Molecular Plant Physiology and Plant Phenomics

The different scales of the distribution of fixed carbon comprises both the partitioning between organs as well as the metabolic channeling between competing pathways of primary and secondary metabolism.

The analyses of the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism will contribute to the understanding of plant growth and development. It is also a prerequisite for the increase of harvest yield, storage products, and the bionergetic and material potential of crop plants as well as the production of proteins and chemicals for pharmacy and industry.

Key reference

Balibrea et al.(2004) Extracellular invertase is an essential component of cytokinin mediated delay of senescence. Plant Cell 16: 1276-1287

Review

Roitsch and Gonzalez (2004) Function and regulation of invertases in higher plants: sweet sensations. Trends in Plant Science 9: 607-613

Plants are exposed to beneficial and adverse microbial interaction ranging from endo- and epiphytic symbionts to biotrophic and necrotrophic fungal and bacterial pathogens.

Based on the coordinated response of primary metabolism and defense responses the spatial and temporal dynamics of the interaction will be characterized and verified by dual functional approaches.

Strategies will be developed to increase tolerance while minimizing the cost of defense and the use of pesticides. Special attention will be given to the neglected growth promoting microbes, sugar-signaling and the interaction of hormones with defense pathways.

Key reference

Großkinsky et al. (2011) Cytokinins mediate resistance against Pseudomonas syringae in tobacco through increased antimicrobial phytoalexin synthesis independent of salicylic acid signaling. Plant Physiol. 157: 815-830

Review

Berger et al. (2007) Plant Physiology meets phytopathology: plant primary metabolism and plant pathogen interactions. J. Expt. Bot., 58: 4019-4026

Due to global climate change the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the impact of the abiotic environment on genotypic variation will be of prominent importance to secure and increase crop yield.

To increase the genetic potential to enhance abiotic stress cross-tolerance, forward and reverse genetics will be combined with eco-tilling and advanced breeding and screening technologies, with special focus to identify hidden, recessive tolerance mechanism.

Key reference

Proels and Roitsch (2009) Regulation of source/sink relations by extracellular invertase Lin6 of tomato: a pivotal enzyme for integration of metabolic, hormonal, and stress signals is regulated by diurnal rhythm. J. Expt. Bot 60: 1555-1567

Review

Albacete et al. (2011) Trick and Treat: Function and regulation of plant invertases in the abiotic stress response. Phyton - Annales Rei Botanicae 50: 181-204

The available phenotyping technologies, based on visible light, multi-fluorescence and -reflectance imaging, need to be linked to the physiological state. Thus, the non-invasive data will be verified by robust physiological markers, including complex enzyme activity, hormonal and metabolite signatures and fingerprints.

Further development will include 3D-reconstructions, advancement of measuring protocols and extension of data evaluation beyond established parameters by an unbiased statistical approach based combinatorial imaging. Field suitable tools will be developed for pre-symptomatic detection, breeding and biotechnology.

Key reference

Berger et al. (2007) Visualization of early and late plant-pathogen interaction by novel combination of chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and statistical analysis: Differential effects of virulent and avirulent strains of P. syringae and of oxylipins on A. thaliana. J. Expt. 58: 797-806

Opinion article

Großkinsky et al. (2015) Plant phenomics and the need for physiological phenotyping across scales to narrow the genotype-to-phenotype knowledge gap. J. Expt. Bot. 66: 5429-5440