Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Bolaji Babajide Salam

Bolaji Babajide Salam, first author of Sucrose promotes stem branching through cytokinin

Current position: Postdoc in Dr. Dani Eshel’s lab, Department of Postharvest Science, Agricultural Research Institute (ARO), The Volcani Center, Israel

Education: PhD jointly at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) and ARO, Israel (2014-2020); M.Sc. Agroecology and Plant Health, HUJI (2012-2014); B.Sc. Plant Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria (2004-2008)

Non-scientific interests: playing soccer, traveling

Brief bio: During my master’s, I got fascinated by plant pathogenic bacteria and got particularly excited about bacteria-host interactions’ mechanisms. My thesis focused on both basic and applied aspects of Bacterial Fruit Blotch. My research centered on broadening my knowledge about type IV pili (T4P)-mediated twitching motility and its role in virulence of Acidovorax citrulli. I started a new research journey in Dani Eshel (ARO) lab as a Ph.D. student in collaboration with Prof. Naomi Ori from HUJI. I got ecstatic about the mechanisms by which sugars induce etiolated stem branching; using innovative tools in Eshel’s lab, we were able to unravel some of the mechanisms involved in sugar-induced stem branching. As a Post-doc I am still investigating how sugars are involved in a cascade of networks during plant growth and development.