HortResearch plant development scientists are currently identifying and understanding the regulation of genes that control key developmental pathways in plants, with a special focus on processes specific to perennial fruiting plants. This will result in a fundamental understanding of how plants develop and presents the opportunity to manipulate plant development to our advantage.
The researchers in the plant development team have an extensive range of skills and knowledge, including genomics, molecular techniques, plant transformation, physiology, and morphology. The group uses a variety of techniques to elucidate the complex processes of perennial plant growth and development.
The morphological and physiological characterisation of plants in both natural and cultivated environments will lead to a model of key developmental pathways. Molecular analyses and in situ hybridisations are combined with microscopic and histological descriptions of the characters of interest to develop testable hypotheses. Gene discovery using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches are being integrated with a microarray facility allowing high-throughput functional assessment of genes. Sophisticated vector systems allow high-throughput gene transfer into plants where gene function can be confirmed. Transgenic perennial crop and model plants produced are then subjected to morphological and physiological analysis in both field and controlled environments, that are used to redefine the original developmental model and identify opportunities for value creation.
Current research themes of the group include:
For a better understanding of our works, we recommend the following documents:
2003
Foster T, Johnston R, Seleznyova A 2003. A morphological and quantitative characterization of early floral development in apple (Malus X Idomestica Borkh.) . Annals of Botany 92(2): 199-206.
Snowden KC, Napoli CA 2003. A quantitative study of lateral branching in petunia. Functional Plant Biology 30(9): 987-994.
2004
Foster T, Hay A, Johnston R, Hake S 2004. The establishment of axial patterning in the maize leaf. Development 131(16): 3921-3929.
2005
Angenent GC, Stuurman J, Snowden KC, Koes R 2005. Use of Petunia to unravel plant meristem functioning . Trends in Plant Science 10(5): 243-250.
Snowden KC, Simkin AJ, Janssen BJ, Templeton KR, Loucas HM, Simons JL, Karunairetnam S, Gleave AP, Clark DG, Klee HJ 2005. The decreased apical dominance1/Petunia hybrida CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE8 gene affects branch production and plays a role in leaf senescence, root growth, and flower development . Plant Cell 17(3): 746-759.