STM signaling network

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I have developed integrated transcriptional networks on meristem development and stress signaling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is important to understand how genotype and phenotype correlate for meristem development in accordance to the environmental cues. My lab will combine phenomic-genomic approaches to link meristem and stress-associated traits to the gene regulatory networks that control them.

Potato tuber meristem and sprout development

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The meristem for potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum) serve as a excellent model system to study meristem development in response to a changing environment because their meristems are large in size and have continued transcriptional activity despite dormancy. The duration of potato tuber dormancy and their sprouting time have significant economic importance and are under environmental, and physiological control.

                                                         ABA mediated growth inhibition of shoot growth


I propose experiments to understand the molecular mechanism through which ABIG1 control growth in plants in response to stresses. Furthermore, manipulating the ABA signaling pathway in which ABIG1 acts has the potential to generate germplasm for breeding drought tolerant plants.

Liu T, Longhurst A, Talavera-Rauh F, Hokin S, and Barton MK. (2016) The Arabidopsis transcriptionalrepressor ABIG1 relays ABA signaled inhibition of growth and drought induced senescence. eLife. 5,e13768.

                                                        Postharvest senescence in broccoli  (Brassica oleracea)

The cultivated Brassica species, which are the group of crops most closely related to Arabidopsis.  Previous comparative research between Brassica oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana genome identified numerous one-to-one segmental relationships and genome duplications. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of postharvest senescence in broccoli. My lab will focus on identifying genes that are involved in postharvest senescence in Brassica oleracea and the other Brassica species .