Christopher Strock, Ph.D.

Research

I investigate architectural and anatomical root traits in legumes ( Phaseolus sp.) and maize ( Zea mays ) and their integrated effect on water and nutrient acquisition using field, greenhouse, and laboratory physiology techniques. Root traits of research interest can improve crop yield under stress by increasing the metabolic e fficiency of soil exploration and by placing roots in soil domains where limiting resources are most available.

Publications

Schneider HM, Strock CF , Hanlon MT, Vanhees DJ, Perkins AC, Ajmera IB, Sidhu JS, Mooney SJ, Brown KM, Lynch JP (2021) Multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma enhance root penetration in compacted soils. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118: e2012087118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012087118

Levin KA, Tucker MR, Strock CF , Lynch JP, Mather DE (2021) Three-dimensional imaging reveals differences in the position of cyst nematode feeding sites relative to xylem vessels in susceptible and resistant wheat. Plant Cell Reports, 40: 393-403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02641-w

Strock CF , Burridge JD, Niemiec MD, Brown KM, Lynch JP (2021) Root metaxylem and root architecture phenotypes interact to regulate water use under drought stress. Plant, Cell & Environment, 44: 49-67. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13875

Jochua CN, Strock CF , Lynch JP (2020) Root phenotypic diversity in common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) reveals contrasting strategies for soil resource acquisition among gene pools and races. Crop Science, 60: 3261-3277. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20312

Strock CF , Lynch JP (2020) Root Secondary Growth: An Unexplored Component of Soil Resource Acquisition. Annals of Botany, 126: 205-218 . https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa068

Strock CF , Schneider HM, Galindo-Castaneda T, Hall BT, Van Gansbeke B, Mather DE, Roth MG, Chilvers MI, Guo X, Brown KB, Lynch JP (2019) Laser ablation tomography for visualization of root colonization by edaphic organisms. Journal of Experimental Botany, 70: 5327-5342 https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erz271 .

Strock CF , Burridge J, Massas ASF, Beaver J, Beebe S, Camilo SA, Fourie D, Jochua C, Miguek M, Miklas PN, Mndolwa E, Nchimbi-Msolla S, Polania J, Porch TG, Rosas JC, Trapp JJ, Lynch JP (2019) Seedling Root Architecture and its Relationship With Seed Yield Across Diverse Environments in Phaseolus vulgaris. Field Crops Research, 237: 53-64 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2019.04.012

Strock CF , de la Riva LM, Lynch JP (2018) Reduction in Root Secondary Growth as a Strategy for Phosphorus Acquisition. Plant Physiology 176: 691-703 https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.17.01583

Olson-Manning CF, Strock CF , Mitchell-Olds T (2015) Flux Control in a Defense Pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana Is Robust to Environmental Perturbations and Controls Variation in Adaptive Traits. G3-Genes Genomes Genetics 5: 2421-2427 https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.115.021816

Videos

News

Newly discovered trait helps plants grow deeper roots in dry, compacted soils- https://news.psu.edu/story/644853/2021/02/01/research/newly-discovered-trait-helps-plants-grow-deeper-roots-dry-compacted

Thicker roots: to grow or not to grow? Investigating the dynamics of secondary root growth- https://www.botany.one/2020/07/thicker-roots-to-grow-or-not-to-grow-investigating-the-dynamics-of-secondary-root-growth/

Novel use of laser technology reveals interactions between roots, soil organisms - https://news.psu.edu/story/588094/2019/09/16/research/novel-use-laser-technology-reveals-interactions-between-roots-soil

Root discovery may lead to crops that need less fertilizer- https://news.psu.edu/story/501430/2018/01/18/research/root-discovery-may-lead-crops-need-less-fertilizer

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Christopher Strock, PhD