The beauty and mystery of plants have fascinated me since I was a child. I have been always wondering how plants invent specific adaptations to survive in their environment. Throughout my education, I focused on studying plant anatomy. In my current PhD project, I am linking key anatomical traits in stems of Arabidopsis and Brassica to find out which characters explain best the differences in drought-induced vascular failure.
Keywords
Plant hydraulic failure, drought-induced embolism resistance, stem anatomy
Researchinterest
Several herbaceous lineages which are distributed on islands or continental areas have developed into (derived) woody species. Although this phenomenon has been described in the literature, we do not understand why plants became woody during evolutionary history.
My research goal is to understand water transport measurements in stems and leaves of derived woody and herbaceous species in Arabidopsis and Brassica (Brassicaceae), using a combination of hydraulic experiments (Cavitron centrifuge method and optical vulnerability technique) and anatomical observations, with a special focus on drought-induced vascular dysfunction. We will also apply microCT scanning to assess the potential role of root pressure that may influence embolism repair in herbs.
