David Comont

David's principal research interest is plant ecology and eco-physiology, particularly exploring plant community responses to environmental stresses. Previous research has investigated the effects of drought and enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation on plant growth and metabolism in A. thaliana, the effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on forage quality and sugar accumulation in the forage grass, Lolium perenne, and the long-term ecological consequences of elevated atmospheric carbon-dioxide (CO2) and ultraviolet-B in sub-arctic heathland communities. His work has been aimed at integrating experimentation from multiple scales, linking environmental perturbations over short- and long-term timescales with changes in plant metabolism, morphology, and community structure. His current research is to understand the evolutionary landscape of herbicide resistance in UK populations of the agricultural weed, black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides). Focusing on non-target-site resistance mechanisms, his work at Rothamsted Research aims to explore the mechanism and genetic architecture of herbicide resistance, and identify key drivers at the field scale that facilitate the contemporary evolution of this trait. The project at Rothamsted Research is part of a larger collaboration between UK researchers working directly with the farming community to better understand herbicide resistance, and highlight potential ways to mitigate its impact.