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Dr. Niels A. Müller
Institut für Forstgenetik
Sieker Landstraße 222927 Großhansdorf
- Telephone
- +49 4102 696 107
- Fax
- +49 4102 696 200
- niels.mueller@thuenen.de
Group leader 'genome research'
CV
Since 2024: Group leader of the genome research group of the Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics
2017-2024: Scientific associate in the genome research group of the Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics
2016–2017: Postdoc at the Copenhagen Plant Science Centre (CPSC), University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2011–2015: PhD student and Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne with José M. Jiménez-Gómez and Maarten Koornneef
2009–2010: Graduate student and scientific assistant at the State Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Freiburg
2003–2009: Biology studies at the University of Kassel and the University of Freiburg
Projects
- PangenomeBeech - Elucidating the role of structural genetic variation in local adaptation and phenotypic differentiation under different environments
- MonDiö - Resolving the molecular genetics of monoecy and dioecy in the Salicaceae family to explore the evolution of plant sexual systems
- Beech genomics - Population genomics analyses of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) across its distribution range
- FraxGen - Genetic architecture of ash dieback resistance in common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)
Selected publications
- Lazic D, Geßner C, Liepe KJ, Lesur-Kupin I, Mader M, Blanc-Jolivet C, Gömöry D, Liesebach M, González-Martínez SC, Fladung M, Degen B, Müller NA. (2024) Genomic variation of European beech reveals signals of local adaptation despite high levels of phenotypic plasticity. Nature Communications 15, 8553 (2024). link
- Renner SS, Müller NA. (2021) Plant sex chromosomes defy evolutionary models of expanding recombination suppression and genetic degeneration. Nature Plants 7, 392–402. link
- Müller NA, Kersten B, Leite Montalvão AP, Mähler N, Bernhardsson C, Bräutigam K, Carracedo Lorenzo Z, Hoenicka H, Kumar V, Mader M, Pakull B, Robinson KM, Sabatti M, Vettori C, Ingvarsson PK, Cronk Q, Street NR, Fladung M. (2020) A single gene underlies the dynamic evolution of poplar sex determination. Nature Plants 6, 630–637. link
- Müller NA, Wijnen CL, Srinivasan A, Ryngajllo M, Ofner I, Lin T, Ranjan A, West D, Maloof JN, Sinha NR, Huang S, Zamir D, Jiménez-Gómez JM (2016) Domestication selected for deceleration of the circadian clock in cultivated tomato. Nature Genetics. 48, 89-93. link
Publications at the Thünen Institute
- 0
Zhao J, Wang D, Chen K, Xie J, Li Y, Wang Y, Zhao L, Yang Y, Olson MS, Müller NA, Liu J, Renner SS, Ma T (2026) A new two-gene system of sex determination in a Salicaceae. Current Biol: Online First, Jan 2026, DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2025.12.003
- 1
Degen B, Yanbaev Y, Müller NA (2025) Machine learning techniques for continuous genetic assignment of geographic origin of forest trees. PLOS One 20(6):e0324994, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0324994
- 2
Lazic D, Geßner C, Liepe KJ, Lesur-Kupin I, Mader M, Blanc-Jolivet C, Gömöry D, Liesebach M, González-Martínez SC, Fladung M, Degen B, Müller NA (2024) Genomic variation of European beech reveals signals of local adaptation despite high levels of phenotypic plasticity. Nature Comm 15:8553, DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-52933-y
- 3
Krautwurst M, Eikhof A, Winkler S, Bross D, Kersten B, Müller NA (2024) High-molecular-weight DNA extraction for broadleaved and conifer tree species. Silvae Genetica 73(1):85-98, DOI:10.2478/sg-2024-0009
- 4
Shi T-L, Jia K-H, Bao Y-T, Nie S, Tian X-C, Yan X-M, Chen Z-Y, Li Z-C, Zhao S-W, Ma H-Y, Zhao Y, Li X, Zhang R-G, Guo J, Zhao W, El-Kassaby YA, Müller NA, Van de Peer Y, Wang X-R, Street NR, et al (2024) High-quality genome assembly enables prediction of allele-specific gene expression in hybrid poplar. Plant Physiol 195(1):652-670, DOI:10.1093/plphys/kiae078
- 5
Krautwurst M, Past F, Kersten B, Bubner B, Müller NA (2024) Identification of full-sibling families from natural single-tree ash progenies based on SSR markers and genome-wide SNPs. J Plant Dis Protect 131(5):1301-1310, DOI:10.1007/s41348-024-00966-2
- 6
Müller NA (2024) X-specific methylation distorts sex. Nat Plants 10:1619-1620, DOI:10.1038/s41477-024-01829-2
- 7
Degen B, Müller NA (2023) A simulation study comparing advanced marker-assisted selection with genomic selection in tree breeding programs. G3 Genes Genomes Genetics 13(10):jkad164, DOI:10.1093/g3journal/jkad164
- 8
Degen B, Müller NA (2023) SNPscan breeder - a computer program to test genomic tools in breeding programs. Silvae Genetica 72(1):126-131, DOI:10.2478/sg-2023-0013
- 9
Leite Montalvao AP, Kersten B, Kim G, Fladung M, Müller NA (2022) ARR17 controls dioecy in Populus by repressing B-class MADS-box gene expression. Philos Trans Royal Soc B 377(1850):20210217, DOI:10.1098/rstb.2021.0217
- 10
Rocha LF, Benatti TR, Siqueira L de, Souza ICG de, Bianchin I, Souza AJ de, Fernandes ACM, Oda S, Stape JL, Yassue RM, Carvalho HF, Müller NA, Fladung M, Acosta JJ, Fritsche-Neto R, Tambarussi EV (2022) Quantitative trait loci related to growth and wood quality traits in Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill identified through single- and multi-trait genome-wide association studies. Tree Genetics Genomes 18:38, DOI:10.1007/s11295-022-01570-x
- 11
Renner SS, Müller NA (2022) Sex determination and sex chromosome evolution in land plants. Philos Trans Royal Soc B 377(1850):20210210, DOI:10.1098/rstb.2021.0210
- 12
Renner SS, Müller NA (2021) Plant sex chromosomes defy evolutionary models of expanding recombination suppression and genetic degeneration. Nat Plants 7:392-402, DOI:10.1038/s41477-021-00884-3
- 13
Leite Montalvao AP, Kersten B, Fladung M, Müller NA (2021) The diversity and dynamics of sex determination in dioecious plants. Front Plant Sci 11:580488, DOI:10.3389/fpls.2020.580488
- 14
Kim G, Leite Montalvao AP, Kersten B, Fladung M, Müller NA (2021) The genetic basis of sex determination in Populus provides molecular markers across the genus and indicates convergent evolution. Silvae Genetica 70(1):145-155, DOI:10.2478/sg-2021-0012
- 15
Gowthaman U, Ivanov M, Schwarz I, Patel HP, Müller NA, García-Pichardo D, Lenstra TL, Marquardt S (2021) The Hda1 histone deacetylase limits divergent non-coding transcription and restricts transcription initiation frequency. EMBO J 40(23):e108903, DOI:10.15252/embj.2021108903
- 16
Vekemans X, Castric V, Hipperson H, Müller NA, Westerdahl H, Cronk Q (2021) Whole-genome sequencing and genome regions of special interest: Lessons from major histocompatibility complex, sex determination, and plant self-incompatibility. Mol Ecol 30(23):6072-6086, DOI:10.1111/mec.16020
- 17
Müller NA, Kersten B, Leite Montalvao AP, Mähler N, Bernhardsson C, Bräutigam K, Carracedo Lorenzo Z, Hönicka H, Kumar V, Mader M, Pakull B, Robinson KM, Sabatti M, Vettori C, Ingvarsson PK, Cronk Q, Street NR, Fladung M (2020) A single gene underlies the dynamic evolution of poplar sex determination. Nat Plants 6:630-637, DOI:10.1038/s41477-020-0672-9
- 18
Sabatti M, Gaudet M, Müller NA, Kersten B, Gaudiano C, Scarascia Mugnozza G, Fladung M, Beritognolo I (2020) Correction to: Long-term study of a subdioecious Populus x canescens family reveals sex lability of females and reproduction behaviour of cosexual plants. Plant Reprod 33:19-20, DOI:10.1007/s00497-019-00381-w
- 19
Cronk Q, Müller NA (2020) Default sex and single gene sex determination in dioecious plants. Front Plant Sci 11:1162, DOI:10.3389/fpls.2020.01162
- 20
Yuste-Lisbona FJ, Fernández-Lozano A, Pineda B, Bretones S, Ortíz-Atienza A, García-Sogo B, Müller NA, Angosto T, Capel J, Moreno V, Jiménez-Gómez JM, Lozano R (2020) ENO regulates tomato fruit size through the floral meristem development network. PNAS 117(14):8187-8195, DOI:10.1073/pnas.1913688117
- 21
Sabatti M, Gaudet M, Müller NA, Kersten B, Gaudiano C, Scarascia Mugnozza G, Fladung M, Beritognolo I (2020) Long-term study of a subdioecious Populus x canescens family reveals sex lability of females and reproduction behaviour of cosexual plants. Plant Reprod 33:1-17, DOI:10.1007/s00497-019-00378-5
- 22
Brenner WG, Mader M, Müller NA, Hönicka H, Schröder H, Zorn I, Fladung M, Kersten B (2019) High level of conservation of mitochondrial RNA editing sites among four Populus species. G3 Genes Genomes Genetics 9:709-717, DOI:10.1534/g3.118.200763
- 23
Müller NA, Kersten B, Fladung M, Schröder H (2019) RNA-seq of eight different poplar clones reveals conserved up-regulation of gene expression in response to insect herbivory. BMC Genomics 20:673, DOI:10.1186/s12864-019-6048-8
- 24
Fladung M, Schildbach M, Hönicka H, Kersten B, Müller NA (2019) Selfing of a single monoecious Populus tremula tree produces viable males, females and "supermales". Trees 33(3):803-816, DOI:10.1007/s00468-019-01817-6
- 25
Müller NA, Zhang L, Koornneef M, Jiménez-Gómez JM (2018) Mutations in EID1 and LNK2 caused light-conditional clock deceleration during tomato domestication. PNAS 115(27):7135-7140, DOI:10.1073/pnas.1801862115
- 26
Tessini C, Müller NA, Mardones C, Meier D, Berg A, Baer d von (2012) Chromatographic approaches for determination of low-molecular mass aldehydes in bio-oil. J Chromat A 1219:154-160, doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2011.10.093
