Our Research
Plants are remarkably flexible towards their environment. They have evolved ways to deal with all sorts extremities and are able to interpret various combinations of environmental input signals. We study how plants process information about their light environment and translate input signals into adaptive developmental responses (led by Ronald Pierik). This is particularly important for growth at high planting densities, because light becomes scarce and is a resource that plants compete for. These responses are strongly co-regulated by the circadian clock and bring that into our research portfolio (led by Andres Romanowski). In addition to understanding shade avoidance responses, that guide leaves away from shade, we also investigate how plants connect these to other environmental challenges. Signal integration is key in our research! In addition to understanding molecular mechanisms, we also study how these plant behaviours and light qualities improve (or not) plant performance, photosynthesis, growth and yield.
“Understanding the inner workings of plant plasticity is spectacularly exciting”
Ronald
Plant Photobiology 