Projects
The role of microbial symbionts in host plant use and spectrum in oligophagous cucurbit feeding fruit flies (Tephritidae). University of Antwerp
On the short and long term establishment of polyploidy in plant evolution Ghent University
Polyploidy, the condition where an organism possesses more than two complete sets of
chromosomes in each nucleus, presents a fascinating problem for plant evolutionary biologists. On
the one hand, polyploidy in plants is often regarded as an evolutionary dead end, while on the
other hand, evolutionary genomics research has shown that virtually all extant plants are derived from ancient polyploid ancestors, suggesting a long ...
Identification and characterisation of novel regulators of the abundance and functioning of the COI1 protein, the receptor of the plant hormone jasmonate Ghent University
Plant fitness and survival depend on the ability and plasticity to adapt developmental and growth
programmes to a 24-hour changing environment, which is safeguarded by complex signalling
networks in which hormones such as the jasmonates play major roles. The bioactive version of the
jasmonate hormone is perceived by the co-receptor complex consisting of the F-box protein
CORONATINE 1 (COI1) and a JAZ ...
Evolution of the plant lateral root initiation process Ghent University
The mission of the VIB/UGent department of Plant Systems Biology (PSB) is to
understand the molecular mechanisms involved in plant growth and development. In this
perspective, the Root Development group studies the development of the root system,
crucial for water and nutrients acquisition. Lateral Root Initiation (LRI) leading to root
branching is a key process insuring these functions. Even though different species ...
Kinase-dependent regulation of plant endocytosis upon temperature stress. Ghent University
How do plants regulate their cellular processes in response to temperature fluctuations? Liquid-liquid phase-separation has emerged as a crucial mechanism to organise and drive essential cellular processes in a temperature-dependent fashion and excess phase separation has been linked to protein inactivation. Recently I discovered that two essential subunits of the Arabidopsis TSET/TPLATE endocytic adaptor complex, AtEH1/Pan1 and AtEH2/Pan1 ...
Cell-type specificity of ACC and ethylene in plant responses to flooding stress Ghent University
Agriculture is plagued by an increasing frequency of floods, triggered by global climate change. Besides causing tremendous economic losses, this jeopardizes worldwide food security. The grand challenges of the 21st century, stated by the UN, include development of sustainable strategies that support crop productivity to eradicate hunger (UN-SDG2) and combat impact of global change (SDG13). Plants respond to flooding in different ways in ...
The role of microbial symbionts in host plant use and spectrum in oligophagous cucurbit feeding fruit flies (Tephritidae). University of Antwerp
ARBAHEAT: Cost-effective transformation of a Highly-Efficient, Advanced, Thermal Ultra-SuperCritical coal-fired power plant into a CHP by retrofitting and integrating an ARBAFLAME biomass upgrading process (OZR EU Bonus) Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Evolution of mechanical tissues in early-diverged land plant lineages: a cell wall architectural and biomechanical perspective Ghent University
Plant cell walls remain a major challenge for plant biology in terms of understanding their assembly, structure-function relations and diversity. The aim of this project is to provide insight into the evolution of mechanical tissues in early-diverged plant lineages (liverworts, hornworts, mosses, hornworts, lycophytes and ferns) through comparative analysis of their cell wall architecture and biomechanical properties.
Initial research ...