Vanhevel Yasmine

Vanhevel Yasmine - Postdoctoral fellow @ PLANT GROWTH DYNAMICS

My name is Yasmine and I am a post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Hilde Nelissen. In 2019, I obtained a master degree in biochemical engineering technology at Ghent University. I carried out my master dissertation in the Crop Genome Engineering Facility of Laurens Pauwels, where I investigated methods to enhance transformation efficiency in maize by using morphogenic regulators. I also explored mutagenesis via transgenerational CRISPR-Cas9 activity. Afterwards, I obtained a VLAIO grant and started my PhD in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics group of Wout Boerjan in collaboration with an industrial partner. During my PhD project, I studied the CCR gene family of the lignin pathway to improve biomass processability for animal feed and biofuel production in maize. This involved generating gene-edited maize lines, followed by evaluation under greenhouse and field conditions. In January 2024, I joined the Plant Growth Dynamics lab of Hilde Nelissen to work on the EU-funded BOOSTER project. Our objective is to develop strategies to improve drought tolerance in maize and teff. My role includes bioinformatic analyses and multiplex genome editing to target cis-elements associated with drought response. I am very passionate about exploiting these modern breeding methods to accelerate crop improvement and translate these advancements into practical applications.

2. CRISPR/Cas9 editing of p-COUMAROYL-CoA:MONOLIGNOL TRANSFERASE 1 in maize alters phenolic metabolism, lignin structure, and lignin-first biomass processing

Dyoni M. Oliveira, Marina de L.S. Saleme, Rebecca A. Smith, Thijs Vangeel, Marcelo de F. Lima, Alexandra A. Chanoca, Thatiane R. Mota, Yasmine Vanhevel, Griet Coussens, Korneel Van Aelst, Jordi Geerts, Iris Cornet, Dries Vaneechoutte, Klaas Vandepoele, Laurens Pauwels, Geert Goeminne, Kris Morreel, Bert F. Sels, John Ralph, Ruben Vanholme, Wout Boerjan

(2025) - Trends in Biotechnology

DOI
1. Optimized Transformation and Gene Editing of the B104 Public Maize Inbred by Improved Tissue Culture and Use of Morphogenic Regulators

Stijn Aesaert, Lennert Impens, Griet Coussens, Els Van Lerberge, Rudy Vanderhaeghen, Laurence Desmet, Yasmine Vanhevel, Shari Bossuyt, Angeline Ndele Wambua, Mieke Van Lijsebettens, Dirk Inzé, Ellen De Keyser, Thomas B. Jacobs, Mansour Karimi, Laurens Pauwels

(2022) - Frontiers in Plant Science

DOI

Vanhevel Yasmine

Optimized Transformation and Gene Editing of the B104 Public Maize Inbred by Improved Tissue Culture and Use of Morphogenic Regulators1. Optimized Transformation and Gene Editing of the B104 Public Maize Inbred by Improved Tissue Culture and Use of Morphogenic Regulators

1. Optimized Transformation and Gene Editing of the B104 Public Maize Inbred by Improved Tissue Culture and Use of Morphogenic Regulators