The Kuhlemeier Lab

Our long-term interest has been the regulation of phyllotaxis. We want to understand at the molecular level, how plants position their lateral organs in specific spatial patterns, in particular spirals. We use tomato, because its shoot meristem can be grown in sterile culture and is amenable to micromanipulation.

Figure 1 Tomato vegetative shoot apical meristem with central zone removed by infrared laser ablation (Reinhardt et al Development (2003) 130, 4073

Figure 2 Recombinant inbreds between P. hybrida W138 and P. integrifolia

A recently started project deals with the molecular ecology of wild Petunia species. P. axillaris is pollinated by hawkmoths, while P. integrifolia is pollinated by bees. The two species differ in flower architecture, color, odor and nectar production. We have made recombinant inbred lines between each of these species and the high transposition line Petunia hybrida W138 and are now in the process of molecular, physiological and ecological characterization of the material.

Working