Xylem development and wood formation

The project focuses on lignification and cell death of xylem elements and how these processes influence the chemical and physical properties of the secondary cell walls and woody tissues of vascular plants. We use two model systems. The roots and hypocotyls of Arabidopsis thaliana provide excellent models for understanding the molecular and genetic control of xylem differentiation, while the woody tissues of aspen (Populus tremula) trees are practical for high-resolution gene expression, genetic, genomic and functional assays.