Regulatory Networks during Developmental Phase Transitions and Abiotic Stresses

我实验室的研究重点是了解控制从胚胎到营养发育阶段过渡的分子机制。这个阶段的转变与休眠的结束和发芽的开始是一致的。控制胚胎到营养阶段转变的机制尚不清楚，尽管它们极大地影响了世界范围内的作物产量。例如，现代农业中与种子休眠密切相关的一个问题是种子在收获前发芽（胎生），当时种子还附着在田间的母株上。这导致粮食质量下降和各种谷物的经济损失。因此，在不影响其他生长参数的情况下，对某些谷物品种重新引入休眠非常有兴趣。

Research in my laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control the transition from the embryonic to the vegetative phase of development. This phase transition coincides with the break of dormancy and the onset of germination. The mechanisms controlling the embryonic-to-vegetative phase transition are poorly understood, despite the fact that they greatly affect crop yields worldwide. For instance, a problem in modern agriculture tightly linked to seed dormancy is pre-harvest sprouting of seeds (vivipary), when still attached to the mother plant in the field. This results in reduced grain quality and financial losses in a wide range of cereals. Therefore, there is great interest in reintroducing dormancy in certain cereal varieties without affecting other growth parameters. Another important area of my research involves understanding plant responses to abiotic stresses during reproductive development and germination, which greatly affect plant productivity, growth and fitness. Global climate change is posing an incredible pressure on plant's ability to deal with a rapidly changing environment. The sudden and stable increase in temperature and soil salinity is affecting not only vegetative and reproductive development, but also the ability of seeds to germinate. This is currently affecting crop yield world-wide. Using cellular, molecular genetic and genomic approaches, my previous research has uncovered new regulatory mechanisms controlling these processes. The goal of the proposed research is to identify and characterize new factors important for the control of seed dormancy and germination during abiotic stresses. Ultimately, this research will generate plants that are more tolerant to environental stresses.