Mohammed Bendahmane (Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon, France)

My group’s research mainly focuses on the investigation of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of petal development and function using the rose and Arabidopsis as models. In particular, we are interested in deciphering how cell proliferation and cell expansion are regulated during petal morphogenesis. In Rosa sp. we are interested in understanding flower development, petal number control and scent biosynthesis. We have also developed genomic, transcriptomic and biotechnology resources, to highlight the importance of the rose as a model ornamental species.

Lecture: The rose genome sequencing initiative, prospects and perspectives

Scott Hodges (University of California Santa Barbara, USA)

Our laboratory primarily studies the genetic basis of floral characters in columbines (Aquilegia). We are particularly interested in characters such as flower colour, flower form, orientation and spur length. Differences in these characters between taxa promote visitation by different pollinators, such as bumblebees, hummingbirds and hawkmoths, resulting in reproductive isolation and speciation. We have led an international team to develop genomic resources for the genus including a high-quality, whole genome sequence.

Monica Höfte (Ghent University, Belgium)

Our fundamental research focuses on unravelling the mechanisms behind natural and inducible disease resistance against plant pathogens in some major crops. We use a molecular approach combined with a physiological study of the interaction between the bacterial/fungal attack and their host plant reaction. Special attention goes to the role of plant hormones in the plant pathogenic interaction.

Lecture: Basal and inducible disease resistance mechanisms in ornamentals

Jochen Kumlehn (Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Germany)

The focus of our research is the plant reproductive biology (gamete development, fertilisation, early embryogenesis, apomixis) and alternative plant technologies as single cell dissection, genetic engineering and haploid technology. A more applied interest is genetic engineering towards crop improvement and molecular farming.

Ottoline Leyser (University of Cambridge, UK)

Our lab is interested in understanding the role of plant hormones in plant developmental plasticity, using the regulation of shoot branching by N availability in Arabidopsis as a model. Current areas of focus are on understanding the role of the auxin transport network in shoot branching plasticity and how other hormonal signals, such as cytokinin and strigolactone, are integrated into the system through their effects on auxin transport. This work involves cell biological and molecular genetic approaches to understand the mechanisms of action and interaction of these hormones, which are linked to whole plant phenotypes, physiology, and natural variation in branching response through computational modelling.

Lecture: Hormonal control of shoot branching

Chun-lin Long (Minzu University of China and Kunming Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences, China)

My major interests cover botany and associated subjects, including biodiversity, plant genetic resources, economic botany, ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and medicinal chemistry, plant phylogeny and taxonomy. I am interested in aroids (Araceae) and other groups, covering their biotechnology-based innovation and development. In the past decade I have made contributions to the studies on ornamental plants. The important groups include Magnoliaceae, Ericaceae, Aceraceae, Araceae, Orchidaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Primulaceae, and Theaceae.

Lecture: Biodiversity of Chinese Ornamentals

Renate Müller (Copenhagen University, Denmark)

My research group covers important topics within flower physiology and reproduction biology of ornamental plants. Here, wide hybridisation techniques and tissue culture are essential approaches to improve the breeders’ toolbox. For 15 years, my research has explored genetic and physiological factors that determine plant quality. I try to combine a strong horticultural background from industry with a scientific focus on ornamental plants.

Lecture: Natural transformation in plant breeding – A biotechnological platform for quality improvement of ornamental, agricultural and medicinal plants

Jaap van Tuyl (Wageningen University and Research Center, the Netherlands)

My areas of expertise include interspecific hybridisation, polyploidisation, in vitro pollination and embryo rescue techniques, chromosome painting, development of molecular marker techniques in lily and tulip, resistance breeding, flower longevity and genetic resources of bulbous plants. I have experience in the commercial ornamental industry as a flower breeder and researcher, and I am active as international consultant for flower breeding.

Lecture: Learning from breakthroughs in domesticating lily species: past present and future of ornamental breeding

Robert Wacker (Floramedia Group, the Netherlands)

One of my interests is intellectual property and how to protect it in ways besides Plant Breeder Rights. Many new technologies are available to protect the copyright of brand owners across all industries. During this symposium, I will present customised solutions for the copyright protection of plants which have already been proven in other industries.

Lecture: How to protect intellectual property? How to detect product piracy? New technologies available provided by the graphical industry and how to use them in the supply chain of plants

Traud Winkelmann (Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Germany)

Our group's research mainly focuses on gaining a better understanding of plant propagation on the physiological and molecular level. This implies especially the use of in vitro culture techniques for propagation and breeding of horticultural crops. Protocols for regeneration, transformation, interspecific hybridization and haploid techniques are established and improved to be applied in fundamental research as well as in plant breeding.

Lecture: Interspecific hybridisation in the genus Helleborus