LGDP

Laboratoire Génome et développement des plantes

The LGDP (Plant Genome and Development Laboratory) studies the organisation and dynamics of plant genomes, the regulation of gene expression during plant development and how plants adapt to to biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly in the context of global warming.

The LGDP is supported by two public institutions: the UPVD (University of Perpignan Via Domitia) and the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique). The LGDP is attached to the Biology Institute of the CNRS. In addition, the team Mechanisms of Adaptation and Genomics is an EMR (Equipe Mixte de Recherche) supported by the IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement).

The LGDP’s teams carry out research projects integrated into the overall theme of the laboratory through the study of several model plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa (rice) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), as well as species of the genus Citrus. The LGDP also studies heritage species such as Ophrys (orchids) and Fagus sylvatica (beech), as well as the emblematic Pyrenean plants Delphinium montanum and Pedicularis comosa. Finally, some of our teams are involved in collaborative projects studying the unicellular green alga Ostreococcus tauri.

The LGDP is a partner in the LabEx TULIP and the EUR TULIP-Graduate School. It is also involved in several national networks, including the CNRS research groups EPIPLANT and Mobil-ET, and in the CNRS-IEA (International Emerging Actions) project EpiSplice in collaboration with OIST in Japan. The LGDP is also a partner in the European COST programme EPI-CATCH. Locally, the LGDP is a partner in the FREE (Energy and Environment Research Federation), which includes the Bioenvironment) platform, and works with the Pyrénées-Orientales nature reserves.

A brief history

Origins and evolution
Initially focused on the study of nucleic acid metabolism during germination, the laboratory has gradually evolved into its current structure and themes under the impetus of its successive members and directors: Yves Guitton until 1977, Paul Penon until 1984, Michel Delseny until 2006, Manuel Echeverria until 2010, Jean-Marc Deragon until 2019, Olivier Panaud until 2024 and Julio Sáez Vásquez (currently).

A few key dates:
1966: Creation of the laboratory. The LGDP evolved from the Plant Physiology Laboratory, created by Professor Yves Guitton when the University of Perpignan was reopened in 1966.
1970: the laboratory became associated with the CNRS in 1970 (ERA 226) and this association has been constantly renewed since then in the form of a URA or UMR.
2001: following work on rice, a partnership with the IRD was formalised, creating a joint research unit on two sites, Perpignan and Montpellier (IRD campus).
2011: End of the contract with the IRD.
2022: IRD accreditation of the team Mechanisms of Adaptation and Genomics, which becomes an EMR.





 

 
https://lgdp.univ-perp.fr/en