Research

Research Priorities: Molecular and organismal biology, plant physiology, plant cancer

Roni Aloni is an Israeli biologist. His research focuses on phytohormones and plant development.

His research has led to a fundamental understanding of how phytohormones regulate and control the differentiation, regeneration and evolution of the vascular system in plants. His theoretical and experimental contributions to plant physiology have clarified how phytohormones control fibre and wood formation in forest trees.

He has elucidated the hormonal mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of cell types in the xylem and phloem in normal and tumour tissues. This work was essential for understanding the control of cell size and cell patterns in vascular tissues of shoots and roots. The research provided practical tools for improving the quality of fibre and wood in forest trees. His research on plant cancer has led to the development of ethylene‐insensitive, tumour‐free fruit trees.

Career

• since 2013 Professor Emeritus, School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel Aviv University (TAU), Tel Aviv, Israel
• 1992-2013 Professor, Molecular Biology & Ecology of Plants, TAU, Tel Aviv, Israel
• 1989-1999 Adjunct Professor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
• 1982-1983 Bullard Research Fellow for Forest Research, Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
• 1976-1991 Lecturer to Associate Professor, Plant sciences, TAU, Tel Aviv, Israel
• 1974 PhD, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI), Jerusalem, Israel
• 1973-1977 Lecturer in Biology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
• 1970 Master of Science, HUJI, Jerusalem, Israel
• 1968 Bachelor of Science, HUJI, Jerusalem, Israel

Functions

• since 2008 Editor, Planta – An International Journal of Plant Biology
• 1996-1998 President, Israel Society of Botany, Israel
• 1992-1998 Editor, Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Plant Sciences, Physiologia Plantarum, Journal of Plant Research, Tree Physiology
• 1990-2013 Editor, Trees Structure and Function

Projects

• 1992-2012 Working party Coordinator, “Xylem Physiology”, The International Union of Forestry Research Organization (IUFRO)
• 1990-2012 Working party Coordinator, “Biological control of wood quality“, IUFRO

Honours and Awarded Memberships

• 2014-2020 Academy Board, International Academy of Wood Science (IAWS)
• since 2005 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• since 1991 Elected Fellow, IAWS