Research in the laboratory focusses on the interfaces of development and cell biology with abiotic stress responses in plants. We study signaling mechanisms that increase plant tolerance to drought and salt stress and increase water use efficiency. We are also interested in signaling mechanisms which regulate secondary cell wall formation in plants and the regulation of lignin content with the aim of developing crops with reduced cell wall recalcitrance toward biofuel formation. 

Specific Research interests/topics: 
• Regulation of stomatal signaling to increase water use efficiency.
• Manipulation of microtubule-associated proteins for increasing plant tolerance to salt stress.
• Small GTPases and their function in regulation of primary and secondary cell walls and lignin content.

Research methods: 
Plant development, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology. Methodologies include CRISPR-mediated genome editing, confocal and light microscopy, RNA-seq, DNA-seq, molecular cloning, protein-protein interaction analysis in plants, yeast, E. coli, and in vitro, gas exchange with Li-COR.

Main projects in the lab include:
1. Improvement in water use efficiency in tomatoes.
2. Analysis of microtubule-associated proteins and their function in salt stress and secondary cell wall formation
3. Signaling to a from the cell wall.

Lab Facilities and capabilities:
The laboratory for abiotic stress and plant development specialises in plant molecular, developmental, cell biology, biochemistry, and physiology using state-of-the-art technologies. We are equipped and can carry out the following research:
• Design and generation of genome editing using CRISPR.
• Analysis of subcellular protein localisation, including dynamic of protein localisation during cell growth and during plant development.
• Analysis of Protein-Protein Interaction in vivo and in vitro 
• Analysis of protein lipid modifications
• Analysis of gas exchange in greenhouse and field-grown plants.
• Analysis of plant development, including dynamics, and development of quantitative tools.

Available Research Services:
1. Analysis of protein-protein interactions.
2. Protein purification
3. Analysis of subcellular protein localisation and in vivo analysis of ROS and Ca2+ levels.

Potential industries:
1. Biotech
2. Agtech

Website: https://shaulyalovsky.wixsite…. 

Contact Details:
shauly@tauex.tau.ac.il
Tel: +972-3-6405268