Guusje Bonnema is the research group leader of the ‘Growth and Development Group’ of Plant Breeding, Wageningen University and Research. Her research focuses on the molecular regulation of developmental traits in Brassicas and lettuce and the influences of external factors on these traits. In Brassica, the focus is on understanding the enormous genetic and phenotypic variation, and the genetic dissection of domestication traits, like leafy head formation in cabbages. In cauliflower, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity of curd initiation and curd quality, combining field experiments and experiments in a controlled environment with transcriptomics and pan-genomics. The research in lettuce focuses on breeding lettuce for optimal growth in vertical farms by modulating plant circadian rhythms to maximize the yield potential. In addition we investigated what traits optimize crops for cultivation in more durable cultivation systems. The main focus is on mixed cropping systems, that are more sustainable due to their positive effects on ecosystem services and their reduced needs for external inputs, while maintaining or increasing yields per area.
Well done!
