21 April 2010

Landmark meeting of Scottish Plant Biologists in Dundee

One hundred and thirty plant scientists, representing all major plant research centres in Scotland, will meet in Dundee tomorrow (April 22nd) to present their latest research findings at the 2010 Plant Biology Forum.

Throughout their lifecycle, crop plants adapt to their ever-changing environment and fend off pathogens to survive, grow and reproduce. Plant biologists across Scotland study the processes by which plants respond to external factors such as drought, water-logging, cold or pathogens in a sustained effort to improve crop yields and quality.

The meeting, hosted by the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Dundee, brings together basic and more applied plant/crop science and provides an opportunity for early career scientists to present their latest research findings.

'With food security, energy production and climate change dominating social agendas across Europe and beyond, solutions addressing these key issues have become of great importance,' said Dr Edgar Huitema, Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellow in the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Dundee.

'At our meeting this week diverse topics relevant to crop improvement, bio-energy and biodiversity will be presented, reflecting the vibrant and rapidly growing plant biology research community here in Scotland.

'I am very excited by the prospect of welcoming researchers from different organisations in Scotland to meet, exchange knowledge and look for new opportunities to interact and collaborate.'

The Plant Biology Forum takes place in the Dalhousie Building at the University from 9.30 am on Thursday April 22nd.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902