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The programme may be subject to slight adjustments

June 3 (Day 1)
Open registration at 16.00
Welcome aperitif at 18.00

June 4 (Day 2) 
Invited speaker - Boris Rewald - Acclimating to diversity? The plasticity of woody roots and their symbionts under competition.

Session 1. Root Function and Plant Strategy. 
How root traits shape plant performance, competition, and adaptation across ecosystems.

• Sub-session: Root Traits and Ecological Strategies
  Functional diversity of woody roots; root morphology, turnover, and resource acquisition strategies in different environments.

Coffee break

• Sub-session: Roots and Whole-Plant Processes
  Integration of belowground and aboveground physiology — carbon allocation, hydraulic coupling, and coordination between root and shoot traits.

Light lunch

Session 2. Roots, Microbes, and Resilience
Belowground biotic interactions that enhance plant health, soil fertility, and stress tolerance.

• Sub-session: Mycorrhizae and Soil Microbes as Facilitators of Resilience
  Symbiotic relationships and microbial networks supporting plant survival under drought, pathogens, and nutrient limitations.

Coffee break

• Sub-session: Soil Protection and Health
  Roles of roots in maintaining long-term soil quality, soil structure, carbon storage, and biological activity via root–microbe–soil interactions.
   

Social dinner at 18.00 (see details in the specific social dinner tab)

June 5 (Day 3) 
Invited speaker - Luke McCormack - Fine roots in changing environments: from wide open spaces to closed concrete places.

Session 3. Root Dynamics in a Changing Environment
Responses of root systems and ecosystems to environmental and land-use change.

• Sub-session: Plant Production in Changing Environments
  Root responses to elevated CO₂, temperature, and water stress; implications for woody plant productivity and resilience.

coffee break

• Sub-session: Root–Soil–Ecosystem Interactions
  Feedbacks between root traits, soil processes, and ecosystem functioning and global environmental change.

light lunch

Session 4. Innovations for Root Research and Sustainable Ecosystem Management
Advances in root-based tools, models, and management methods supporting sustainable ecosystems.

• Sub-session: Technological Innovation in Root Research
  New imaging, sensing, and modelling approaches for studying root architecture, physiology, and belowground dynamics.

coffee break

• Sub-session: Root-Driven Sustainability
  Applying root knowledge in agriculture, agroforestry, and forestry; translating science into sustainable land-use solutions.

June 6 (Day 4) 
Field Trip to Campo dei Fiori regional park

• meeting at the park central office
• general geomorphological and vegetational introduction to the park and to the area
• visit of the EuAsiaN-ROOT core sites
• open-air lunch buffet

more details will come soon

The social dinner will be held in Villa del Grumello (www.villadelgrumello.it/)

Dinner participation requires a separate payment at registration.

How to reach the venue:

• by foot or by bike: From the center of Como (Piazza Cavour), walk along the lake westward until you reach Villa Olmo, cross the garden, take the bridge of the Kilometro della Conoscenza, and follow the path up to Villa del Grumello. On days when the Kilometro della Conoscenza is closed, after passing through the garden of Villa Olmo, continue along Via per Cernobbio until you reach the entrance gate of Villa del Grumello.
• via the lake: By the scheduled boats of NAVIGAZIONE LAGHI, get off at the Tavernola stop – 1 km. With private boats or taxis, request authorization to dock at the boathouse from the Villa del Grumello Association (+39 031 2287620 or info@villadelgrumello.it).
• by bus: 
  Line 1 stop: Villa Olmo
  Line 6 stop: Villa Olmo Lido
  Line 11 stop: Villa Olmo Lido

Contributions from the conference will be published on Frontiers in Plant Science's special issue entitled "Unveiling the Woody Root Processes - From Belowground to Sustainability, Soil Health, and Plant Production"

Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 30 September 2026 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 31 December 2026.                               This Research Topic is currently accepting articles.

BACKGROUND

Woody root systems play a pivotal role in plant resilience, soil health, and sustainable production, yet their belowground dynamics remain underexplored. This Research Topic would encompass current knowledge on the physiological, biochemical, and ecological processes occurring within the woody root sphere, emphasizing their contributions to carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, water regulation, land remediation and restoration, and climate adaptation. Innovative approaches for monitoring and managing woody root functions to enhance plant productivity under changing environmental conditions become pivotal for developing resilient ecosystems, optimizing resource use, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

This Research Topic aims to collect works and insights from the 9th International Symposium on Woody Root Research, but not limited to, which will take place in Como from June 2nd to 5th, 2026, to deepen the understanding of how roots, mycorrhizal networks, and soil microbiomes interact to influence plant performance and overall ecosystem functioning. Although these belowground processes are well recognized in natural ecosystems, their roles in managed landscapes—such as agro-ecosystems and urban environments—remain insufficiently explored. The problem lies in the limited integration of knowledge across root architecture, rhizosphere dynamics, and microbial symbioses, which constrains our ability to enhance plant health, resource-use efficiency, and resilience to environmental change. To achieve this goal, the Research Topic will promote studies that link these interconnected processes, emphasizing how they shape soil structure, fertility, and long-term sustainability. By synthesizing insights across ecological contexts, this initiative seeks to inform strategies to improve the stability and productivity of natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems by better managing belowground interactions.

This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of woody root systems and their pivotal role in ecosystem functioning. We invite contributions that explore the complexity of root biology and its interactions with soil environments, emphasising processes that underpin plant resilience and sustainable production. Manuscripts on the following subthemes are particularly encouraged, but not limited to:

• Root architecture and physiological adaptations

• Mycorrhizal associations and symbiotic networks

• Ecological strategies shaping belowground resource acquisition

• Soil microbiomes and their influence on root health

• Mechanisms driving resilience under environmental stress

• Land remediation and restoration

• Root-driven biodiversity conservation and enhancement

By integrating insights from plant physiology, soil science, and microbial ecology, this research topic aims to develop innovative approaches to enhance soil health and promote sustainable ecosystems.


Topic Editor Dr. Boris Rewald is employed and the co-founder of Vienna Scientific Instruments GmbH. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.

Link to the website: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76181/unveiling-the-woody-root-processes---from-belowground-to-sustainability-soil-health-and-plant-production 
 

To register and submit an abstract (two contribution max), please visit the link at the bottom of this section. Please note that posters have a board size of 120 height x 80 width cm:

• Abstract deadline for Oral presentation 31 March
• Abstract deadline for Poster presentation 30 April

Early bird registration (extended to the 15th of February)

• Senior scientist € 500
• Student € 300
   

Full price registration (after 15th of February)

• Senior scientist € 600
• Student € 400

Best Poster Prize – Woody Roots IX Conference

The Woody Roots IX Conference is pleased to announce the Best Poster Prize, recognizing excellence in scientific content, clarity of presentation, and visual communication.

Award Categories   
Three prizes will be awarded:

• 1st and 2nd Prize: selected by all conference participants through on-site voting
• Special Jury Prize: selected by the Scientific Committee

Eligibility and Conditions

• The competition is open to all registered conference participants presenting a poster at Woody Roots IX.
• Voting procedures and timing will be communicated during the conference.
• Winners will be announced during the conference closing session / social evening.
• Awardees will receive a certificate and a prize (details to be announced).

By submitting a poster, authors agree that the title, authorship, and poster image may be used for conference communication purposes (website, social media, and reports), with full credit given.

Picture Competition – Woody Roots IX Conference

The Woody Roots IX Conference Picture Competition invites participants to showcase the scientific and aesthetic diversity of woody roots and their symbiotic interactions across scales and ecosystems.

Theme

Submitted images should depict woody roots, ranging from:

• anatomical and microscopic sructures
• whole-root systems
• interactions with symbionts (e.g. mycorrhizae, microorganisms)
• woody roots in their ecological context

Both scientifically informative and visually striking images are encouraged.

Submission Rules

• Each participant may submit a maximum of two (2) images.
• Images must be original and taken or created by the submitting author.
• Images will be printed and displayed in A4 format (landscape or portrait) during the conference.
• Submissions must be sent by the 21st of May 2026. 
• Files should be submitted by email to: woodyroots9@uninsubria.it
• Email subject line and file naming format: WoodyRoots IMAGE COMPETITION (e.g. Surname_FirstName_Image1.jpg )

Technical Requirements

• High-resolution image suitable for A4 printing (minimum 300 dpi recommended).
• Accepted formats: JPG, TIFF or PNG.
• Minimal digital manipulation is allowed (e.g. brightness, contrast), but the scientific content must not be altered or be AI created.

Selection and Prizes

• 1st and 2nd Prize: selected by conference participants
• Special Jury Prize: selected by the Organization Committee

Winners will be announced during the closing session / social evening of the conference.

By submitting an image, participants grant the conference organizers the right to display the images during the event and to use them for non-commercial communication purposes related to the conference, with proper attribution.

Antonio Montagnoli, Antonino Di Iorio, Alex Ceriani, Gustavo Agosto, Yoni Ephrath, Douglas Godbold, Boris Rewald, Ivika Ostonen, Martin Lukac  

Michel Chalot, Pauline Grierson, Luke McCormack, Jiacun Gu, Barbara Hawkins, Yasuhiro Hirano, Tarja Lehto

• 1st edition (8-12 October 1995): Held in Ithaca, New York, USA, at the Boyce Thompson Institute. Foundational event on Woody root physiology and rhizosphere function.
• 2nd edition (26-30 September 1999): Held in Nancy, France, at the University Henri Poincaré. Covered molecular biology and biochemistry.
• 3rd edition (29 September-3 October 2003): Held in Perth, Australia, at the University of Western Australia. Focused on physiological processes in diverse environments.
• 4th edition (16–20 September 2007): Held in Bangor, United Kingdom at the University of Wales. Covered root nutrient cycling, turnover, and mycorrhizal relationships.
• 5th edition (8–12 August 2010): Held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, at the University of Victoria. Included carbon sequestration and rhizosphere ecology themes.
• 6th edition (8–13 September 2014): Held in Nagoya, Japan, at the Nagoya University. Explored stress responses and technological innovations in root studies.
• 7th edition (26–30 June 2017): Tartu, Estonia, at the University of Tartu. Sessions on root carbon cycling, global change, and rhizosphere dynamics.
• 8th edition (10–14 July 2022): Penn State University, USA, at the Penn State University, USA. Hybrid format; focused on restoration, water uptake, and applied root science.
• 9th edition (3–5 June 2026): Como, Italy, at the Insubria University. It will focus on sustainability, soil protection, and plant production. 

June is high season in Como, so try to make a reservation as soon as possible.

We suggest that participants contact hotels or B&Bs directly to make a reservation. Unless otherwise indicated (by code request), to receive the stated discount, inform the Hotel of your conference participation.

Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of hotels and B&Bs. For additional accommodation options, please refer to online booking platforms:

• Palace Hotel: www.palacehotel.it (10% discount)
• Hotel Metropole Suisse: https://www.hotelmetropolesuisse.com/ (10% discount)
• B&B Hotel Como City Center: www.hotelbb.com Enter the discount code UNINSUBRIA10, all caps, in the discount code section on the home page. The system will automatically calculate the discount.)
• Hotel Tre Re: https://hoteltrere.com/ (10% discount)
• Hotel Plinius: https://www.hotelplinius.com/ (10% discount)
• B&B Hotel Como Camerlata: https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotel/como-camerlata (10% discount - Enter the discount code UNINSUBRIA10, all caps, in the discount code section on the home page. The system will automatically calculate the discount.)
• Hotel Barchetta: https://www.hotelbarchetta.it/
• Albergo Firenze Como: https://www.hotelfirenzecomo.com
• Hotel Lizard https://www.lizardhotel.com/
• Hotel Le due corti https://hotelduecorti.com/en/
• Victoria Hotel Royal Garden https://www.royalvictoria.com/
• B&B Le dame della Cortesella https://www.ledamedellacortesella.com/en/

woodyroots9@uninsubria.it 

antonio.montagnoli@uninsubria.it

alex.ceriani@uninsubria.it