Research

Research Statement

We are interested in events that shape plant genomes, such as:

  • Hybridization
  • Genome doubling (polyploidy)
  • Haploid induction
  • Centromere evolution
  • Somatic/Clonal evolution
  • Genome instability

We use a wide variety of model systems and crops to address these questions, with a special focus on polyploid and clonally propagated species. 

Areas of Research

Tetraploid Potato

This project addressed a major challenge of plant breeding: the long time it takes to develop a new variety due to the need to obtain precise combinations of parental genes.

 

Centromeres

Following a close collaboration with the Chan lab and the demise of Simon Chan in the Summer of 2012, we have assimilated Chan lab researchers working on different aspects of centromeric function and its epigenetic determination.

Mint

We are characterizing the genome of mints to understand how polyploid spearmint and peppermint were formed. We are using genomic insight, TILLING, and hybridization to breed new mints.
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Haploid Induction

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Clonal Variation

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BY2

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