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Research Description

Research in our lab is motivated by two fundamental questions: what are the factors that determine plant form and how do these factors function to shape a plant? In crop and wild species, plant architecture impacts light capture and planting density; inflorescence and floral forms contribute to yield through the number and arrangement of seed or grain-bearing structures. Despite the agricultural and ecological significance of plant architecture, the many genes, genomic features and/or developmental mechanisms that determine plant form remain largely unknown.

All post-embryonic organs in plants develop from pluripotent stem cell tissues called meristems. Meristem activity is a major factor that determines plant architecture. The overarching goal of our research is to understand genetic mechanisms that regulate meristem function and those that underlie patterning and growth of vegetative and reproductive organs, processes that ultimately shape a plant. In parallel, we are interested in how developmental and hormone pathways interpret environmental signals to modulate or coordinate growth, especially under abiotic stress. We apply forward, reverse and modifier genetic screens, single-cell genomics and molecular biology approaches in cereal crops specifically to 1) understand the genomic features and genetic mechanisms of ethylene signaling and response to improve plant adaptive traits and 2) elucidate genetic networks and mechanisms that regulate meristem activity and organ pattering to modify plant architecture.

Link to Publications