Research Themes
Growth Allometry
Plant growth involves coordinated allocation of resources among organs such as leaves, stems, roots, and reproductive structures, which changes systematically with plant size during development. We study growth allometry—the scaling relationships between size and morphological and physiological traits—and how genetic variation in these relationships interacts with environmental conditions to shape plant architecture and yield formation. By identifying the genetic and molecular determinants of allometry, we aim to uncover the developmental mechanisms linking growth strategies to the physiological and morphological basis of crop adaptation.
Genetic basis of phenotypic plasticity
Crop performance depends on interactions between genotype and environment, and understanding these interactions is essential for improving crop adaptation and stability under changing conditions. We study the genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity and adaptation to environmental variation. We investigate how genetic variation shapes plastic responses to environmental cues such as light spectra, resource availability, and climate conditions. We address these questions through quantitative genetics, controlled environmental experiments, and field studies that examine plant growth, development, and plant–plant interactions across environments. Our goal is to uncover plasticity genes and develop predictive frameworks that link genetic determinants, trait expression, and crop performance in different environments.
Plant–Plant Interactions in Crop Systems
Plants growing in dense stands interact with neighboring plants through competition for light, water, and nutrients. We investigate how genetic variation in plant traits and in their responses to competition signals shapes performance at both the individual plant and crop population levels, and how these strategies reflect adaptation to the environments of origin and evolutionary history of genotypes. Identifying the genetic determinants of crop responses to neighbors may help uncover “cooperative” alleles and reduce “selfish” ones to improve stand performance.