The functions of plant small RNAs with focus on micro-RNAs (miRNAs)

A major goal of our research is to understand how plant miRNAs and their target mRNAs regulate fleshy fruit development and ripening and to use this knowledge to improve agricultural crops biotechnologically. This goal is achieved by determining which miRNAs and their corresponding targets are involved in tomato fleshy fruit development and how their deregulation impacts it.

The molecular mechanisms of fleshy fruit set

Fruit set is a key determinant of yield and thus of significant agronomic importance in all edible fruit crops. Fruit set is established during and soon after fertilization of the ovules inside the quiescent ovary, yet the molecular mechanism underlying it remains obscure. To gain insights into the mechanism of fleshy fruit set, we investigate how certain tomato parthenocarpic mutants isolated in the lab uncouples fruit set from fertilization.