Who are we?

• The ISRR brings together scientists from all over the world with a deep interest in roots and their activities.
• International collaboration between scientists enhances the expansion and transfer of knowledge about roots and how they behave.
• The ISRR is committed to openness and extends a welcome to all with an interest in this subject.

The history of the ISRR

The first symposium of the ISRR, focusing on ‘Root ecology and its practical application’, took place in Austria in 1982 under the leadership of Professor Dr Lore (Eleanore) Kutschera and her scientific group. During the last three decades, six further international ISRR symposia have brought together root scientists from many different disciplines and nationalities.

These symposia have contributed significantly to our understanding of various aspects of the root function, and how these are essential to our knowledge of the entire plant.

Previous meetings of the ISRR

1st ISRR symposium on ‘Root ecology and its practical application’, Irdning, Austria, 27–29 September 1982

175 participants from 18 countries

2nd ISRR symposium on ‘Plant roots and their environment’, Uppsala, Sweden, 21–26 August 1988

200 participants from 22 countries

3rd ISRR symposium on ‘Root ecology and its practical application’, Vienna, Austria, 2–6 September 1991

350 participants from 25 countries

4th ISRR symposium on ‘Root systems ad natural vegetation’, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, 5–11 September 1994

100 participants from 12 countries

5th ISRR symposium on ‘Root demographics and their efficiencies in sustainable agriculture, grasslands, and forestry ecosystems’, Clemson University, South Carolina, USA, 14–18 July 1996

150 participants from 15 countries

6th ISRR symposium on ‘Roots: the dynamic interface between plants and the earth,’ Nagoya, Japan, 11–15 November 2001

350 participants from 34 countries

7th ISRR symposium on ‘Roots: research and applications (RootRAP),’ Vienna, Austria, 2–4 September 2009

250 participants from 34 countries

Peter Gregory talking to John Kirkegaard at conference, organised by Japanese Society of Root Research 2001.