D., Cubry, P., Bailey, E., Grondin, A., Vigouroux, Y., & Laplaze, L. (2025). Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits. PLoS ONE, 20(5), Article e0319140. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319140

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) thrives in arid and nutrient-poor environments, establishing its role as a crucial cereal crop for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its remarkable adaptability, its yields remain below genetic potential,... Read More about Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits.

Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions (2025)
Journal Article
Mehra, P., Banda, J., Ogorek, L. L. P., Fusi, R., Castrillo, G., Colombi, T., Pandey, B. K., Sturrock, C. J., Wells, D. M., & Bennett, M. J. (2025). Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 76, 18.1–18.26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-074506

Plant roots play myriad roles that include foraging for resources in complex soil environments. Within this highly dynamic soil environment roots must sense, interact with, and acclimate to factors such as water availability, microbiota, and heteroge... Read More about Root Growth and Development in “Real Life”: Advances and Challenges in Studying Root–Environment Interactions.

Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits (2025)
Preprint / Working Paper
Nakombo-Gbassault, P., Arenas, S., Affortit, P., Faye, A., Flis, P., Sine, B., Moukouanga, D., Gantet, P., Kosh Komba, E., Kane, N., Bennett, M., Wells, D., Cubry, P., Bailey, E., Grondin, A., Vigouroux, Y., & Laplaze, L. Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) thrives in arid and nutrient-poor environments, establishing its role as a crucial cereal crop for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its remarkable adaptability, its yields remain below genetic potential,... Read More about Genetic control of the leaf ionome in pearl millet and correlation with root and agromorphological traits.

Preparation, Scanning and Analysis of Duckweed Using X-Ray Computed Microtomography (2021)
Journal Article
Jones, D. H., Atkinson, B., Ware, A., Sturrock, C. J., Bishopp, A., & Wells, D. M. (2021). Preparation, Scanning and Analysis of Duckweed Using X-Ray Computed Microtomography. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, Article 617830. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.617830

© Copyright © 2021 Jones, Atkinson, Ware, Sturrock, Bishopp and Wells. Quantification of anatomical and compositional features underpins both fundamental and applied studies of plant structure and function. Relatively few non-invasive techniques are... Read More about Preparation, Scanning and Analysis of Duckweed Using X-Ray Computed Microtomography.

Field phenotyping for the future (2018)
Journal Article
Atkinson, J. A., Jackson, R. J., Bentley, A. R., Ober, E., & Wells, D. M. (in press). Field phenotyping for the future. Annual Plant Reviews Online, 1(3), 719-736. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119312994.apr0651

Global agricultural production has to double by 2050 to meet the demands of an increasing population and the challenges of a changing climate. Plant phenomics (the characterisation of the full set of phenotypes of a given species) has been proposed a... Read More about Field phenotyping for the future.

Branching out in roots: uncovering form, function, and regulation (2014)
Journal Article
Atkinson, J. A., Rasmussen, A., Traini, R., Voss, U., Sturrock, C., Mooney, S. J., Wells, D. M., & Bennett, M. J. (2014). Branching out in roots: uncovering form, function, and regulation. Plant Physiology, 166(2), 538-550. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.114.245423

Root branching is critical for plants to secure anchorage and ensure the supply of water, minerals, and nutrients. To date, research on root branching has focused on lateral root development in young seedlings. However, many other programs of postemb... Read More about Branching out in roots: uncovering form, function, and regulation.