Plant Vasculature and the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum

Plants represent a critical two-way link between the earth's soils and the atmosphere, mediating the transfer of energy, water, nitrogen and carbon in multiple forms. Plant vascular systems – viewed traditionally as xylem and phloem tissues enclosed within specialized organs like roots, stems and leaves – are the networks through which such transfers occur, making them a crucial component of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC). A better understanding of the role played by plant vascular biology in both directions of this continuum is urgently needed. Such an outcome will enable more accurate predictions of ecosystem response to global environmental change and improved climate resilience of agricultural systems, both of which are essential for environmental sustainability and food security.

This conference will highlight state-of-the-art work at the nexus of plant vascular biology and the biophysics of the SPAC at scales ranging from the cell to the biome, and in a wide range of plant forms, including crops. Invited talks will cover the most recent developments and technical advances in plant and ecosystem hydraulics, vascular development, and carbon cycling at multiple scales and in a range of environments from natural to agricultural. It will also cover, for the first time, the role of root-microbe interactions in regulating plant vascular function in response to the environment. More broadly, a major goal of this conference is to bring together a diverse group of scientists from various career stages to foster an open sharing of ideas and to stimulate vigorous, outside-the-box discussions and interdisciplinary collaborations.