Water plays a vital role in the growth and reproduction of plants, yet the precise mechanisms through which water conditions regulate plant growth remain poorly understood. In trees and various weeds, the radial growth of stems and branches is facilitated by the proliferation of cells within a meristematic tissue known as vascular cambium. The number of these cells adapts to the water levels in the soil and the atmospheric humidity. The nature of internal signals guiding the modulation of cambial growth within the plant remains unknown. This project seeks to identify the signals, sensors, and response mechanisms involved in growth adaptation during periods of water stress. We combine genetics and hydraulics in two different plant contexts, a small model plant called Arabidopsis and a large key tree species, birch (Betula pendula).

2025

2029