Shaping the Leafy Head: Leaf Curvature Dynamics in Heading Brassica

Summary

My PhD research focuses on how cabbage and Chinese cabbage form their leafy heads, a trait that makes these vegetables more productive and longer lasting. Unlike their wild relatives, these crops have tightly folded leaves that protect the plant but hinder flowering. To understand how this trait developed, I studied how leaves bend and curve, from the level of whole plants down to cells, genes, and plant hormones. I combined methods such as microscopy, gene expression analysis, and hormone treatments. My work shows how differences in cell growth, gene activity, small RNAs, and auxin distribution work together to shape the leafy head. These insights improve our understanding of plant development and domestication.