My scientific interests are centered on the parasitic plant broomrape, with emphasis on its metabolism and evolutionary processes, host-parasite interactions and biological control. We use mutagenesis, genetic transformation and genome editing in order to develop herbicide resistant and broomrape-resistant crops. The group produced mutagenized populations of tomato, chickpea, sunflower, sorghum, peanuts, cotton and others. As a result, a number of broomrape and herbicide resistant lines were obtained, and the resistant mechanisms were revealed. Big part of my research has focused on the role of strigolactones, the novel group of plant hormones, in broomrape evolution, plant development and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and plant interaction with microorganisms in rhizosphere.
