Andrea Genre

New PhytologistVolume 231, Issue 4 p. 1316-1317 ProfileFree Access Andrea Genre First published: 15 July 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17424AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use check box below share version article.I have read accept the Wiley Online Library UseShareable LinkUse link a this article with your friends colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat What inspired interest in plant science? I believe my first conscious inspiration came from early university studies. Botany lessons opened mind an unexpectedly diverse – young student alien world, populated creatures that had mostly considered as part landscape, but which turned out surprisingly complex life cycles, interactions metabolic capabilities. Plant science took place premises botanical garden, detached, calm atmosphere. At time, orto botanico Turin was literally secret closed public apparently miles away nearby traffic city crowded corridors main buildings. All undoubtedly charmed me motivated application for experimental thesis science. Another inspiring moment happened while studying mycology exam. taken few days off, spent at grandparents' house Alps, fully focus on study. It late spring, walked woods, reading about mycorrhizas class notes, among several birch saplings. Abruptly, grasped one pulled it soft ground, there they were: short, club-shaped root tips precisely matching description ectomycorrhizas notes. That ordinary event provided revealing evidence study-excited mind, somehow reinforcing trust books well symbioses. Why did you decide pursue career research? progressively blame fascinating complexity symbiotic much passion visual experiences. Following degree, obtained position research assistant where charge recently acquired confocal microscope struggling obtain acceptable 3D images cytoskeleton mycorrhizal using immunofluorescence. challenging experience transported inside miniature world cell, whose panoramas enjoyed so never wanted leave. The rest consequence: PhD, then researcher lastly associate professor position, always keeping microscopy live cell imaging central focus. motivates day-to-day basis? biology is continuous surprises. So often working hypotheses been overturned by evidence, those were invariably ground-breaking observations novel perspectives, many we are still pursuing. Is anyone consider be role model? would not say actively searched specific person, am certainly doing best learn everyone. This applies aspects: understanding what wrong boring presentation meeting recognizing (and hopefully correcting!) same mistakes own slides; absorbing principles professional ethics endeavouring pass them students; watching how group leaders deal their everyday struggles taking mental notes dos don’ts. lucky start most renowned groups study mycorrhizas, under guidance Paola Bonfante: model enthusiastic restlessness, constant source insights long-term visions keep us going. crucial period PhD Toulouse, team led David Barker. His rigorous reasoning mixed sincere knowledge whole group, profoundly permanently influenced me. Co-authoring papers also gave insider access scientific writing native English speaker talent clarity, field learning curve will stop rising. favourite Phytologist recent years, why? very enjoy depth reviews, appreciate freshness Letters Viewpoint articles. If asked mention individual issues Phytologist, immediately comes Harwood et␣al. (2020). Their reconstructions mesophyll cells iconic now use paper show students schemes found textbooks can misleading. frequently present Gorshkova (2018) contractile tertiary walls, excellent example surprising features hiding plain sight long time. Coming topics closer research, Bravo (2017) way fatty acid auxotrophy arbuscular (AM) fungi, breakthrough general frame plant–fungus mutualism presented Tansley Wipf (2019), successful attempts axenic cultivation AM fungi lipid-enriched media, thoroughly commented Rillig My fungal signalling molecules perception host plants excited Huang (2020) natural variation OsCERK1 receptors wild rice varieties consequently efficiency symbiosis development. Back surprises interactions, Chaudhary depicted convincing view aerial dispersal possibility appeared unlikely just years ago. issues, Wang (2021), characterizes secreted effectors encoded Rhizophagus irregularis genome, marks opening promising new area exploration, driven massive amount information derived genomic analyses. plant, think original fascination organisms reason why particularly love unusual plants: oddly shaped succulents populate windowsills home (Fig. 1), ancient survivors evolution, such Cycas, catch eye gardens. said tree 20 ago, happens exactly when planted Ginkgo biloba, another ‘living fossil’ kingdom monumental fond. Fig. 1Open figure viewerPowerPoint Huernia zebrina bloom. Box his Fungal Biology Biotechnology 2006 Bonfante University (Italy), he currently carrying teaching Associate Professor. during studies combined electron describe collaboration Barker (LIPM CNRS-INRAE, France) apparatus anticipates penetration lumen epidermal cortical cells. In 2012 opportunity projects, investigated similarities between pre-penetration responses division, outlining possible evolutionary/developmental connections. These more advanced characterization cycle reactivation colonization, advance arbuscule accommodation. Converging interests LIPM generated series characterized short-chain chitin oligosaccharides major fungi. Andrea’s focuses potential promoters agriculture. Editor joined Board 2020. For Andrea, visit https://dbiosen.campusnet.unito.it/do/docenti.pl/Show?_id=agenre, or contact him [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5029-6194 References A, Brands M, Wewer V, Dörmann P, Harrison MJ. 2017. Arbuscular mycorrhiza-specific enzymes FatM RAM2 fine-tune lipid biosynthesis promote development mycorrhiza. 214: 1631– 1645. LibraryCASPubMedWeb Science®Google Scholar VB, Nolimal S, Sosa-Hernández MA, Egan C, Kastens J. Trait-based 228: 238– 252. LibraryCASWeb T, Chernova Mokshina N, Ageeva Mikshina P. 2018. ‘muscles’: fibers wall. 218: 66– 72. R, Goodman E, Gudmundsdottir Huynh Musulin Q, Song Barbour MM. Cell chloroplast anatomical poorly estimated 2D cross-sections. 225: 2567– 2578. LibraryPubMedWeb Li Z, Mao Zhang H, Sun Feng Y, Shen X, Bucher M Natural regulates rice. 1762– 1776. MC, Aguilar-Trigueros CA, Anderson IC, Antonovics J, Ballhausen M-B, Bergmann Bielcik Deveautour Grünfeld L Myristate ecology fungi: significance, opportunities, applications challenges. 227: 1610– 1614. Jiang Boeren Dings Kulikova O, Bisseling Limpens E. 2021. A nuclear-targeted effector irregularisinterferes histone 2B mono-ubiquitination mycorrhisation. 230: 1142– 1155. D, Krajinski F, van Tuinen Recorbet G, Courty P-E. 2019. Trading mycorrhiza market: arbuscules common networks. 223: 1127– 1142. Volume231, Issue4August 2021Pages FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation