The ability to self-repair damaged tissue is one of the key features that define living organisms. In

humans and animals, damaged tissue can be replenished through the activity of stem cells. These

basic, undifferentiated cells will divide to produce new cells that replace the damaged tissue cells.

Plants are characterized by a similar system, but their regenerative properties are generally much

greater. While this asset has been widely used in grafting and plant tissue culture techniques, the

mechanisms by which plant cells are triggered to form new cells after injury remain largely elusive.

Recently, we uncovered a novel protein complex controlling tissue repair in plants. One dead plant

cell is sufficient to activate the protein complex in its neighbouring cells. As a result, these cells are

triggered to divide in such a way that the newly produced cells substitute the dead ones. Preliminary

data indicate that, next to the identified protein complex, related transcription factor complexes

exist with a similar role in tissue recovery. Within this project, we aim to categorize these different

protein complexes in a systematic manner, localize their activity, and identify their substrates. Our

results might help to achieve a full understanding of plant regeneration. This knowledge might be

applicable to crop species, thereby increasing cultivation efficiency and reducing grafting failure

rates.