Dr Graham Dow

Group Leader, Ecophysiology and Climate Adaptation

Graham's research is focused on understanding mechanisms that facilitate plant-environment interactions and increase crop resilience to climate change. These topics are approached using a combination of genetic and physiological tools, with a main focus on stomatal traits. Stomata are key gatekeepers for plant-environment interactions because they control gas-exchange at the leaf surface. They strongly contribute to water-use efficiency, photosynthetic processes, temperature regulation, hydraulic integrity, and organismal plasticity. All of which are important factors to combat abiotic stress induced by climate change.

Graham and his team are currently working on apple trees as a model system for the adaptation of perennial tree crops to future climate conditions. They are interested in broadening our research to additional crop systems and linking stomatal processes with other vital components of plant productivity and resilience. These include, but are not limited to, fruit quality and quantity, soil water and nutrient acquisition, carbohydrate transport and carbon storage, disease and pest resistance, and management approaches that optimise resource use.

"If your research interests align with any of these topics, we can probably find something to collaborate on, all enquiries are welcome."

Research projects

Engineering tree crops for climate change by optimising stomatal traits
Duration: 2021 – 2024
Partners: ETH Zurich, Agroscope, IRTA, INRAe, Laimburg Research Center
Funding: ETH-32 21-1

Developing climate-ready apple production systems
Duration: 2020-2023
Partners: ETH Zurich, Agroscope, Schweizer Obstverband
Funding: H2020 RESPONSE Program Grant 847585, Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center

Recent publications

McAdam SAM, Chater CCC, Shpak ED, Raissig MT, Dow GJ (2021) Linking stomatal development and physiology: From stomatal models to non-model species and crops. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12:743964, 1-5.

Lincoln NK, Cho A, Dow GJ, Radovich T (2019) Early growth of breadfruit in a variety x environment trial. Agronomy Journal, 111:61-68.

Dow GJ, Berry JA, Bergmann DC (2017) Disruption of stomatal lineage signaling or transcriptional regulators has differential effects on mesophyll development, but maintains coordination of gas-exchange. New Phytologist, 216:69-75.

Dow GJ and Bergmann DC (2014) Patterning and processes: how stomatal development defines physiological potential. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 21:67-74.

Dow GJ, Berry JA, Bergmann DC (2014) The physiological importance of developmental mechanisms that enforce proper stomatal spacing in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytologist, 201:1205-1217.

Full publication list on Google Scholar