Research on Date Palm

Details

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Desert plants have developed a number of strategies to survive in an environment with protracted dry periods and high temperatures. In this context studying changes in their root system architecture can be used to illustrate adaptive responses to the stress conditions while unraveling molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to these conditions could be implemented to grow crops resistance in the desert environment. Our research use date palm, Phoenix dactylifera. Being among the few fruit trees adapted to desert conditions, date palm is known by its capacity to grow in hot and dry climates. However, the molecular mechanisms conferring date palm tolerance to these conditions remain largely unknown. We intend to answer these questions using high-resolution imaging combined with X-ray micro-Computed Tomography. We also aim to generate molecular tools to allow functional genetics and genomic engineering in date palm.

Researchers:
 
TingTing Xiao (Postdoc fellow)