Abstract:
Auxin and cytokinin are key hormonal orchestrators of root system architecture and its developmental plasticity. Our research has identified several convergence points and signaling pathways that integrate auxin and cytokinin inputs to coordinate root organ development. Interestingly, some of the recently identified molecular components go beyond classical auxin–cytokinin cross-talk, establishing functional connections with other regulatory pathways. These include mechanisms mediating the perception of environmental cues, such as abiotic stress and nitrate availability, as well as the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton and subcellular trafficking. Insights into how auxin and cytokinin signaling are embedded within complex molecular networks that govern plant growth and enable adaptive responses to fluctuating environmental conditions will be discussed.

Bio:
Eva Benková completed her PhD at the Institute of Biophysics at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Brno. From 1998-2007, she held postdoc positions at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding and the Center for Plant Molecular Biology, in Cologne and Tübingen, Germany, respectively. Afterwards, she led research groups at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology in Ghent, Belgium, and the Central European Institute of Technology in Brno, Czech Republic. In 2013, Eva Benková joined IST Austria as an Assistant Professor, and has been a full Professor since 2016. Her research focuses on on molecular mechanisms and principles underlying hormonal interactions in plants. In 2017 she was elected EMBO member.