Functional-structural modelling of tillering plasticity in Poaceae to anticipate the effects of climate change on grasslands

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will conduct your research within the P3F Research Unit (Multidisciplinary research unit on Grasslands and Forage Crops) located in Lusignan (France). The unit works multidisciplinary on improving management practices and the genetic enhancement of species used in mixed crop-livestock grassland systems. This project also includes a scheduled 3-month research stay at the Belgian research institute ILVO (Melle, Belgium). The modelling and programming work will be carried out in close collaboration with the members of the OpenAlea platform.

More specifically, your research will focus on tillering plasticity, which constitutes a major driver of the adaptation of Poaceae to their environment. Climate change is characterized by highly complex biological responses to combined variations in environmental factors, which severely limits our ability to anticipate tillering responses across a wide range of climatic conditions.

Therefore, the objective of this PhD thesis is to develop a numerical tillering model for Poaceae by integrating the effects of key climatic variables (CO₂, temperature) and soil variables (water and nitrogen) on the underlying morphogenetic processes. To achieve this, you will adapt the CN-Wheat model developed within our unit to incorporate tillering dynamics and its regulation by environmental and internal factors (trophic and water status) of each individual tiller. After defining the mathematical formalisms, you will calibrate a version of the model for wheat and for a perennial species. For this purpose, you will rely on available literature and on a controlled-environment experiment that you will set up. This innovative model will help identify ideotypes to improve plant production and resilience under future climatic conditions.

The following research questions will be addressed during the PhD:

• What are the key processes required to simulate the main phases of tillering, and how can we formalize their response to multiple environmental factors?
• Which model parameters can account for phenotypic differences between annual and perennial species?
• What are the consequences of concurrent variations in CO₂, water, and temperature on tillering?
• Are there compensatory effects between these variables?
• Which architectural, anatomical, or metabolic traits can lead to better plant adaptation to different climates?
• Do these traits differ between annual and perennial species?

PhD Supervision

• Main Supervisor: Romain Barillot (INRAE, UR P3F, Lusignan, France)
• PhD Director: Gaëtan Louarn (INRAE, UR P3F, Lusignan, France)
• Co-supervisor: Tom De Swaef (ILVO, Melle, Belgium)

Training and skills

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent MSc / Bac+5) in agronomy, ecophysiology, plant biology, or computational biology. A strong interest in plant modelling is highly recommended. Prior experience in modelling and programming (Python, R) is a distinct advantage. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate strong scientific writing skills in both French and English.

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter