UPDACE: Potassium-mediated Drought Adaptation in trees by integrating CryoNanoSIMS

Potassium (K), the second most abundant plant nutrient, plays a key role in drought
tolerance. Yet, rising global K limitation may reduce plants' capacity to withstand
intensifying droughts. Despite its importance, the cellular mechanisms by which K supports
drought resistance are unresolved, largely because this mobile ion is difficult to trace
in intact cells. We propose a methodological breakthrough: adapting CryoNanoSIMS, a
cutting-edge imaging technique, to visualize K mobilization in plant tissues. By combining
nanoscale cellular imaging with field measurements, the project will link intracellular
ion dynamics to whole-plant drought responses. Conceptually, this work moves beyond the
traditional focus on water availability by revealing how nutrient-driven regulation shapes
drought resistance in forests. Methodologically, it will provide the first direct
visualization of K-mediated drought mechanisms in situ, strengthening WSL's capacity to
study forest responses to climate change