Our lab is interested in the molecular control of plant PCD during vegetative and reproductive development. Dozens of different cell types, tissues, and organs execute a tightly regulated, actively controlled cell death in the course of their differentiation and development. We identified several commonly expressed plant cell death markers, suggesting that a conserved PCD core machinery controls initiation and execution of cell death in diverse developmental contexts.

Using cutting edge molecular-, (single) cell- and systems-biology approaches, we are unravelling the mechanisms that control preparation, initiation and execution of plant PCD as an inherent part of cellular differentiation. Most research is performed in the framework of vegetative and reproductive development of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, but additionally, we investigate PCD during fertilization and seed set of maize or corn (Zea mays) as an important seed-producing crop plant.