The major themes in our lab are:
1. Plant defence responses - involves characterization and analysis of plant metabolites. Understanding their regulation by phytohormones. Currently, we focus on Jasmonates and cytokinins.
2. Adaptation mechanisms- involves feeding assays and understanding detox mechanisms of insect herbivores in their larval phase. This combined with gut microbe isolation helps us clarify how insects tolerate plant secondary metabolites.
3. Evolution of plant defences - this is our long term goal. We focus on ancient fern species seeking to shed light on the evolutionary origins of plant defences.
Details of the themes are given in the respective pages.
1. Plant defence responses - involves characterization and analysis of plant metabolites. Understanding their regulation by phytohormones. Currently, we focus on Jasmonates and cytokinins.
2. Adaptation mechanisms- involves feeding assays and understanding detox mechanisms of insect herbivores in their larval phase. This combined with gut microbe isolation helps us clarify how insects tolerate plant secondary metabolites.
3. Evolution of plant defences - this is our long term goal. We focus on ancient fern species seeking to shed light on the evolutionary origins of plant defences.
Details of the themes are given in the respective pages.