About us
The Cardoso lab is located in the Crop and Soil Sciences department of the NC State University. We are interested in various plant physiological processes - from water transport to photosynthesis - and how they are affected by abiotic stressors.
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Studies are performed utilizing several crops, including woody and herbaceous. Plants are cultivated in either greenhouse or field conditions. A wide diversity of specialized techniques is employed in our lab. They include measurements of leaf gas exchange, plant hydraulics, quantification of hormones, plant growth, and leaf senescence.
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We strive to collaborate with plant breeders, soil scientists, plant ecologists, and extension specialists to improve our understanding of crop plants and agricultural practices.
Plant Responses to Climate Change
The net impact of rising CO2 and VPD on plant growth and survival under future climate is currently unknown, creating one of the largest uncertainties in global modeling estimates of the future of the terrestrial carbon and water cycles as well as crop ability to withstand drought. Thus, we investigate how these climate change-induced alterations in the atmosphere impact how plants respond to soil stressors such as drought and waterlogging.
Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum
We perform studies investigating the physiological behavior of the two most important regulators of plant-water relations: stomata (which provide the ultimate control over water loss and photosynthesis) and xylem (which is responsible for efficiently transporting water throughout the plant, allowing its functioning and growth).
Plant Photosynthesis
Stomata are master regulators of plant photosynthesis, allowing CO2 to enter the leaves to be carboxylated by Rubisco in the stroma of chloroplasts. We investigate how different stressors affect stomatal aperture and thus photosynthesis as well as other non-stomatal limitations to this major physiological process.
Xylem Embolism and Plant Mortality
Plant hydration relies on an elegant mechanism whereby liquid water is transported under tension inside the xylem. During prolonged drought, air can enter the xylem leading to embolism and loss of xylem function, which in turn, results in plant dehydration and eventually, mortality of organs and whole plants. This sequence of events are investigated across several crops aiming at improving drought tolerance.
Cardoso et al (2020) Plant Physiol
Plant Structure and Anatomy
Because physiological processes driving plant performance are strongly dependent upon underlying anatomical features, most of our studies also include anatomical assessments aiming at linking plant form and function.
