Résumé
I am a plant molecular physiologist studying the developmental processes that enable plants to establish their shoot architecture in response to their nutritional environment. More specifically, my research aims to decipher the signalling mechanisms by which sugars and nitrate to promote axillary bud outgrowth and shoot branching. During my PhD and my postdoc, I demonstrated that sugars act as signals during bud outgrowth in different species including rose, arabidopsis and pea. Through physiology experimentation and genetic evidence, my work revealed that this signalling effect is mediated by different pathways involving the enzyme-receptor HEXOKINASE1 and the sugar signal trehalose 6-Phosphate. I also identified new transcription factors, such as bZIP11 and TCP3, that enable sugar starvation and nitrate to control shoot branching. Through different collaborations, my research showed that sugars promote shoot branching by upregulating cytokinins synthesis and by antagonising strigolactone perception via targeting the F-box protein D3/MAX2. The discoveries emerging from my research led to 27 publications in Q1 journals including 4 “Highly-Cited” ones. My current research mainly aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms through which strigolactones and nitrate interact during shoot branching and to improve our understanding of the evolution of the interactions between nutrients and hormones in land plants. Throughout my career, I have supervised 7 PhD students and 3 undergrad students, and obtained or contributed to different grants to fund my research. I am regularly solicited for my expertise in different activities such as reviewing grants and scientific manuscripts or PhD advisory committees.Résumé