This National Science Foundation (NSF) award under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) supports a collaborative research project to study how plant hormones regulate rapid growth and development of stamen filaments in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The $651,000 grant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, awarded on February 15, 2024, will examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling stamen filament elongation as flowers open, a critical process for efficient pollination and seed production in self-pollinating plants. The project aims to elucidate how auxin and jasmonate hormones coordinate stamen growth and pollen release, leveraging advanced microscopy, single-cell sequencing, and genetic manipulations. Findings may enable targeted modification of flower organ development to improve crop yield. The work will also provide undergraduate research opportunities and public outreach on plant reproduction.
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