Our team studies the way plants develop and acquire their remarkable forms. To do this, we are studying the role of transcription factors that orchestrate the development using molecular genetics and imaging approaches combined with quantitative approaches and modeling.
The continuous development of plants relies on the activity of meristems. These structures contain a pool of stem cells whose maintenance and division allow generating new organs throughout the life of plants.
Our group is mostly interested in lateral organ boundary domains that are small group of cells separating new organs one from the other or from the meristem. These domains are also found in other organs such as in leaves or flowers. Thus, major agronomic traits including inflorescence and root architecture, organ abscission, fruit opening and seed dispersal depend on the activity of boundaries. Our work seeks to understand how boundary domains are regulated and how they impact plant development using mainly the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana.
Our group is mostly interested in lateral organ boundary domains that are small group of cells separating new organs one from the other or from the meristem. These domains are also found in other organs such as in leaves or flowers. Thus, major agronomic traits including inflorescence and root architecture, organ abscission, fruit opening and seed dispersal depend on the activity of boundaries. Our work seeks to understand how boundary domains are regulated and how they impact plant development using mainly the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana.
PHOTOS
Leader:
Patrick Laufs