Research Interests
Flowers are reproductive structures of plants, and their morphology is shaped by the development of floral organs. Our model species, Viola philippica adopts a strategy where these organs either arrest or undergo outgrowth, leading to both closed and opened flowers (cleistogamy). In particular, closed flowers with curved pistils are specialized for self-pollination, which ensures reliable offspring production during the summer when competition intensifies. Identifying the genes and their functions associated with these traits is essential for understanding how plants thrive in harsh environments. My research aims to elucidate the link between pistil morphology and reproductive strategies, uncovering the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary significance of the structures adapted for self-pollination.