Acevedo Aguilar Maria Camila
Acevedo Aguilar Maria Camila - Student Master 2
SUN Geng
SUN Geng - Predoctoral fellow
Philibert Jari
Philibert Jari - Student Master 2
Smagghe Wouter
Smagghe Wouter - Postdoctoral fellow
I did my Master thesis at the Functional Interactomics group in 2019-2020. During this year, I explored the approach of mining the TOR-SnRK1 nutrient signalling network towards higher yielding and stress resilient plants via combinatorial CRISPR screens. Intrigued by the research and encouraged by the warm atmosphere in the group, I decided to apply for an FWO-SB mandate in order to continue this quest and contribute to a more sustainable and climate robust agricultural system.
When I am not in the lab, I am always eager to jump on my bike for a trip, enjoying nature and being inspired and ready for new challenges!
CRISPR tool development
CRISPR-based gene and genome modification technology is revolutionizing targeted approaches in plant genetics. Combined with single-cell analytics, it enables the generation and testing of exciting hypotheses on cell-type-specific processes (Pfeiffer et al., 2022).
Cell Death in Microspore embryogenesis
In vitro plant regeneration holds great potential in the agriculture and horticulture, especially in crop improvement and hybrid breeding. Moreover, it is also applicable to studies of plant developmental regulatory mechanisms. For in vitro embryogenesis, the most important step is to re-establish the totipotency and further develop into an embryo. Embryo cell fate can be established from different tissue culture. Among the different pathways, we focus on microspore embryogenesis, where haploid embryos arise from stress-induced microspore culture.
Cell Death Evo-Devo
Programmed cell death (PCD) is an integral part of plant development. Still, it is largely unclear when developmentally controlled PCD (dPCD) has evolved and in how far the molecular control of different PCD pathways is conserved.
Cell Death in Self-incompatibility
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Synthetic Cell Death Biology
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Cell Death terminating floral receptivity
In Arabidopsis, several hundreds of single elongated "papilla cells" form the stigma of a flower, which acts as the receptive interface for pollen. After pollen has hydrated and germinated on the stigma, pollen tubes grow down through the style into the ovary, to reach about 50 individual ovules, which will develop into seeds after successful fertilization.