Development of plant sink organs: Novel genes for science, agronomy and industrial use

The objective of this project is to establish multidisciplinary research on selected vegetative and reproductive developmental processes in plants. In order to define regulatory and biochemical networks controlling organ development and tissue senescence, we exploit available gene and genome sequences and combine genomic and post-genomic techniques with bioinformatics. Comparing three major crops, cereals, legumes and potato, seed development will be the focal point for shoot processes, while potato tuber and legume root nodule organogenesis will be focal points for sink organs underground.