Projects
Hairy root disease: understanding the molecular processes leading to tomato hairy root development upon infection with rhizogenic agrobacteria KU Leuven
Hairy root disease (HRD), a rapidly spreading and highly persistent disease, is caused by rhizogenic agrobacteria and results in extensive root growth and associated yield loss of tomato plants. Rhizogenic agrobacteria contain a root-inducing plasmid – part (T-DNA) of which is transferred to the plant and is responsible for the HRD phenotype. However, the mechanisms underlying hairy root formation upon infection by rhizogenic agrobacteria ...
Columella-specific ethylene biosynthesis drives root development during abiotic stress responses KU Leuven
The plant hormone ethylene regulates many developmental processes, and is involved in responses towards (a)biotic stress. Often stress leads to an enhanced ethylene production, which in turn steers developmental plasticity. However, how local ethylene production in one tissue controls the development of other tissues remains practically unstudied.
Ethylene is known to inhibit primary root growth and does this through hormonal ...
Characterisation of ACR4-mediated formative cell divisions in Arabidopsis root development Ghent University
All organisms, especially multicellular ones, require formative cell divisions U+2013 which are mainly asymmetric (stem) cell divisions U+2013 to produce tissues and organs (Scheres and Benfey, 1999). Therefore, a tight control of such divisions and preventing over-proliferation is crucial for the postembryonic growth and development of plants. For instance, overexpression of the cell cycle regulators E2FA/DPA leads to proliferation and ...
The study of lateral root development through chemical biology Ghent University
In the Root Development Group, a synthetic molecule, naxillin, was identified that induces lateral roots more specifically and that acts different from auxin. The aim of this project is to apply naxillin as a chemical tool to unravel the underlying mechanism-of-action and as such identify new regulators involved in the early developmental stages of lateral root development.
characterisation of auxin-regulated genes in barley root development Ghent University
the pattern of lateral roots (LR) formation defines the final shape of mature root system architecture. however, the exact mechanism of auxin-dependent LR positioning is still an open question. our studies on auxin influx carrier HvLAX3 in barley (hordeum vulgare) suggests its possible role in generating auxin maxima that precede the LRs priming and defines the futre position of LRs.
Identification of the mode of action of plant defensins during root development and plant defense responses. KU Leuven
Plant defensins are small highly stable peptides and were originally isolated based on their antifungal activity. They are regarded as being an important part in plant innate immunity responses directed against fungal pathogens. Recent data suggests however that their role is not restricted to antimicrobial peptides in the defense response, but also includes important biological functions, such as root development and reproduction. ...
Unraveling the molecular mechanism of nitrogen-gene interactions during root development in rice Ghent University
Nitrogen (N) is the most important essential nutrient in soils and its reduced availability can limit plant growth and development in natural ecosystems as well as in agriculture. In some areas, N is the nutrient most often deficient for crop production. However, when N inputs to the soil system exceed crop needs, there is a possibility that excessive amounts of nitrate (NO3-) may enter either ground or surface water causing serious water ...
Regulation of root hair development by the plant hormone auxin through the receptor-like kinase ERULUS and modulation of cell wall enzyme activity. University of Antwerp
Towards mapping key processes modulated by T-DNA ORFs from rhizogenic Agrobacterium during hairy root development in Arabidopsis thaliana KU Leuven
Rhizogenic agrobacteria cause hairy root disease (HRD) in several important hydroponically grown crops by transferring part of their DNA (T-DNA) into the plant’s genome. In my previous research, using a composite plant assay, I analyzed the plant root response upon T-DNA transformation and identified several signaling peptides having a role in hairy root development. I also confirmed that most of the T-DNA encoded proteins contributed, to ...