Abstract: Nitrogen is a key determinant of crop productivity as the acquisition of nitrogen is crucial for photosynthesis and growth. However, less well understood is how plants regulate root nitrogen acquisition to optimise plant performance. We have identified novel peptide-receptor mediated conserved molecular pathways that link them. Here I will present our understanding of these underlying mechanisms and potential opportunities for crop improvement.

Biography: Dr Nijat Imin obtained a PhD degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the Australian National University (ANU), supervised by Barry Rolfe. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at ANU prior to joining the ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume research as a Research Fellow. Then, he was appointed as a Senior Research Associate at the Research School of Biology at ANU. In 2017, he took up a tenured Senior Lecturer position in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. At the end of 2021, he moved back to Australia and is currently an Associate Professor in Intensive Food Production at Western Sydney University. Dr. Imin leads a team to investigate how plants coordinate growth, development and responses to the environment. In particular, his group studies how plant signalling peptides regulate nitrogen acquisition, plant growth and development, symbiosis and plant response to the environment.