Zach Lippman wants to understand the genes, pathways, and principles that control flower production in plants. Flowers form on branches called inflorescences that originate from stem cells within the tips of shoots called meristems. By studying interactions among the genes, environments, and molecular signals that mediate meristem development, Lippman and his team can devise ways to fine-tune shoot branching patterns and flower production, which can improve crop yields. The group’s work focuses on tomato and related nightshade plants, whose growth programs are representative of many crops. Thus, their findings have the potential to advance agricultural production and help address challenges posed by global population growth, environmental sustainability, and climate change.
The discovery of a gene that drives prickle growth in plants sheds new light on how novel traits emerge across different species of plants. A new analysis of difficult-to-access genetic variation is the most comprehensive ever conducted in plants. It could guide the improvement of tomatoes and other crops. By combining genomics and gene editing, researchers have figured out how to rapidly bring a plant known as the groundcherry toward domestication.