Current position
Fellow (ANU)
Directeur de Recherche (INRA, Paris)
Research interests
My general interest lies in the interplay between genetic and
environmental determinants of growth and morphogenetic processes,
in the temporal and spatial integration of these processes from
cells to tissue and whole plant, and in the role of stress-induced
root signals on meristems, leaf function and leaf:root coordination.
Current topics include:
Molecular genetics and functional genomics of root mechanical
stress.
Our aim is to identify key genes and pathways involved in the
sensing of mechanical stress by root tips and its direct effects
on meristems, the anatomical and functional properties of roots
and leaves, especially with respect to resource capture and water
use. We combine gene expression studies, of single gene or genome-wide,
mutant screening and genetic engineering, QTL analysis and physiological
studies (Arabidopsis and wheat) under various stress patterns,
using both in vitro and natural experimental systems.
NEW
A
water use efficiency gene
Interactions between endogenous and environmental mechanical forces
in cell and plant development.
We are studying these interactions in arabidopsis roots, and
analysing their role in root morphogenesis and tropisms. (collaboration
with Dr Geoff Wasteneys, Plant Cell Biology Group)
Root-Mychorrizal associations as a tool for improving plant nutrition
under mechanical root impedance.
By reducing root elongation, mechanical impedance increases the
likelyhood of nutrient limitation to growth, especially for nutrients
with low mobility such as P. The beneficial effects of mychorrizae
on P nutrition and growth performance have We are investigating
the extent to which mychorrizal associations may alleviate such
risks, and affect the uptake capacity of mechanically impeded
roots.
Selected Publications
Masle J, Gilmore
SR, Farquhar GD. 2005 The ERECTA gene
regulates plant transpiration efficiency in Aribidopsis.
Nature, 436, 866-870
Buer CS, Wasteneys GO, Masle J. 2003. Ethylene
modulates root wave responses in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology,
in press
Kaiser BN, SR Rawat, Siddiqi MY, Masle J, Glass AD 2002.
Functional analysis of an Arabidopsis t-DNA "knock-out"
of the high-affinity NH4+ transporter AtAMT1;1. Plant Physiology,
130: 1263-1275.
Masle J. 2002 Root impedance and plant performance-
Physiology, Genetic determinants. In: Plant Roots, The Hidden
Half (3rd edition) Y. Waisel, A. Eshel, U. Kafkafi eds, Marcel
Dekker, Inc. Publ, NewYork, 807-819.
Buer S, Masle J, Wasteneys GO. 2001 Growth conditions
modulate root-wave phenotypes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant and
Cell Physiology, 41:1164-1170.
Masle J. 2000. The effects of elevated [CO2]
on cell division rates, growth patterns and blade anatomy in young
wheat plants are modulated by factors related to leaf position,
vernalisation and genotype. Plant Physiology, 122:1399-1415.
Masle J. 1999. Root impedance: sensing, signalling
and physiological effects. In: Plant Responses to Environmental
Stresses: From Phytohormones to genome Reorganization. H.R. Lerner
ed., M. Dekker, Inc., New York Publ., Chapter 22, pp 476-495.
Masle J. 1998. Growth and stomatal responses
of wheat seedlings to spatial heterogeneity of mechanical resistance
to root penetration in wheat. Case of bi-layered soils. Journal
of Experimental Botany, 49:1245-1257.
Beemster, GTS, Masle, J, Williamson, RW and Farquhar,
GD 1996. Effects of soil resistance to root penetration
on leaf expansion. Journal of Experimental Botany, 47, 1663-1678.
Masle J, Badger MR, Hudson GS. 1993. Effects
of ambient CO2 concentration on growth and nitrogen use in tobacco
(Nicotiana tabacum) plants transformed with an antisense gene
to the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase.
Plant Physiology, 103, 1075-1088.
Masle, J 1992. Will plant performance on soils
prone to drought or with high mechanical impedance to root penetration
be improved under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide? Australian
Journal of Botany 40, 491-500.
Masle, J and Farquhar, GD 1988. Effects of soil
strength on the relation of water use efficiency and growth to
carbon isotope discrimination in wheat seedlings. Plant Physiology
86, 32-38.
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