Research Topics
IRHS
Research
STructure and bRAnching in response to GEnotype and eNvironnEment
Research Topics

Research Topics

Plant architectural development is a complex process involving a number of interacting variables (leaf expansion, flowering, branching, etc.). Each of these variables is controlled by several nested processes involving trophic and hormonal regulators, governed by both the environment and the genotype. Our research aims to identify this regulatory network, using a major architectural variable—branching—as an entry point. The objective is to acquire an integrated understanding of the mechanisms across three axes, ranging from the local scale of the bud to the scale of the whole plant:

(1) identify the physiological and molecular network governing branching initiation (bud burst) at the scale of the node carrying the bud; 

(2) understand how the environment (light, water) and genotype modulate the physiological network regulating branching at the plant scale; 

(3) characterize the ecophysiological mechanisms of the overall plant architecture’s response to the environment and genotype (light, urban constraints).

In this approach, we combine experiments at different scales with modeling, which enables the integration of various study scales and the testing of hypotheses on complex regulatory networks.

In this folder

At the node level, what physiological and molecular network regulates branching initiation?

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The initiation of a branching goes through the ability of axillary bud to grow, which is finely closely controlled by different signals, both endogenous (hormonal, trophic) and exogenous (light). One of our research axes consists in understanding how these different signals interact and are integrated locally, at the scale of the node carrying the bud, to trigger or not the bud outgrowth. To this end, were used in vitro nodes (stem segment with bud) in order to easily manipulate the local environment of the bud, and several approaches combining molecular biology and functional genomics, physiology and modeling.

How do light environment and genotype modulate the physiological network involved in branching control?

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Light plays a determining role in the acquisition of the aerial architecture of the plant. It acts in a complex way, both by its quantity and quality, and with immediate or non-immediate effects (role of the light history of the plant). Our goal is to understand the regulatory network by which light, in these different components, controls branching initiation at the plant scale (Schneider et al., 2019) and its interaction with genotype. We study the impact of light both locally at the axillary bud level and globally through its action on nutrient and hormone fluxes within the plant. We adopt an approach combining physiology, ecophysiology, and modeling.

What is the impact of different light scenarios on the plant architecture and agronomic performance?

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A number of new technologies, such as LEDs, photoconversion films (CASCADE Technology), allow to modify the light received by plants and thus open new ways to improve horticultural production. We carry out work, in partnership with the socio-professional world, to understand how different light solutions impact the development of the plant and ultimately the agronomic performance. For this, we carry out ecophysiological characterizations of the response of different components of the plant’s architecture (foliar dynamics, flowering, and branching), its photosynthesis, and agronomic performance of different species of interest.

How does the plant respond to the urban environment?

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How does the plant respond to the urban environment?

Modification date: 11 September 2026 | Publication date: 13 February 2020 | By: Stragene