Vascular cambium cells generate xylem (wood) and phloem in plants. "PlantThick" aims to understand how cambial cell proliferation and woody biomass growth is regulated in tree stems/Arabidopsis roots in lateral and vertical growth dimensions. Via a functional genomics approach, I have recently identified two novel transcription factors maybe important regulators of wood development. Here, I will manipulate the expression of these candidates using novel genetic engineering methods i.e. making them less active than their natural state, or induce their activity, and analyze resulting effects on wood development to determine their functions. I will also study how trees respond to local changes in cambial activity in short and long term and how vascular continuity and physiology along the tree trunk is affected from these changes. Results of my project will increase our scientific understanding of stem girth growth in trees and help us improve woody biomass production in trees.

2022

2028