- Lead scientist
- Mrs Claire King, University of Reading (RHS-funded PhD studentship)
- Partners
- Dr Ross Cameron, University of Reading
- Start date
- 2005
- End date
- 2009
- Keywords
Water logging, Mediterranean plants, lavender, sage, roots, anaerobiosis
- Benefits to gardeners
To find out if our popular Mediterranean species will be suitable candidates in future garden planting, when climate change scenarios predict wetter winters and more frequent unpredictable summer flooding.
- The problem
Mediterranean plants originate from habitats typified by hot, very dry summers, moderately wet winters and stony, free-draining soils. With climate change scenarios for the UK predicting warmer summers with higher sunlight hours and periods of drought, Mediterranean species are being promoted as ideal garden plants. There is concern, however, that the predicted wetter winters and increased summer flooding the UK may experience in future, will not be conducive to the successful cultivation of these plants, especially on clayey soils prone to waterlogging, that are commonly found in the UK.
- Approach
A range of experiments are planned to investigate the problem; from the general effects on plant growth at an outdoor site prone to winter flooding, to detailed examination of how plants respond when oxygen levels become low or totally absent in controlled environment chambers. There is a particular emphasis on how roots respond, as changes in growth and structure of the root system under these conditions, is likely to be the key to future growth and survival.