Research Interests
Water is an essential component in the life of plants. While water-use in plants is regarded as a passive process, plants do actively utilize water to generate novel behaviors to better adapt to the environment and to increase their fitness. Many Viola species exhibit the explosive seed dispersal syndrome, allowing them to disseminate seeds without any assist from biotic and abiotic mediators. The mechanism is mediated by the movement of the seed dispersal apparatus, which is actuated by changes in the tissue hydration status. Using the explosive seed dispersal in Viola as a study system, I aim to elucidate how plants can actively control and use water to generate the adaptive behaviors and overcome their sessile nature.