We investigate the genetic basis of phenotypic differences between the emerging model species Cardamine hirsuta and its relative Arabidopsis thaliana and examine the evolutionary processes underlying such differences. We focus on explosive pod shatter and petal number variation, which are traits derived in C. hirsuta. Within CEPLAS, we are interested in understanding how cellular novelties are translated to trait innovations.

1. Pieper B, Monniaux M, Hay A (2016) The genetic architecture of petal number in Cardamine hirsuta. New Phytol 209(1):395-406.
2. Monniaux M, Pieper B, Hay A (2016) Stochastic variation in Cardamine hirsuta petal number. Ann Bot 117(5):881-887.
3. Hofhuis H, Moulton D, Lessinnes T, Routier-Kierzkowska AL, Bomphrey RJ, Mosca G, Reinhardt H, Sarchet P, Gan X, Tsiantis M, Ventikos Y, Walker S, Goriely A, Smith R, Hay A (2016) Morphomechanical Innovation Drives Explosive Seed Dispersal. Cell 166(1):222-233.
4. Hay AS, Pieper B, Cooke E, Mandáková T, Cartolano M, Tattersall AD, Ioio RD, McGowan SJ, Barkoulas M, Galinha C, Rast MI, Hofhuis H, Then C, Plieske J, Ganal M, Mott R, Martinez-Garcia JF, Carine MA, Scotland RW, Gan X, Filatov DA, Lysak MA, Tsiantis M (2014) Cardamine hirsuta: a versatile genetic system for comparative studies. Plant J 78(1):1-15.
5. Piazza P, Bailey CD, Cartolano M, Krieger J, Cao J, Ossowski S, Schneeberger K, He F, de Meaux J, Hall N, Macleod N, Filatov D, Hay A, Tsiantis M (2010) Arabidopsis thaliana leaf form evolved via loss of KNOX expression in leaves in association with a selective sweep. Curr Biol 20(24):2223-2228.
6. Barkoulas M, Hay A, Kougioumoutzi E, Tsiantis M (2008) A developmental framework for dissected leaf formation in the Arabidopsis relative Cardamine hirsuta. Nature genetics 40(9):1136-1141.
7. Hay A, Tsiantis M (2006) The genetic basis for differences in leaf form between Arabidopsis thaliana and its wild relative Cardamine hirsuta. Nature genetics 38(8):942-947.
8. Hay A, Barkoulas M, Tsiantis M (2006) ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 and auxin activities converge to repress BREVIPEDICELLUS expression and promote leaf development in Arabidopsis. Development 133(20):3955-3961.
9. Foster T, Hay A, Johnston R, Hake S (2004) The establishment of axial patterning in the maize leaf. Development 131(16):3921-3929.
10. Hay A, Kaur H, Phillips A, Hedden P, Hake S, Tsiantis M (2002) The gibberellin pathway mediates KNOTTED1-type homeobox function in plants with different body plans. Curr Biol 12(18):1557-1565.