Dr Tom Bennett
- Position: Associate Professor Plant Signalling Development
- Areas of expertise: Plant developmental biology; Plant genetics; Plant physiology; Plant hormones; Shoot and reproductive architecture; Root architecture
- Email: T.A.Bennett@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: +44(0)113 343 8614
- Location: 9.02 Manton
- Website: Tom Bennett Lab | Twitter | Googlescholar | ORCID
Profile
I am a plant geneticist and developmental biologist, working in both fundamental and applied contexts.
Research interests
Systemic coordination of plant development
My lab is focussed on understanding how long distance signalling within the plant body allows their growth and development to be precisely regulated in both space and time. Plant shoot and root systems are shaped in response to range of environmental stimuli, including soil nutrient status and light availability. For instance, the degree of shoot branching in plants is strongly sensitive to both nitrate and phosphate levels in the soil – indicating long distance communication between the root and shoot system. A small number of hormonal signals, including auxin, cytokinin and strigolactone are implicated in the systemic coordination of plant development, both within root and shoot systems, and between them. We use a wide range of approaches, anchored by molecular genetics, to try and dissect these signalling mechanisms, and to understand how such a simple set of signals can allow such precise control of development at a whole plant level.
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>- Characterization of root exudate signals that modulate shoot growth
- Defining the role of cytokinin in floral duration in barley
Qualifications
- Bsc Biology, University of Leeds
- PhD Biology, University of York
Research groups and institutes
- Plant Science