Fit plants are necessary to increase food and feed production for a growing world population. Gibberellins (GAs) are important signaling molecules that are produced to regulate and integrate growth and development throughout the life cycle of plants. Seed development and germination, shoot and root growth, floral induction, flower, fruit, and tendril growth etc. are GA-regulated developmental processes. The alteration of the GA signaling pathway has led to improved agricultural productivity of important crops, as the "Green revolution" has shown.
Research in my group is focused on the cucurbits, whose family members are important crops, and the plant hormone GA. We are investigating new strategies for fine-tuning the GA signaling network, which offers enormous potential for further improving plant performance:
From cucurbits we are learning how GA signaling directs development, by identifying key regulators and their trafficking. The expression of key regulators of the GA signaling pathway can be edited. By modulation of the GA network, plants are designed fit for the future that offer strategic value to agriculture and horticulture.