Modelling Plant Stem Cells: Evolution, Development and Regeneration

Plants exhibit an outstanding capacity for de novo organogenesis and regeneration, a feature driven by the activity of stem cells in different developmental contexts. The rapid emergence of new model species covering distant branches of the phylogenetic tree opens exciting opportunities for comparative analysis of the developmental mechanisms underlying stem cell-driven plant developmental plasticity.

The aim of this workshop is to start a conversation on the evolutionary history and diversity of the developmental mechanisms underlying plant stemness. To this end the workshop will bring together researchers working on plant stem cell biology in different species, developmental contexts, and applying experimental and/or computational modelling approaches. The retreat-like setting of this workshop will offer ample opportunities for discussion. Examples of the questions we will discuss are: How have plant developmental programs been shaped throughout evolution? What are the evolutionary and practical aspects of selecting new model systems? How can computational-experimental approaches be combined to accelerate the description of species-specific mechanisms?

We anticipate cross-system and cross-disciplinary collaborative efforts to naturally emerge in this timely and exciting workshop to uncover the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms that enabled plants to become so diverse in terms of form, niche, and lifestyle, and ultimately in their success in land colonisation.

Topics for discussion include:

• Evolution of plant development: conservation, co-option and modification of developmental mechanisms
• Generalities and specificities of stem cells across land plants
• Evolutionary and practical aspects in the selection of novel model systems
• Bridging the gap: integrating models and experiments to accelerate our understanding of plant stemness

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