Denis-Florentin Sfrangeu
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from West University of Timisoara (Romania), followed by a Master of Science degree in Plant Biotechnology from Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), Denis possesses a solid academic foundation in plant physiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
Denis’s current research focuses on studying how the nutrient availability of the soil matrix affects root-to-root interactions between wheat and blackgrass, a notorious herbicide-resistant weed. The aims of his project are (i) to investigate how soil nutrient availability mediates the root-to-root interaction; (ii) to determine the blackgrass-susceptibility of agronomically important wheat cultivars; and (iii) to assess the role of different root architecture in the weed-crop interaction.
To address these aims, Denis will be conducting a series of phenotyping experiments by co-cultivating wheat and blackgrass in distinct soil-based growing systems, such as soil columns, field plots, and rhizotrons. By delving into these complexities, Denis’s work not only enhances our understanding of plant-soil interactions, but also holds potential implications for crop resilience and management strategies in agricultural systems.
Supervisors: Associate Prof. Saoirse Tracy (UCD), Dr. Stephanie Swarbreck (NIAB)