Vidali Lab Research

Plant shape and growth are determined by cellular morphology and cell growth. Hence, cell growth is essential for plants to survive and adapt, and understanding the molecular mechanisms that control plant cell growth will be critical for designing plants with improved and beneficial characteristics.

In the Vidali Lab, we study cell growth using as a model system the protonemal cells of the moss Physcomitrium patens. These cells grow by tip growth, where secretion and cell wall expansion are limited to the most apical domain. We combine molecular, genetic, and biochemical methods with live-cell imaging and mathematical modeling to investigate the role of the cytoskeleton, exocytosis, and cell wall mechanics in cell growth.