Kerstin Nagel

Papers

Total Citations

447

H-Index

About

Kerstin Nagel is a pioneering researcher in plant phenotyping, with a primary focus on root and rhizosphere biology. Her key research areas include noninvasive root imaging, root-shoot interactions, and the development of high-throughput phenotyping technologies. Nagel’s major contributions center on advancing methods to study root systems in soil, a traditionally challenging domain. She led the creation of GROWSCREEN-Rhizo, a novel phenotyping robot that enables simultaneous, automated measurements of root and shoot growth in soil-filled rhizotrons—a breakthrough cited over 378 times. This work has been instrumental in linking root architecture to environmental responses, providing critical insights for improving plant productivity. She also co-authored the influential review “Beyond Digging: Noninvasive Root and Rhizosphere Phenotyping” (69 citations), which surveys cutting-edge techniques like MRI and CT for studying roots without disturbance. Nagel’s work has significantly impacted sustainable agriculture and plant science, offering tools to unravel the hidden half of plants. Her achievements include driving interdisciplinary collaborations and shaping the field of root phenomics, making her a key figure for students and researchers exploring belowground plant dynamics.