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Main research interests

In my team we study seed mucilage production and function. Mucilage is formed of polysaccharides accumulated in the epidermal cells of the seed coat that are released on imbibition. The function of mucilage remains to be clearly demonstrated. We are thus interested in both how and why its constituent polysaccharides are produced. In particular, we exploit natural variation in mucilage characteristics to identify novel genes and associate particular mucilage traits with the environment.

Selection of 3 major recent publications

North HM, Berger, A, Saez-Aguayo S, Ralet M-C. (2014) Understanding polysaccharide production and properties using seed coat mutants: future perspectives for the exploitation of natural variants. Ann Bot 114: 1251-1263.

Saez-Aguayo, S, Rondeau-Mouro, C, Macquet, A, Kronholm, I, Ralet, M-C., Berger, A, Salle, A, Poulain, D, Granier, F, Botran, L, Loudet, O, de Meaux, J,  Marion-Poll, A, North, HM (2014). Local evolution of seed flotation in Arabidopsis. PloS Genet. 10: e1004221.

Saez-Aguayo S, Ralet M-C, Berger A, Botran L, Marion-Poll A, North HM (2013) PECTIN METHYLESTERASE INHIBITOR6 promotes Arabidopsis mucilage release by limiting methylesterification of homogalacturonan in seed coat epidermal cells. Plant Cell 25: 308-323

Address

Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin
Pôle Reproduction et Graines
UMR 1318 INRA-AgroParisTech
Route de Saint Cyr
78026 Versailles cedex
France

helen.north[at]versailles.inra.fr