In June 2017, Dr. Merle Tränkner took up the position of the Junior Professorship “Applied Plant Nutrition” at IAPN and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Georg-August-University Göttingen.
The research activities of the Junior Professorship focus on topics of applied plant nutrition of crop plants and the efficient use of resources, such as water. “A steadily growing world population and the raising concern of resource scarcity demands for a sustainable and resource saving, yet sufficient plant and food production. The efficient use of water and plant nutrients is of central importance for optimal plant growth, and represents a fascinating challenge for research.” says Prof. Dr. Merle Tränkner.
On the basis of fundamental research on water-use efficiency
Prof. Dr. Merle Tränkner conducted her doctoral studies at IAPN from October 2012 until November 2016. She conducted research on the influence of magnesium, potassium and nitrogen on the water-use efficiency of diverse crops and the stress physiology under nutrient deficiency. Furthermore, she investigated the impact of potassium deficiency and drought stress on the proteome, i.e. the entirety of proteins, in the worldwide important crop wheat.
Promotion of Merle Tränkner (Photo: Tränkner).
Based on results of the background research on water-use efficiency that is already established at IAPN, Dr. Merle Tränkner strives to analyse the impact of different nutrients on water-use efficiency in more detail. The detection of abiotic stresses and the concomitant stress physiology, and the photosynthetic efficiency and capacity impacted by magnesium will be further core topics.
Plant nutrition research with an international focus
The international orientation in both practice-oriented research and research stays of international guest scientists will remain of major importance at IAPN in future. “My intention is to expand and strengthen the well-established network of applied plant nutrition research between IAPN and cooperation partners, as an intense international interaction fosters reasonable research.”
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