Plant Functional Biology course highlighted excellency in plant research

This month at BIOPOLIS-CIBIOwe had the first edition of the advanced course in Plant Functional Biology,which combined lectures with practical work, introducing strategies to study genefunction in plants. Indeed, the special focus of this course resided on genes,their function and how they can provide answers to central questions in modern plantbiology. Carefully selected topics included the plant response to environmentalstress caused by climate change, plant defense mechanisms against infectiousagents, the improvement of nutritional quality, and the development of specifictraits in plants. The course featured updated strategies in molecular biology, plantbiotechnology, genetic engineering and various omics, which can diversify andallow the study of basic processes in model plants and the improvement of cropswith economic interest.

This course’s first editionwas an initiative of the PlantBio group at BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, and brought togetherparticipants from across the country. For five days, participants contactedwith reference researchers from different national institutes and various internationalresearcher centers, with emphasis on the participation of the University ofMontpellier, the partnering institution of the BIOPOLIS Program. Thisambitiously designed course highlighted the importance of Functional PlantBiology and the paramount need for the implementation of sophisticated researchstrategies, which will be absolutely crucial for a sustainable future built ona plant-based green economy.