Cell cycle control
One of the mechanisms at the basis of plant growth and development is cell cycle control. Cell cycle has been an important theme within the department for over 15 years, and the cell cycle group of our department counts as a world leader in the molecular analysis of the cell cycle in Arabidopsis. The recent research focuses on understanding the plant cell cycle as a system. To this end, an integrated approach combining in-depth biological expertise, high-throughput functional genomics and bioinformatics is applied. Knowledge and experience on cell cycle control within the department was the basis of the foundation of the spin-off company CropDesign.
As the cell cycle is at the basis of many agronomic traits such as growth, stress tolerance, and plant architecture, we believe that our research expertise in this theme makes us a valuable partner to search for the best solutions to optimize such traits.
Plant hormones
Plant hormones are major regulators of plant growth, development and architecture. Three of our research groups are dedicated to plant hormone research.
The hormone auxin plays a central role in plant growth and development. The auxin group has over 10 years research expertise in the field of hormone signaling, plant developmental biology and plant cell biology. The current research of the group focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism and developmental roles of auxin transport, through gaining understanding of the basic mechanisms of cell polarity, endocytosis and protein degradation, and several genetic factors involved in these processes have already been identified.
Brassinosteroids have a broad spectrum of activities that have a positive effect on the quantity and quality of crops. In our department, the brassinosteroid group investigates the link between brassinosteroids, cell proliferation, expansion and endoreduplication. Physiological and genetic studies that have been performed over the past decades have revealed that the hormone action in plants is determined by complex interactions between hormonal signaling pathways. The hormonal cross-talk group investigates the mechanism of hormonal interaction involved in regulation of root system development and growth, with the aim to identify key molecular components involved in these interactions. These studies are likely to reveal important genes regulating development of the plant root system. It is now clear that plant hormones are at the basis of important agronomic traits. We are therefore convinced that an increased understanding of the genetics of hormone actions, combined with a clear vision on desired trait characteristics, has an enormous potential for the creation of a novel generation traits.
Organ development
The root, needed for nutrient uptake, and the leaves, required for sunlight energy capture, are important targets for crop improvement.
Within this framework, the root development group focuses on the formation of lateral-root primordia in the pericycle and how cell-cycle regulation is involved in the initiation of new organs.
The organ growth regulation group has 12 years of research expertise in the field of Arabidopsis root and leaf growth under optimal conditions and in response to abiotic stress. The approaches this group developed in Arabidopsis are currently applied in maize to evaluate their impact on agronomic characteristics.
The molecular mechanisms that direct leaf size, shape, and number are investigated by the chromatin and growth control group. This group also uses Arabidopsis as model, and maize as crop species.
Processes involved in leaf growth and their interaction are also the focus of the EU AGRON-OMICS consortium, several of our research teams participate in.
The above activities in the field of organ development provide us with a valuable knowledge-base and toolbox for biomass production for food, feed and bioenergy.
Genetic mechanisms underlying yield and heterosis
Yield is a very complex trait in which numerous genes and gene interactions are involved. The genetic mechanisms underlying yield are studied in the research group systems biology of yield. The current research of this group is focussing on deciphering, using a systems biology approach, the molecular networks that orchestrate growth and biomass production in the model species Arabidopsis and Brachypodium dystachion. Expected output is not only novel genes that regulate intrinsic plant productivity, but we are also convinced that understanding the mechanism, rather than effect of single genes, will largely contribute to further improvements of yield characteristics.
The quantitative genomics group focuses on linkage mapping, QTL analysis and quantitative genetic analysis of gene expression, in particular in relation to heterosis. This research may offer possibilities for the identification of heterosis predictive molecular markers, which can have an enormous impact on cost and timelines of hybrid breeding.