Welcome!

I’m a plant molecular biologist at the University of Liège (Belgium). After a master degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Liège (Belgium), I completed a Ph.D. thesis on the genetic mechanisms controlling the flowering time of Arabidopsis at the whole-plant scale, including roots. In parallel to my bench work, I initiated the development of FLOR-ID, a curated and interactive database summarizing the accumulated knowledge about the onset of reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana. I subsequently performed a fruitful postdoc at the University of Wisconsin-Madison], in Prof. Amasino’s lab, where I studied the genetic pathways regulating the onset of flowering in Brachypodium distachyon, a model grass species closely related to wheat, barley, and oats. I then returned to the University of Liège where I pursue the study of the genetic basis of flowering time in Pooideae through an F.R.S.-FNRS research grant.

Contact

fbouche@uliege.be

Prof. Périlleux lab
Plant Physiology
University of Liège
Sart Tilman, Quartier Vallée 1
Chemin de la Vallée, 4, Bât.B22

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PhD Dissertation

PROJECTS

The genetic basis of flowering-time control in Brachypodium

Brachypodium distachyon is a grass species from the Triticeae tribe, which includes wheat, barley, oat, and rye. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the initiation of flowering in these species is necessary to improve yields. However, the economically important grasses tend to be physically large, have relatively long life cycles and possess complex genomes, thus making genetic studies very complex. In this context, Brachypodium emerges as a model organism to study the molecular mechanisms governing flowering in those species. The knowledge accumulated on the control of flowering time in Brachypodium will help researchers to better select inbred cereal crops.

Database of Arabidopsis flowering-time genes

The transition to flowering is an essential step of the plant life cycle that is tightly controlled by both endogenous and environmental cues. Its regulation is extremely complex and involves hundreds of genes that are part of highly interconnected pathways. Our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing the floral induction of Arabidopsis thaliana increases quickly and a significant number of reviews are published every year on this topic. We developed a web-based interactive resource organized around a curated database of the flowering time genes, available at www.flor-id.org. This project is a collaboration with Guillaume Lobet, and was published in Nucleic Acids Research.

Read more about it: Flowering highlights - F1000 Prime - ULg website - Video description

Involvment of roots in floral induction in Arabidopsis

The induction of flowering is a complex process involving hundreds of genes that are part of different interconnected pathways. Together, they converge to regulate a small subset of genes that are responsible for the switch from the vegetative to the reproductive phase of the plant life cycle. Photoperiodic induction of flowering is mediated by a mobile signal produced in phloem’s companion cells that subsequently migrates to the shoot apical meristem and likely reaches roots. My work intends to use an integrative approach to unravel the relationships that exist between roots and shoot during the induction of flowering but also to identify the role of flowering time genes expressed in roots.

PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES


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Mutations in the predicted DNA polymerase subunit POLD3 result in more rapid flowering of Brachypodium distachyon [2020].
Woods D.P, Dong Y., Bouché F., Mayer K., Varner L., Ream T.S., Thrower N., Wilkerson C., Cartwright A., Sibout R., Laudencia-Chingcuanco D., Vogel J., and Amasino R.M.

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Turning Meristems into Fortresses [2019].
Périlleux C., Bouché F., Randoux M., and Orman-Ligeza, B.

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A florigen paralog is required for short-day vernalization in a pooid grass [2019].
Woods D.P., Dong Y., Bouché F., Bednarek R., Rowe, M., Ream T., and Amasino R.M.


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An ortholog of CURLY LEAF/ENHANCER OF ZESTE like-1 is required for proper flowering in Brachypodium distachyon [2018].
Lomax, A., Woods D.P., Dong Y., Bouché F., Rong, Y., Mayer, S.M., Zhong, X., and Amasino R.M.

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Establishment of a vernalization requirement in Brachypodium distachyon requires REPRESSOR OF VERNALIZATION1 [2017].
Woods D.P., Ream T.S., Bouché F., Lee J., Thrower N., Wilkerson, C., and Amasino R.M.


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Winter Memory throughout the Plant Kingdom - Different Paths to Flowering [2017].
Bouché, F., Woods, DP., & Amasino RM.

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Genetic Architecture of Flowering-Time Variation in Brachypodium distachyon [2017].
Woods, DP., Bednarek, R., Bouché, F., Gordon, SP., Vogel, JP., Garvin DF., & Amasino, RM.

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Integrating roots into a whole plant network of flowering time genes in Arabidopsis thaliana [2016].
Bouché F., D’Aloia M., Tocquin P., Lobet G., Detry N., & Périlleux C.

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FLOR-ID - an interactive database of flowering-time gene networks in Arabidopsis thaliana [2016].
Bouché F.*, Lobet, G.*, Tocquin, P., & Périlleux C. & Tocquin P.

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Extracellular peptidase hunting for improvement of protein production in plant cells and roots [2015].
Lallemand J., Bouché F., Desiron C., Stautemans J., de Lemos Esteves F, Périlleux C., & Tocquin P.

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Heat can erase epigenetic marks of vernalization in Arabidopsis [2015].
Bouché F. , Detry N., & Périlleux C.

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A root chicory MADS-box sequence and the Arabidopsis flowering repressor FLC share common features that suggest conserved function in vernalization and devernalization responses [2013].
Périlleux C., Pieltain A., Jacquemin G., Bouché F., Detry N., D’Aloia M., Thiry L., Aljochim P., Delansnay M., Mathieu A.-S., Lutts S., & Tocquin P.

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Cytokinin promotes flowering of Arabidopsis via transcriptional activation of the FT paralogue TSF [2011].
D’Aloia M., Bonhomme D., Bouché F., Tamseddak K., Ormenese S., Torti S., Coupland G., & Périlleux C.

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SELECTED PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS

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Unraveling the molecular mechanisms controlling flowering in the model temperate grass Brachypodium distachyon [2017].
Bouché F., Woods, DP., and Amasino, RM.
Plant Biology 2017, Honolulu (HI)

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Plant Illustration Repository [2017].
Sparks E.*, Lobet G.*, York M.*, and Bouché F.*
Online Repository

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Genetic architecture of flowering-time control in Brachypodium distachyon [2017].
Bouché F., Woods, DP., and Amasino, RM.
Plant Biology 2017, Honolulu (HI)

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Communicating Effectively with Scientific Infographics [2017].
Bouché F.
ASPB [Plantae webinar].

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Communicating Effectively with Graphics [2016].
Bouché F.
American Society of Plant Biologists.

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Integrating roots into a whole-plant map of flowering-time gene networks in Arabidopsis thaliana [2015].
Bouché F.
University of Liège [Belgium].

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Genetic Control of Flowering Time in Arabidopsis - an Interactive Database [2015].
Bouché F., Lobet G., Tocquin P., & Périlleux C.
Plant Organ Growth Symposium 2015, Ghent [Belgium].

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microRNAs in Arabidopsis - discovery, functions & implication in the control of flowering time [2014].
Bouché F.
Phytosystems Day, Liège [Belgium].

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Best Plant Biotechnology poster at the BioLiège Bioforum [2014].
Bouché, F.
Prize awarded for the poster “Flowering Goes Underground”.

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Flowering Goes Underground [2014].
Bouché F., Lobet G., D’Aloia M., Detry N., Tocquin P., & Périlleux C.
The Bioforum 2014 of BioLiège, Liège [Belgium].

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The hidden half of flowering [2013].
Bouché F., Mistiaen K., D’Aloia M., Detry N., Tocquin P., & Périlleux C.
Workshop on Molecular Mechanisms controlling flower development, Giens [France].

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Molecular analysis of root medium impact on Arabidopsis thaliana development [2013].
Bouché F., André J., Tocquin P., & Périlleux C.
The Bioforum 2013 of BioLiège, Liège [Belgium].

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A cytokinin route to flowering in Arabidopsis. [2011].
Bouché F., André J., D’Aloia M., Bonhomme D., & Périlleux C.
Workshop on Molecular Mechanisms controlling flower development, Maratea [Italy].

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MORE ABOUT ME
Professionnal background
When I am not doing Science
Funding and Support