RESEARCH PROFILE

Seeds are the means of delivering genetic information across space and time, not only in natural systems and conservation programmes, but crucially in agriculture where the world seed market is predicted to soon exceed US$40 billion. My research interests focus on understanding and enhancing the performance of seeds in this process and subsequent seedling establishment. The latter phase is fundamental to efficient crop production and the species balance of natural plant communities. Of particular interest is the response of seeds to environmental signals and the control of seed germination timing through dormancy which dominates seedling establishment. In my view, to understand these responses it is essential to integrate knowledge from laboratory studies with understanding of the soil surface complex in which the seed functions. Nevertheless, seed ecology, physiology and molecular biology have tended to be studied by separate scientific communities and with limited reference to the soil physical environment. The vision supporting my current research is to bring these different disciplines together to develop a better understanding of seed behavior.

He also has a wide ranging interest in the interaction between agriculture and the surrounding landscape.

Bill is President of the International Society for Seed Science and Associate Editor for Seed Science Research.

BACKGROUND

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Studentship: Chemical genetics of seed germination: modulation of a key step in abscisic acid biosynthesis (linked to WV patent assignment), with Dr Andrew J Thompson, Life Sciences, - Prof Tim D Bugg - Chemistry Professor William E Finch-Savage - Life Sciences, Funded by: Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Project Start Date: 01/10/2011 Project End Date: 30/09/2014
• Regulation of seed dormancy and its link to flowing time in the annual life cycle of plants, with Dr Steven Footitt - Warwick HRI, Funded by: BBSRC, Project Start Date: 01/06/2011 Project End Date: 31/05/2014
• Life History Variation in Weed Populations, with Dr Paul Neve, Warwick HRI, Funded by: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Project Start Date: 01/06/2010 Project End Date: 31/05/2013
  
  

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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Linkies, A., Müller, K., Morris, K., Turecková, V., Wenk, M., Cadman, C. S. C., Corbineau, F., Strnad, M., Lynn, J. R., Finch-Savage, W. E. and Leubner-Metzger, G. (2009) 'Ethylene interacts with abscisic acid to regulate endosperm rupture during germination: a comparative approach using Lepidium sativum and Arabidopsis thaliana' The Plant Cell 21 (12), 3803 - 3822 (1040-4651) [article]
• Holdsworth, M. J., Finch-Savage, W. E., Grappin, P. and Job, D.(2008) 'Post-genomics dissection of seed dormancy and germination' Trends In Plant Science 13 (1), 7 - 13 (1360-1385)
• William E. Finch-Savage, Cassandra S.C. Cadman, Peter E. Toorop, James R. Lynn & Henk W.M. Hilhorst (2007) 'Seed dormancy release in Arabidopsis Cvi by dry after-ripening, low temperature, nitrate and light shows common quantitative patterns of gene expression directed by environmentally specific sensing ' Plant Journal, The 51 (1), 60 - 78 (0960-7412)
• Cadman, C.S.C., Toorop, P.E., Hilhorst, H.W.M. & Finch-Savage, W.E. (2006) 'Gene expression profiles of Arabidopsis Cvi seeds during dormancy cycling indicate a common underlying dormancy control mechanism. ' Plant Journal, The 46 (5), 805 - 822 (0960-7412)
• Finch-Savage, W.E. and Leubner-Metzger, G.(2006) 'Seed dormancy and the control of germination.' New Phytologist 171 501 - 523 (0028-646X)

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