Her research could help future-proof agriculture

Porträt Heike Lindner
Heike Lindner among her succulents. Image: Heike Lindner

Heike Lindner, a senior research associate with the Plant Genetics and Development group, has received a prestigious SNSF Starting Grant for her CAMatomy project. Heike will start the project at the Institute of Plant Sciences (IPS) in spring 2026. She and her team plan to investigate the various water-saving strategies that succulent plants have evolved to survive prolonged drought periods.

The researchers have already established a succulent model system for their research: Kalanchoë laxiflora, also known as the Milky Widow's Thrill. In nature, Kalanchoë laxiflora is a hardy succulent shrub, native to Madagascar. “In the laboratory, its small genome size, short life cycle, ability to reproduce through seeds, and availability for biotechnological protocols make it an ideal experimental model system and accessible for genetic screens and bioengineering", Heike explains.

Kalanchoe laxiflora in flower. Image: Wikimedia/Tpa2067
Kalanchoe laxiflora in flower. Image: Wikimedia/Tpa2067

Her team will utilize this new model system to decipher the developmental mechanisms that give rise to succulent leaf anatomy. The researchers will investigate whether this anatomy is essential for the specialized photosynthetic lifestyle of succulent plants. According to Heike, these findings can have enormous translational potential: "In an ever-warming climate, we need to explore a wide range of strategies to future-proof agriculturally important crop species that directly and indirectly supply nearly all calories humans eat."

The SNSF Starting Grant covers 1’677’465 CHF of research and salary costs for a duration of five years.

About Heike Lindner

Heike Lindner is a developmental geneticist. After completing her doctorate at the University of Zurich, a postdoctorate at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, and a research stay at Heidelberg University, she is now conducting research at the Institute of Plant Sciences and the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research OCCR at the University of Bern. Her scientific work focuses on how the developmental blueprint of plants is regulated and how it influences their physiology. She is particularly interested in understanding how succulents can live more water-use efficiently and whether their survival strategies can be translated to other food-relevant plants.

You can find more information on Heike's CAMatomy project in the University's press release.