We are analysing the intercellular signalling pathways that control growth and development of plant shoot and root meristems. Meristems harbour a plant´s stem cells and determine the capacity to grow for extended periods, generate new organs such as leaves and control the growth pattern of the root system. We will characterise the differences between meristems that support annual or perennial growth patterns, identify the genes that control these traits and use them to modulate life strategies in crop plants.

1. Somssich M, Bleckmann A, Simon R (2016) Shared and distinct functions of the pseudokinase CORYNE (CRN) in shoot and root stem cell maintenance of Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 67(16):4901-4915.
2. Somssich M, Ma Q, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Stahl Y, Felekyan S, Bleckmann A, Seidel CA, Simon R (2015) Real-time dynamics of peptide ligand-dependent receptor complex formation in planta. Science signaling 8(388):ra76.
3. Richards S, Wink RH, Simon R (2015) Mathematical modelling of WOX5- and CLE40-mediated columella stem cell homeostasis in Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 66(17):5375-5384.
4. Stahl Y, Grabowski S, Bleckmann A, Kühnemuth R, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Pinto KG, Kirschner GK, Schmid JB, Wink RH, Hülsewede A, Felekyan S, Seidel CA, Simon R (2013) Moderation of Arabidopsis root stemness by CLAVATA1 and ARABIDOPSIS CRINKLY4 receptor kinase complexes. Curr Biol 23(5):362-371.
5. Rast MI, Simon R (2012) Arabidopsis JAGGED LATERAL ORGANS acts with ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 to coordinate KNOX and PIN expression in shoot and root meristems. The Plant cell 24(7):2917-2933.
6. Hohm T, Zitzler E, Simon R (2010) A dynamic model for stem cell homeostasis and patterning in Arabidopsis meristems. PloS one 5(2):e9189.
7. Bleckmann A, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Seidel CA, Simon R (2010) Stem cell signaling in Arabidopsis requires CRN to localize CLV2 to the plasma membrane. Plant Physiol 152(1):166-176.
8. Stahl Y, Wink RH, Ingram GC, Simon R (2009) A signaling module controlling the stem cell niche in Arabidopsis root meristems. Curr Biol 19(11):909-914.
9. Müller R, Bleckmann A, Simon R (2008) The receptor kinase CORYNE of Arabidopsis transmits the stem cell-limiting signal CLAVATA3 independently of CLAVATA1. The Plant cell 20(4):934-946.
10. Brand U, Fletcher JC, Hobe M, Meyerowitz EM, Simon R (2000) Dependence of stem cell fate in Arabidopsis on a feedback loop regulated by CLV3 activity. Science 289(5479):617-619.