Professor Andrew Fleming

School of Biosciences

Chair in Plant Science

a.fleming@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 4830

D57, Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Professor Andrew Fleming
School of Biosciences
D57
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN

Profile

Deputy Head of Department, Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield (2015-present)
Professor of Plant Science, University of Sheffield (2004-present)
Group Leader, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland (1998-2004)
Senior Assistant, University of Bern, Switzerland (1997-8)
Habilitation, University of Bern, Switzerland (1996)
Assistant, University of Bern, Switzerland (1989-1997)
Postdoctorate, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland (1988)
PhD Cambridge (1988)
BA Cambridge (1984)

Research interests

Our research is focused on understanding the mechanism of leaf development. In particular, we are interested in the interplay of cell growth and division, how these parameters are integrated into the developmental program controlling leaf structure, and the impact the resultant internal cellular architecture has on leaf function- particularly photosynthesis and water-use efficiency.

We take an integrated systems approach, using experimental data derived from advanced imaging, biochemistry and physiology to inform computational models, which we then use to develop testable hypotheses on how structure relates to function, utilising a range of genetic and experimental approaches to alter specific elements of the modelled system.

Over recent years we have developed a keen interest in guard cells, working closely with Julie Gray to investigate how cell wall structure sets the limits for stomatal function and, thus, gas exchange in leaves. This work extends to seeking to understand how stomatal and mesophyll differentiation are co-ordinated, how mesophyll air space is formed, and the control of mesophyll cell shape and separation.

We have a long-standing interest in the earliest phases of leaf initiation and development, including the link between metabolism and development, leading us to projects aimed at elucidating the mechanism underpinning the switch from quiescence to growth in dormant buds.

These projects have allowed us to form valuable collaborations with colleagues around the globe, notably on rice leaf development, as well as the potential translation of our research into agriculture via commercial breeders and UK levy boards.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Lundgren MR, Mathers A, Baillie AL, Dunn J, Wilson MJ, Hunt L, Pajor R, Fradera-Soler M, Rolfe S, Osborne CP , Sturrock CJ et al (2019) Mesophyll porosity is modulated by the presence of functional stomata. Nature Communications, 10(1). View this article in WRRO
Woolfenden HC, Baillie AL, Gray JE, Hobbs JK, Morris RJ & Fleming AJ (2018) Models and Mechanisms of Stomatal Mechanics. Trends in Plant Science, 23(9), 822-832. View this article in WRRO
Lehmeier C, Pajor R, Lundgren MR, Mathers A, Sloan J, Bauch M, Mitchell A, Bellasio C, Green A, Bouyer D , Schnittger A et al (2017) Cell density and airspace patterning in the leaf can be manipulated to increase leaf photosynthetic capacity. The Plant Journal, 92(6), 981-994. View this article in WRRO
Carter R, Woolfenden H, Baillie A, Amsbury S, Carroll S, Healicon E, Sovatzoglou S, Braybrook S, Gray JE, Hobbs J , Morris RJ et al (2017) Stomatal Opening Involves Polar, Not Radial, Stiffening Of Guard Cells. Current Biology, 27(19), 2974-2983.e2. View this article in WRRO
Chater CC, Caine RS, Tomek M, Wallace S, Kamisugi Y, Cuming AC, Lang D, MacAlister CA, Casson S, Bergmann DC , Decker EL et al (2016) Origin and function of stomata in the moss Physcomitrella patens.. Nature Plants, 2. View this article in WRRO
Amsbury S, Hunt L, Elhaddad N, Baillie A, Lundgren M, Verhertbruggen Y, Scheller HV, Knox JP, Fleming AJ & Gray JE (2016) Stomatal Function Requires Pectin De-methyl-esterification of the Guard Cell Wall. Current Biology, 26(21), 2899-2906. View this article in WRRO

All publications

Journal articles

Carroll S, Amsbury S, Durney CH, Smith RS, Morris RJ, Gray JE & Fleming AJ (2024) Altering arabinans increases Arabidopsis guard cell flexibility and stomatal opening. Current Biology.
Zhang Q, Tian S, Chen G, Tang Q, Zhang Y, Fleming AJ, Zhu X & Wang P (2024) Regulatory NADH dehydrogenase‐like complex optimizes C₄ photosynthetic carbon flow and cellular redox in maize. New Phytologist, 241(1), 82-101.
Sloan J, Wang S, Ngai QY, Xiao Y, Armand J, Wilson MJ, Zhu X & Fleming AJ (2023) Conserved cellular patterning in the mesophyll of rice leaves. Plant Direct, 7(12).
Durney CH, Wilson MJ, McGregor S, Armand J, Smith RS, Gray JE, Morris RJ & Fleming AJ (2023) Grasses exploit geometry to achieve improved guard cell dynamics.. Curr Biol.
Sloan JM, Mujab AAM, Mashitah J, Zulkarami B, Wilson MJ, Toh LS, Nur Zahirah AJ, Afiq K, Asyraf AT, Zhu X-G , Yaapar N et al (2023) Elevated CO2 Priming as a Sustainable Approach to Increasing Rice Tiller Number and Yield Potential. Rice, 16(1).
Xiao Y, Sloan J, Hepworth C, Fradera‐Soler M, Mathers A, Thorley R, Baillie A, Jones H, Chang T, Chen X , Yaapar N et al (2022) Defining the scope for altering rice leaf anatomy to improve photosynthesis: a modelling approach. New Phytologist.
Carroll S, Amsbury S, Durney CH, Smith RS, Morris RJ, Gray JE & Fleming AJ (2022) Altering arabinans increases Arabidopsis guard cell flexibility and stomatal opening.. Curr Biol.
Wilson MJ, Fradera-Soler M, Summers R, Sturrock CJ & Fleming AJ (2021) Ploidy influences wheat mesophyll cell geometry, packing and leaf function.. Plant Direct, 5(4), e00314.
Caine RS, Chater CCC, Fleming AJ & Gray JE (2020) Stomata and sporophytes of the model moss physcomitrium patens. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11. View this article in WRRO
Lundgren MR & Fleming AJ (2020) Cellular perspectives for improving mesophyll conductance. The Plant Journal. View this article in WRRO
Baillie AL & Fleming AJ (2020) The developmental relationship between stomata and mesophyll airspace. New Phytologist, 225(3), 1120-1126.
Lundgren MR, Mathers A, Baillie AL, Dunn J, Wilson MJ, Hunt L, Pajor R, Fradera-Soler M, Rolfe S, Osborne CP , Sturrock CJ et al (2019) Mesophyll porosity is modulated by the presence of functional stomata. Nature Communications, 10(1). View this article in WRRO
Dunn J, Hunt L, Afsharinafar M, Meselmani MA, Mitchell A, Howells R, Wallington E, Fleming AJ & Gray JE (2019) Reduced stomatal density in bread wheat leads to increased water-use efficiency. Journal of Experimental Botany, 70(18), 4737-4748.
Mathers AW, Hepworth C, Baillie AL, Sloan J, Jones H, Lundgren M, Fleming AJ, Mooney SJ & Sturrock CJ (2018) Investigating the microstructure of plant leaves in 3D with lab-based X-ray computed tomography. Plant Methods, 14(1). View this article in WRRO
Woolfenden HC, Baillie AL, Gray JE, Hobbs JK, Morris RJ & Fleming AJ (2018) Models and Mechanisms of Stomatal Mechanics. Trends in Plant Science, 23(9), 822-832. View this article in WRRO
Lehmeier C, Pajor R, Lundgren MR, Mathers A, Sloan J, Bauch M, Mitchell A, Bellasio C, Green A, Bouyer D , Schnittger A et al (2017) Cell density and airspace patterning in the leaf can be manipulated to increase leaf photosynthetic capacity. The Plant Journal, 92(6), 981-994. View this article in WRRO
Fleming A (2017) Shape Control: Cell Growth Hits the Mechanical Buffers. Current Biology, 27(22), R1231-R1233. View this article in WRRO
Carter R, Woolfenden H, Baillie A, Amsbury S, Carroll S, Healicon E, Sovatzoglou S, Braybrook S, Gray JE, Hobbs J , Morris RJ et al (2017) Stomatal Opening Involves Polar, Not Radial, Stiffening Of Guard Cells. Current Biology, 27(19), 2974-2983.e2. View this article in WRRO
Hunt L, Amsbury S, Mitchell AM, baillie A, Afsharinafar M, Swarup K, Denyer T, Swarup R, Hobbs J, Fleming AJ , Gray JE et al (2017) Formation of the Stomatal Outer Cuticular Ledge Requires a Guard Cell Wall Proline-Rich Protein. Plant Physiology, 174(2), 689-699. View this article in WRRO
Chater C, Caine RS, Fleming AJ & Gray JE (2017) Origins and evolution of stomatal development. Plant physiology, 147(2). View this article in WRRO
Chater CC, Caine RS, Tomek M, Wallace S, Kamisugi Y, Cuming AC, Lang D, MacAlister CA, Casson S, Bergmann DC , Decker EL et al (2016) Origin and function of stomata in the moss Physcomitrella patens.. Nature Plants, 2. View this article in WRRO
Amsbury S, Hunt L, Elhaddad N, Baillie A, Lundgren M, Verhertbruggen Y, Scheller HV, Knox JP, Fleming AJ & Gray JE (2016) Stomatal Function Requires Pectin De-methyl-esterification of the Guard Cell Wall. Current Biology, 26(21), 2899-2906. View this article in WRRO
Caine R, Chater CC, Kamisugi Y, Cuming AC, Beerling DJ, Gray JE & Fleming AJ (2016) An ancestral stomatal patterning module revealed in the non-vascular land plant Physcomitrella patens.. Development, 143, 3306-3314. View this article in WRRO
van Campen J, Yaapar MN, Narawatthana S, Lehmeier C, Wanchana S, Thakur V, Chater C, Kelly S, Rolfe SA, Quick WP & Fleming AJ (2016) Combined Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies the P3/P4 Transition as a Key Stage in Rice Leaf Photosynthetic Development. Plant Physiology, 170(3), 1655-1674. View this article in WRRO
Kasprzewska A, Carter R, Swarup R, Bennett M, Monk N, Hobbs JK & Fleming A (2015) Auxin influx importers modulate serration along the leaf margin. The Plant Journal, 83(4), 705-718. View this article in WRRO
Fleming A (2015) Sweet size control in tomato. Nature Genetics, 47(7), 698-699.
Wallace S, Chater CC, Kamisugi Y, Cuming AC, Wellman CH, Beerling DJ & Fleming AJ (2015) Conservation ofMale Sterility 2function during spore and pollen wall development supports an evolutionarily early recruitment of a core component in the sporopollenin biosynthetic pathway. New Phytologist, 205(1), 390-401.
Goh H-H, Sloan J, Malinowski R & Fleming A (2014) Variable expansin expression in Arabidopsis leads to different growth responses.. J Plant Physiol, 171(3-4), 329-339.
Dorca-Fornell C, Pajor R, Lehmeier C, Pérez-Bueno M, Bauch M, Sloan J, Osborne C, Rolfe S, Sturrock C, Mooney S & Fleming A (2013) Increased leaf mesophyll porosity following transient retinoblastoma- related protein silencing is revealed by microcomputed tomography imaging and leads to a system-level physiological response to the altered cell division pattern. Plant Journal, 76(6), 914-929. View this article in WRRO
O'Donoghue M-T, Chater C, Wallace S, Gray JE, Beerling DJ & Fleming AJ (2013) Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of the sporophyte of the moss Physcomitrella patens.. J Exp Bot, 64(12), 3567-3581. View this article in WRRO
Pajor R, Fleming A, Osborne CP, Rolfe SA, Sturrock CJ & Mooney SJ (2013) Seeing space: Visualization and quantification of plant leaf structure using X-ray micro-computed tomography. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64(2), 385-390.
Wallace S, Beerling DJ, Fleming A & Wellman CH (2012) 552 How plants conquered the land : An EvoDevo analysis of the spore wall. 日本花粉学会会誌, 58(Special), 249.
Goh H-H, Sloan J, Dorca-Fornell C & Fleming A (2012) Inducible repression of multiple expansin genes leads to growth suppression during leaf development.. Plant Physiol, 159(4), 1759-1770.
Malinowski R, Smith JA, Fleming AJ, Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (2012) Gall formation in clubroot-infected Arabidopsis results from an increase in existing meristematic activities of the host but is not essential for the completion of the pathogen life cycle.. Plant J, 71(2), 226-238.
Malinowski R, Smith JA, Fleming AJ, Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (2012) Gall formation in clubroot-infected Arabidopsis results from an increase in existing meristematic activities of the host but is not essential for the completion of the pathogen life cycle. Plant Journal, 71(2), 226-238.
Fleming A (2011) Morphogenesis: forcing the tissue.. Curr Biol, 21(20), R840-R841.
Kuwabara A, Backhaus A, Malinowski R, Bauch M, Hunt L, Nagata T, Monk N, Sanguinetti G & Fleming A (2011) A shift toward smaller cell size via manipulation of cell cycle gene expression acts to smoothen Arabidopsis leaf shape.. Plant Physiol, 156(4), 2196-2206.
Malinowski R, Kasprzewska A & Fleming AJ (2011) Targeted manipulation of leaf form via local growth repression.. Plant J, 66(6), 941-952.
Wallace S, Fleming A, Wellman CH & Beerling DJ (2011) Evolutionary development of the plant and spore wall.. AoB Plants, 2011, plr027. View this article in WRRO
Chater C, Kamisugi Y, Movahedi M, Fleming A, Cuming AC, Gray JE & Beerling DJ (2011) Regulatory mechanism controlling stomatal behavior conserved across 400 million years of land plant evolution.. Curr Biol, 21(12), 1025-1029.
Bergmann DC & Fleming AJ (2010) From molecule to model, from environment to evolution: an integrated view of growth and development. CURR OPIN PLANT BIOL, 13(1), 1-4.
Backhaus A, Kuwabara A, Fleming A & Seiffert U (2010) Validation of unsupervised clustering methods for leaf phenotype screening. Proceedings of the 18th European Symposium on Artificial Neural Networks - Computational Intelligence and Machine Learning, ESANN 2010, 511-516.
Backhaus A, Kuwabara A, Bauch M, Monk N, Sanguinetti G & Fleming A (2010) LEAFPROCESSOR: a new leaf phenotyping tool using contour bending energy and shape cluster analysis., 187(1), 251-261.
Sloan J, Backhaus A, Malinowski R, McQueen-Mason S & Fleming AJ (2009) Phased control of expansin activity during leaf development identifies a sensitivity window for expansin-mediated induction of leaf growth.. Plant Physiol, 151(4), 1844-1854.
Lee YP, Fleming AJ, Korner C & Meins F (2009) Differential expression of the CBF pathway and cell cycle-related genes in Arabidopsis accessions in response to chronic low-temperature exposure. PLANT BIOLOGY, 11(3), 273-283.
Braun N, Wyrzykowska J, Muller P, David K, Couch D, Perrot-Rechenmann C & Fleming AJ (2008) Conditional Repression of AUXIN BINDING PROTEIN1 Reveals That It Coordinates Cell Division and Cell Expansion during Postembryonic Shoot Development in Arabidopsis and Tobacco. PLANT CELL, 20(10), 2746-2762.
Reinhardt B, Hänggi E, Müller S, Bauch M, Wyrzykowska J, Kerstetter R, Poethig S & Fleming AJ (2007) Restoration of DWF4 expression to the leaf margin of a dwf4 mutant is sufficient to restore leaf shape but not size: the role of the margin in leaf development.. Plant J, 52(6), 1094-1104.
Beerling DJ & Fleming AJ (2007) Zimmermann's telome theory of megaphyll leaf evolution: a molecular and cellular critique.. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 10(1), 4-12.
Wyrzykowska J, Schorderet M, Pien S, Gruissem W & Fleming AJ (2006) Induction of differentiation in the shoot apical meristem by transient overexpression of a retinoblastoma-related protein. PLANT PHYSIOL, 141(4), 1338-1348.
Fleming AJ (2006) Plant signalling: the inexorable rise of auxin.. Trends Cell Biol, 16(8), 397-402.
Fleming AJ (2006) Leaf initiation: the integration of growth and cell division.. Plant Mol Biol, 60(6), 905-914.
Fleming AJ (2006) The co-ordination of cell division, differentiation and morphogenesis in the shoot apical meristem: a perspective.. J Exp Bot, 57(1), 25-32.
Fleming AJ (2006) Producing patterns in plants.. New Phytol, 170(4), 639-641.
Fleming AJ (2006) The integration of cell proliferation and growth in leaf morphogenesis.. J Plant Res, 119(1), 31-36.
Fleming A (2006) Metabolic aspects of organogenesis in the shoot apical meristem.. J Exp Bot, 57(9), 1863-1870.
Fleming AJ (2005) Leaf initiation, differentiation and carbohydrate metabolism. COMP BIOCHEM PHYS A, 141(3), S295-S295.
Fleming AJ (2005) The control of leaf development.. New Phytol, 166(1), 9-20.
Fleming AJ (2005) Formation of primordia and phyllotaxy.. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 8(1), 53-58.
Bariola PA, Retelska D, Stasiak A, Kammerer RA, Fleming A, Hijri M, Franks S & Farmer EE (2004) Remorins form a novel family of coiled coil-forming oligomeric and filamentous proteins associated with apical, vascular and embryonic tissues in plants. PLANT MOL BIOL, 55(4), 579-594.
Kende H, Bradford KJ, Brummell DA, Cho HT, Cosgrove DJ, Fleming AJ, Gehring C, Lee Y, McQueen-Mason S, Rose JKC & Voesenek LACJ (2004) Nomenclature for members of the expansin superfamily of genes and proteins. PLANT MOL BIOL, 55(3), 311-314.
Fleming AJ (2003) The molecular regulation of leaf form. PLANT BIOLOGY, 5(4), 341-349.
Wyrzykowska J & Fleming A (2003) Cell division pattern influences gene expression in the shoot apical meristem.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 100(9), 5561-5566.
Schipper O, Schaefer D, Reski R & Fleming A (2002) Expansins in the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens. PLANT MOL BIOL, 50(4), 789-802.
Fleming AJ (2002) The mechanism of leaf morphogenesis.. Planta, 216(1), 17-22.
Fleming AJ (2002) Plant mathematics and Fibonacci's flowers. NATURE, 418(6899), 723-723.
van den Brûle S, Müller A, Fleming AJ & Smart CC (2002) The ABC transporter SpTUR2 confers resistance to the antifungal diterpene sclareol.. Plant J, 30(6), 649-662.
Li Y, Darley CP, Ongaro V, Fleming A, Schipper O, Baldauf SL & McQueen-Mason SJ (2002) Plant expansins are a complex multigene family with an ancient evolutionary origin. PLANT PHYSIOL, 128(3), 854-864.
Wyrzykowska J, Pien S, Shen WH & Fleming AJ (2002) Manipulation of leaf shape by modulation of cell division.. Development, 129(4), 957-964.
Hänggi E & Fleming AJ (2001) Sucrose synthase expression pattern in young maize leaves: implications for phloem transport.. Planta, 214(2), 326-329.
Reidy B, Nösberger J & Fleming A (2001) Differential expression of XET‐related genes in the leaf elongation zone of F. pratensis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 52(364), 2243-2243.
Pien S, Wyrzykowska J, McQueen-Mason S, Smart C & Fleming A (2001) Local expression of expansin induces the entire process of leaf development and modifies leaf shape.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 98(20), 11812-11817.
Reidy B, Nösberger J & Fleming A (2001) Differential expression of XET-related genes in the leaf elongation zone of F. pratensis.. J Exp Bot, 52(362), 1847-1856.
Reidy B, McQueen-Mason S, Nösberger J & Fleming A (2001) Differential expression of alpha- and beta-expansin genes in the elongating leaf of Festuca pratensis.. Plant Mol Biol, 46(4), 491-504.
Pien S, Wyrzykowska J & Fleming AJ (2001) Novel marker genes for early leaf development indicate spatial regulation of carbohydrate metabolism within the apical meristem.. Plant J, 25(6), 663-674.
Fleming AJ, Caderas D, Wehrli E, McQueen-Mason S & Kuhlemeier C (1999) Analysis of expansin-induced morphogenesis on the apical meristem of tomato. PLANTA, 208(2), 166-174.
Fleming AJ, McQueenMason S, Mandel T & Kuhlemeier C (1997) Induction of leaf primordia by the cell wall protein expansion. SCIENCE, 276(5317), 1415-1418.
Canevascini S, Caderas D, Mandel T, Fleming AJ, Dupuis I & Kuhlemeier C (1996) Tissue-specific expression and promoter analysis of the tobacco Itp1 gene.. Plant Physiol, 112(2), 513-524.
Fleming AJ, Manzara T, Gruissem W & Kuhlemeier C (1996) Fluorescent imaging of GUS activity and RT-PCR analysis of gene expression in the shoot apical meristem.. Plant J, 10(4), 745-754.
Smart CC & Fleming AJ (1996) Hormonal and environmental regulation of a plant PDR5-like ABC transporter.. J Biol Chem, 271(32), 19351-19357.
Mandel T, Fleming AJ, Krähenbühl R & Kuhlemeier C (1995) Definition of constitutive gene expression in plants: the translation initiation factor 4A gene as a model.. Plant Mol Biol, 29(5), 995-1004.
Smart CC, Fleming AJ, Chaloupkova K & Hanke DE (1995) The Physiological Role of Abscisic Acid in Eliciting Turion Morphogenesis.. Plant Physiol, 108(2), 623-632.
MEIER I, CALLAN KL, FLEMING AJ & GRUISSEM W (1995) ORGAN-SPECIFIC DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION OF A PROMOTER SUBFAMILY FOR THE RIBULOSE-1,5-BIPHOSPHATE CARBOXYLASE OXYGENASE SMALL-SUBUNIT GENES IN TOMATO. PLANT PHYSIOL, 107(4), 1105-1118.
MEIER I, CALLAN KL, FLEMING AJ & GRUISSEM W (1995) ORGAN-SPECIFIC DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION OF A PROMOTER SUBFAMILY FOR THE RIBULOSE-1,5-BIPHOSPHATE CARBOXYLASE OXYGENASE SMALL-SUBUNIT GENES IN TOMATO. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, 107(4), 1105-1118.
Fleming AJ & Kuhlemeler C (1994) Activation of Basal Cells of the Apical Meristem during Sepal Formation in Tomato.. Plant Cell, 6(6), 789-798.
NEUENSCHWANDER U, FLEMING AJ & KUHLEMEIER C (1994) CYTOKININ INDUCES THE DEVELOPMENTALLY RESTRICTED SYNTHESIS OF AN EXTRACELLULAR PROTEIN IN PHYSCOMITRELLA-PATENS. PLANT J, 5(1), 21-31.
Smart CC & Fleming AJ (1993) A plant gene with homology to D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase is rapidly and spatially up-regulated during an abscisic-acid-induced morphogenic response in Spirodela polyrrhiza.. Plant J, 4(2), 279-293.
FLEMING AJ & HANKE DE (1993) THE REGULATION OF NAPIN GENE-EXPRESSION IN SECONDARY EMBRYOS OF BRASSICA-NAPUS. PHYSIOL PLANTARUM, 87(3), 396-402.
Fleming AJ, Mandel T, Roth I & Kuhlemeier C (1993) The patterns of gene expression in the tomato shoot apical meristem.. Plant Cell, 5(3), 297-309.
KUHLEMEIER C, FLEMING AJ & MANDEL T (1993) THE PATTERNS OF GENE-EXPRESSION IN THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT APICAL MERISTEM. J CELL BIOCHEM, 30-30.
Fleming AJ, Mandel T, Hofmann S, Sterk P, de Vries SC & Kuhlemeier C (1992) Expression pattern of a tobacco lipid transfer protein gene within the shoot apex.. Plant J, 2(6), 855-862.
Fleming AJ, Gowing DJG & Hanke DE (1991) The Level of Abscisic Acid in the Root Tip of Runner Bean Seedlings: Implications for the ABA-Uptake Carrier. Journal of Plant Physiology, 138(6), 717-721.
Waszczak C, Yarmolinsky D, Leal Gavarrón M, Vahisalu T, Sierla M, Zamora O, Carter R, Puukko T, Sipari N, Lamminmäki A , Durner J et al () Synthesis and import of GDP‐l‐fucose into the Golgi affect plant–water relations. New Phytologist.
Xiao Y, Sloan J, Hepworth C, Osborne CP, Fleming AJ, Chen X & Zhu X () Estimating Uncertainty: a Bayesian Approach to Modelling Photosynthesis in C3 Leaves. Plant, Cell & Environment.
Cox N, Walker HJ, Pitman JK, Quick WP, Smith LM & Fleming AJ () Rice leaves undergo a rapid metabolic reconfiguration during a specific stage of primordium development.

Chapters

Baillie AL & Fleming AJ () Regulation of Plant Morphogenesis: Generation of Anisotropy at Cellular and Tissue Levels (pp. 1141-1176). Wiley
Fleming AJ () The Plant Extracellular Matrix and Signalling (pp. 85-108). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Fleming AJ () Cell Cycle Control during Leaf Development (pp. 203-226). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Fleming AJ () Cellular Architecture: Regulation of Cell Size, Cell Shape and Organ Initiation (pp. 1-22). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Fleming AJ () Cell Cycle Control During Leaf Development, Cell Cycle Control and Plant Development (pp. 203-226). Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Conference proceedings papers

Fleming AJ (2009) Deciphering the rules relating cell division and leaf form. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, Vol. 153A(2) (pp S175-S175)
Malinowski R, Kuwabara A, Backhaus A & Fleming A (2009) Manipulation of Arabidopsis leaf shape by chemically inducible AtCYCD3.1 expression. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, Vol. 153A(2) (pp S181-S181)
Fleming A (2008) Leaf morphogenesis: A combined computational and molecular analysis. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, Vol. 150(3) (pp S142-S142)

Preprints

Grand TM, Pitman JK, Williams AL, Smith LM & Fleming AJ (2024) Identification of Gene Targets for the Sprouting Inhibitor CIPC, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Zhang Q, Tian S, Chen G, Tang Q, Zhang Y, Fleming AJ, Zhu X-G & Wang P (2023) A regulatory circuit involving the NADH dehydrogenase-like complex balances C₄photosynthetic carbon flow and cellular redox in maize, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Jen S, Saranrat I-C, Ngai QY, Yi X, Jodie A, Wilson MJ, Xin-Guang Z & Fleming AJ (2022) Stomatal density affects rice mesophyll cell size and shape and modulates a conserved pattern of cells through the leaf, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Waszczak C, Vahisalu T, Yarmolinsky D, Sierla M, Zamora O, Gavarrón ML, Palorinne J, Carter R, Pandey AK, Nuhkat M , Carmody M et al () Genetic screen to saturate guard cell signaling network reveals a role of GDP-L-fucose metabolism in stomatal closure, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Research group

Research Fellows

Sam Amsbury (BBSRC Discovery Fellow) Untangling the Plant Cell Wall

Postdoctoral Researchers

Matthew Wilson (BBSRC) - Shape Shifting Stomata: The Role of Geometry in Plant Cell Function
Jen Sloan (Royal Society)- Breeding Rice Resilient to a High CO2 Future

Research Technicians

Marion Bauch (Research Lab Manager): Shape Shifting Stomata
Jodie Armand (Research Technician): Shape Shifting Stomata

PhD students

Sarah Carroll (BBSRC-DTP) - Shifting shape with cell walls: imaging the dynamics of guard cell movement (co-supervisor Julie Gray)
Shiv Gangarparsad (Leverhulme CABM) Spatiotemporal modelling of air channel network function and optimisation (co-supervisors Visakan Kadirkamana & Bryn Jones)
Shauni McGregor (BBSRC-DTP) Investigating the structure of grass stomatal cell walls (co-supervisor Julie Gray)
Tom Grand (BBSRC CASE with AHDB) The mechanism of cell cycle repression by sprouting inhibitors (co-supervisor Lisa Smith)
Saranrat Im-Chai (Thai Government) Using metabolite imaging to test a 3D spatial model of photosynthesis
James Pitman (BBSRC CASE with AHDB) From metabolic markers to growth suppression in potato (co-supervisor Heather Walker)
Shanshan Wang Improving photosynthesis and water-use efficiency in rice
Emma White (BBSRC CASE with RAGT Seeds) Improving water-use efficiency in wheat by modulating leaf structure

MRes and MBiol Sci students

Alexander Williams
Inesh Amaranth
Qi Ngai

Grants

BBSRC Newton Trust, A 3-D model of photosynthesis to Inform breeding for improved rice performance in a changing climate (2016-2019)
Wolfson Foundation, Plant Phenotyping Platform (2016-2017)
BBSRC-iCASE Award, Engineering the rice leaf for improved photosynthesis (2016-2020)
BBSRC-iCASE Award, Imaging Metabolism in Plants (2016-2019)
BBSRC-iCASE Award, Engineering a better wheat leaf (2015-2019)
BBSRC-CASE award, Developmental metabolomics of the meristem (2014-2018)
Gatsby Foundation, Optimising leaf structure for photosynthesis (2013-2017)
BBSRC-CASE award, Optimisation of crop leaf form for improved photosynthesis (2012-2016)
BBSRC, Optimising photosynthetic efficiency via leaf structure (2012-2015)
BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award, Atomic Force Microscopy analysis of plant tissue (2010-2014)
Leverhulme Trust, Molecular analysis of club root infection in Arabidopsis (Co-PI) (2009-2012)
Yorkshire Forward, Optimising fibre quality in renewable energy crops (2009-2011)
European Union, Marie Curie Award, MolCalm (2009-2011)
BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award, Imaging metabolism in the meristem (2008-2012)

Teaching activities

I am a developmental biologist. This involves the study of how something apparently simple (a cell) becomes something incredibly complicated (a mature, multicellular organism) in a robust and reproducible fashion. My interest is in plant development, but one of the lessons of the past decades has been how developmental concepts can be applied across the whole of biology, and it is understanding these unifying (and yet distinctive) approaches to solving common developmental problems that underpin my teaching (and my research).

I currently teach on the following modules:

APS137 Plant Physiology, Reproduction & Growth (module co-ordinator)
APS135 Level 1 Tutorials
APS222 Level 2 Tutorials
APS355 Future Plants: From laboratory to field
APS331 Level 3 Dissertations
APS345 Level 3 Projects
APS402 Level 4 Dissertations
APS406 Level 4 Projects
APS6602 MRes Literature Reviews
APS609 MRes Research Projects
APS6623 Special issues in Global Food Security
APS6624 Crop science, biotechnology & breeding (module co-ordinator)

Professional activities and memberships

Gatsby Plant Science Mentor
Advisory Board “New Phytologist”
White Rose BBSRC DTP Management Board
Advisor to the Commonwealth Scholarship Committee (2014-present)
Treasurer of the British Society for Developmental Biology (2009-2014
BBSRC PMS committee/committee B core member (2007-2011)
British Society for Developmental Biology, Committee member (2004-2014)
Invited Co-Editor for Current Opinion in Plant Biology (2010)
Associate Editor of Plant Molecular Biology (2009-2013)
The Society for Experimental Biology, Plant Gene Structure and Function Co-Convenor (2006-2010)
Referee for various international journals and funding agencies (2004-present)

Honours and awards

Leverhulme Research Fellow, Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University (2015-16)
Visiting Fellowship, Clare Hall (2015-16)
Director of the Robert Hill Institute (2013-present)
Swiss National Science Foundation START Fellowship (1998-2004)
EMBO Fellowship, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands (1990)
Bye-Fellowship Magdalene College (1986)
Scholarship Magdalene College (1982-1984)

School of Biosciences

School of Biosciences

Professor Andrew Fleming

Featured publications

Journal articles

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Research Fellows

Postdoctoral Researchers

Research Technicians

PhD students

MRes and MBiol Sci students

Links