We warmly invite you to a theme day dedicated to exploring the molecular and cellular foundations of plant development. The program will highlight how genetic information, meristematic activity, and environmental cues coordinate the formation of tissues and organs from the zygote through embryonic and post-embryonic stages. Join us for an engaging day of discussions on the dynamic processes that shape plant form and function.
Would you like to present your work?
PhD students and postdoctoral researchers are especially encouraged to contribute. Are you interested in giving a presentation? Please contact the theme day coordinators Kaisa Kajala (UU) and/or Viola Willemsen (WUR) before 15 October 2025.
Keynote speakers:
– Renske Vroomans, Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
– Ari Pekka Mähönen, University of Helsinki, Finland
Date: 10.11.2025
Time: 09:30 -17:00
Location: Boothzaal (M.03), Utrecht University Library, Utrecht University
Fee: EPS member free (by no show a fee of € 100 will be charged). Fee for Participants from the industry €150
Registration: closed
Coordinators: Kaisa Kajala (UU), Viola Willemsen (WUR), and Juliane Teapal (EPS)
Programme (please note an additional PI pre-meeting programme will be sent to registered staff participants)
09:30 – 10:00 Registration and coffee
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome by Kaisa Kajala
10:10 – 10:50 Keynote: Renske Vroomans, The Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University: Using evolutionary simulations to predict plant patterning mechanisms.
10:50 – 11:15 Joyce Schreiber, Wageningen University & Research: Maintenance of quiescence in P. patens protonema is non- cell autonomously regulated and auxin-independent
11:15 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:10 Cheuk Ka (Minnie) Leong, Wageningen University & Research: ABA-Auxin Crosstalk in Root Salt Stress Response.
12:10 – 12:35 Kailash Pandey, Wageningen University & Research: Regulation of Tomato Secondary Growth by FUL- and SOC1-like Genes.
12:35 – 14:00 Lunch at Educatorium
14:00 – 14:25 Eva van Zelm, Utrecht University: The Rhythm of Roots; Quantifying Lateral Root Priming.
14:25 – 14:50 Inka Stegemann, Leiden University: Genetic drivers of wood and lignin formation.
14:50 – 15:20 Break
15:20 – 15:45 Ruben De Francesco, Radboud University: Endoreduplication drives cellular differentiation in plant epidermis through the atypical cyclin family CYCP4s.
15:45 – 16:25 Keynote: Ari Pekka Mähönen, University of Helsinki: Stem cells of the vascular cambium: where a receptor captures its ligand
16:25 – 16:35 Closing by Viola Willemsen
16:35 – 18:00 Borrel