Biology 222 The Living Plant, Winter 2024

Biology 222 The Living Plant, Winter 2026

arabidopsis embryogenesis organogenesis plant development pollen cell wall sporopollenin synchrotron transport

Dr. Teagen Quilichini’s research program explores how plants build one of the most durable biological materials on Earth: sporopollenin, a resilient biopolymer found in the walls of spores and pollen grains of all land plants. This intricate cell wall polymer protects reproductive cells from environmental stress and is essential for plant fertility. Her lab combines developmental genetics with advanced imaging approaches to understand how sporopollenin is synthesized, transported, and assembled during pollen development. By studying both the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and crop species such as canola, the research connects fundamental discovery with questions relevant to crop performance. Through uncovering how sporopollenin forms within living tissues, the Quilichini Lab aims to clarify how plants safeguard reproduction under environmental change. The work advances foundational knowledge of plant development and provides hands-on training for students in modern genetic, synchrotron science and imaging approaches in plant biology.

Ph.D. in Botany, University of British Columbia (2009–2014)

B.Sc. (Honours), University of Calgary (2003–2008)