Dr. Jane Langdale. Department of Biology, University of Oxford, UK.
«Regulation of venation patterning in grass leaves: understanding maize with a view to engineering rice»
All grasses exhibit a characteristic strap shaped leaf blade but this consistent external morphology masks an underlying anatomical difference that distinguishes species that carry out C4 versus C3 photosynthesis. A multi-national effort aimed at introducing components of C4 photosynthesis into the C3 plant rice requires an understanding of the genetic regulation of C4 leaf development, so that leaf anatomy can be manipulated in rice. I will provide an overview of our current understanding of C4 leaf development, discuss recent research aimed at identifying genetic regulators of leaf anatomy, and illustrate how this research fits into the wider ‘C4 Rice Project’.
Short bio
Professor Jane Langdale is a distinguished plant developmental geneticist at the University of Oxford, holding the position of Professor of Plant Development in the Department of Biology and serving as a Professorial Fellow at The Queen’s College. Her pioneering research focuses on the genetic mechanisms underlying leaf development and evolution, with a particular emphasis on the distinctive ‘Kranz’ anatomy characteristic of C4 photosynthesis. This work aims to enhance crop efficiency by engineering C4 traits into staple C3 crops like rice.
After earning a BSc in Applied Biology from the University of Bath in 1982, Prof. Langdale completed a PhD in Human Genetics at the University of London. She then conducted postdoctoral research at Yale University before establishing her own research group at Oxford in 1990. Her contributions to plant science have been recognized with numerous honors, including election as EMBO Member in 2007, Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015, and appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for services to plant science.
If anyone is interested in meeting with the speaker, please contact Miguel A. Blázquez (mblazquez@ibmcp.upv.es)
