En savoir plus

The research of the Root Development group of the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology focuses on the development of the root system, in particular on formation of lateral root (LR) primordia. Their research includes the development and application of a LR Inducible System (LRIS), allowing synchronized induction of primordia and facilitating the study of the molecular and cytological events during LR initiation. Mainly by the use of Arabidopsis thaliana, this research resulted in the elucidation of crucial aspects of LR initiation. More recently, in a project led by Dr. Hans Motte and Dr. Boris Parizot, the group started to study the evolution of root development using other, evolutionary distinct, model plants. Used models include the early land plant and lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii, the fern Ceratopteris richardii, the model legume Medicago truncatula and monocots such as Oryza sativa (rice) and Zea mays (maize). Via comparative transcriptomics, it is possible to identify conserved players or networks in root development or link specific modules to different developmental characteristics. In this running research project, in particular the progress in the comparison between the Arabidopsis and the maize lateral root primordium transcriptome is advanced, and led to the identification of a core of conserved genes.