Welcome

Vascular transport maintains all plant functions. Specific examples are the dependence of gas exchange on water supply, the dependence of growth on turgor pressure, and the need to transport sugars and signaling molecules throughout the plant body. In short, large organisms cannot exist without transport systems. If the organisms are long-lived, as trees are, then these transport systems must function over decades and centuries, time scales that may greatly surpass human life spans. Such transport systems must cope with environmental changes and adjust to the growth of the organism over time.

How should these transport systems function? How does their anatomy support their function? How do vascular systems develop? What are the challenges to transport? Cardiovascular diseases cause many problems for human health, and it turns out to be a similar situation for plants. Vascular transport in plants is responsive to abiotic stress, and that in return impacts growth and survival.

Drought and freezing are major research themes in my laboratory. We strive to learn how plants cope with different and variable climate conditions.

Purpose

The purpose of our research laboratory is to (1) conduct cutting-edge research in fundamental plant science and, by doing so, to (2) educate and train graduate and undergraduate students.

By looking at the other pages of this website, you will learn about the lab members, our research publications (we are a productive group!), and some of the teaching we are involved in.

Contact and links:

Phone: (780) 492 8511; Email: uwe.hacke at ualberta.ca; Address: 442 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada

Dr. Hacke is a Canada Research Chair.

Alberta:

If you drive 4 hours from Edmonton, you may see something spectacular as this: