Interview with Emilie Baconnais a PhD student at the IJPB
In the third year of her PhD within the phyWALL team, she shares her experience as an early-career researcher. Her work, focusing on the role of pH in cell wall assembly and expansion, is fully funded by the EUR-SPS
Emilie Baconnais, a graduate of the Master in Plant Sciences, joined the "Physiology of plant cell wall assembly, remodelling, and expansion" phyWALL team in 2023, where she is conducting her PhD research under the supervision of Kalina Haas and Heman Höfte.
Tell us shortly about your thesis project
“My project focuses on the role of pH in cell wall expansion and the growth of the root hair of Arabidopsis thaliana. For a cell to grow, the cell wall must be sufficiently elastic to allow for this expansion while remaining rigid enough to withstand the tensions within the cell. I’m investigating the effect of pH on the signaling, composition, and structure of the cell wall. I’ve shown that when acidification becomes too severe, the growth of the Arabidopsis thaliana root hair is inhibited. The wall’s resistance to this extreme situation appears to be mediated by the Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) 22 peptide. I am now seeking to explain which function of the RALF22 peptide is involved and what impact acidification has on a major component of the cell wall, pectins.”
Why did you decide to work with plants? What do you like about plants?
“I realized I wanted to work with plants when I took my first courses on plant development during my bachelor’s. I found them fascinating, particularly their remarkable ability to adapt and develop resilience against the stresses they face due to their immobility. Given current climate challenges, it seemed obvious to me that plant biology research is essential for understanding all these mechanisms and, above all, ensuring sustainable agriculture for the future.”
For further information, please see the new "Saclay Plant Sciences" SPS, 01/06/26
Research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences.
Tell us shortly about your thesis project
“My project focuses on the role of pH in cell wall expansion and the growth of the root hair of Arabidopsis thaliana. For a cell to grow, the cell wall must be sufficiently elastic to allow for this expansion while remaining rigid enough to withstand the tensions within the cell. I’m investigating the effect of pH on the signaling, composition, and structure of the cell wall. I’ve shown that when acidification becomes too severe, the growth of the Arabidopsis thaliana root hair is inhibited. The wall’s resistance to this extreme situation appears to be mediated by the Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) 22 peptide. I am now seeking to explain which function of the RALF22 peptide is involved and what impact acidification has on a major component of the cell wall, pectins.”
Why did you decide to work with plants? What do you like about plants?
“I realized I wanted to work with plants when I took my first courses on plant development during my bachelor’s. I found them fascinating, particularly their remarkable ability to adapt and develop resilience against the stresses they face due to their immobility. Given current climate challenges, it seemed obvious to me that plant biology research is essential for understanding all these mechanisms and, above all, ensuring sustainable agriculture for the future.”
For further information, please see the new "Saclay Plant Sciences" SPS, 01/06/26
Research developed at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences.
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