Welcome to the Citrus Lab

Research articles

• Kelly G^*, Meiri D, Igon H. S, Sharma D, Doron-Faigenboim A, Egbaria A, Belausov E, Halaly-Basha T, Mei J, Zhang Z, Yaaran A, Gal A, Zach Y. Y, Fernie R. A, Ye W, Brotman Y and Sade N^*. (2026) Natural variation links seedling hypocotyl growth with water loss in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal. 126 (1): e70862 Link

• Plesser E, Goldenberg L, Kelly G, Bdolach E, Arad T, Bejerano E, Masok O, Carmeli-Weissberg M, Shaya F, Sherman A, Eyal Y and Carmi N. (2025) Targeting the “bitterness gene” by genome editing abolishes synthesis of bitter flavanones in citrus; prospects for new varieties and extended climates for cultivation. The Plant Journal. 124 (6): e70654 Link
  

• Kelly G, Plesser E, Bdolach E, Arroyave M, Belausov E, Faigenboim A, Rozen A, Zemach H, Zach Y Y, Goldenberg L, Arad T, Yaniv Y, Sade N, Sherman A, Eyal Y and Carmi N. (2025) In-planta genome editing approach in citrus using developmental regulators. The Plant Journal. 122 (2): e70155 Link 

• Goldenberg L, Ghuge S, Faigenboim A, Weissberg M, Shaya F, Rozen A, Dahan Y, Plesser E, Kelly G, Yaniv Y, Arad T, Ophir R, Sherman A, Carmi N, Eyal Y. (2025) A Citrus 2OGD multi-gene cluster encompasses functional and tissue specificity that direct furanocoumarin and pyranocoumarin biosynthesis in citrus. New Phytologist. 245 (4): 1547-1562. Link 

• Gal A, Dalal A, Anfang M, Sharma D, Binenbaum J, Muchaki, Kumar R, Egbaria A, Estefani Duarte K, Kelly G, Rodrigo de Souza W, Sade N. (2023) Plasma membrane aquaporins regulate root hydraulic conductivity in the model plant Setaria viridis. Plant physiology. 193 (4): 2640-2660. Link 

• Kelly G, Yaaran A, Gal A, Egbaria A, Brandsma D, Belausov E, Wolf D, David-Schwartz R, Granot D, Eyal Y, Carmi N, Sade N. (2023) Guard cell activity of PIF4 and HY5 control transpiration. Plant Science. 328: 111583.  Link 

• Kelly G, Brandsma D, Egbaria A, Stein O, Doron-Faigenboim A, Lugassi N, Belausov E, Zemach H, Shaya F, Carmi N, Sade N, and Granot D. (2021) Guard cells control hypocotyl elongation through HXK1, HY5 and PIF4. Communications Biology. 4: 765. Link

• Lugassi N, Kelly G, Arad T, Farkash C, Yaniv Y, Yeselson Y, Schaffer A. A, Raveh E, Granot D and Carmi N. (2020) Expression of hexokinase in stomata of citrus fruit reduces fruit transpiration and affects seed development. Frontiers in Plant Science 11: 255. Link

• Galsurker O, Kelly G, Doron-Faigenboim A, Aruchamy K, Salam B B, Teper-Bamnolker P, Lers A and Eshel D. (2020) Endogenous sugar level is associated with differential heat tolerance in onion bulb scales. Postharvest Biology and Technology 163: 1-7. Link

• Lugassi N, Yadav B, Egbaria A, Wolf D, Kelly G, Neuhaus E, Raveh E, Carmi N and Granot D. (2019)
  Expression of Arabidopsis hexokinase in tobacco guard cells increases water-use efficiency and confers tolerance to drought and salt Stress. Plants-Basel 8 (12): 613. Link

• Kelly G, Egbaria A, Khamaisi B, Lugassi N, Attia Z, Moshelion M and Granot D. (2019) Guard-cell hexokinase increases water- use efficiency under normal and drought conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science. Link

• Negin B, Yaaran A, Kelly G, Zait Y and Moshelion M. (2019) Mesophyll ABA restrains early growth and flowering and does not directly suppress photosynthesis. Plant Physiology 180 (2): 910-925. Link

• Kottapalli J, David-Schwartz R, Khamaisi B, Brandsma D, Lugassi N, Egbaria A, Kelly G, Granot D. (2018) Sucrose-induced stomatal closure is conserved across evolution. PLoS ONE 13 (10): e0205359. Link

• Fox H, Doron-Faigenboim A, Kelly G, Bourstein R, Attia Z, Zhou J, Moshe Y, Moshelion M, David-Schwartz R. (2017) Transcriptome analysis of Pinus halepensis under drought stress and during recovery. Tree Physiology 38 (3): 423-441. Link

• Kelly G, Lugassi N, Belausov E, Wolf D, Khamaisi B, Brandsma D, Kottapalli J, Fidel L, Ben-Zvi B, Egbaria A, Acheampong A.K, Zheng C, Or E, Distelfeld A, David-Schwartz R, Carmi N, Granot D. (2017) The Solanum tuberosum KST1 partial promoter as a tool for guard cell expression in multiple plant species. Journal of Experimental Botany. 68 (11): 2885-2897. Link

• Kelly G, Sade N, Doron-Faigenboim A, Lerner S, Shatil-Cohen A, Yeselson Y, Egbaria A, Kottapalli J, Schaffer A.A, Moshelion M, Granot D (2017) Sugar and hexokinase suppress expression of PIP aquaporins and reduce leaf hydraulics that preserves leaf water potential. The Plant Journal 91: 325-339 Link

• Lugassi N, Kelly G, Fidel L, Yaniv Y, Attia Z, Levi A, Alchanatis V, Moshelion M, Raveh E, Carmi N and Granot D (2015) Expression of Arabidopsis hexokinase in citrus guard cells controls stomatal aperture and reduces transpiration. Frontiers in Plant Science 6: 1114. Link

• Sade N, Shatil-Cohen A, Attia Z, Maurel C, Boursiac Y, Kelly G, Granot D, Yaaran A, Lerner S, Moshelion M (2014) The role of plasma membrane aquaporins in regulating the bundle sheath-mesophyll continuum and leaf hydraulics. Plant Physiology 166 (3) 1609-1620 Link

• Kelly G, Sade N, Attia Z, Secchi F, Zwieniecki M, Holbrook NM, Levi A, Alchanatis V, Moshelion M, Granot D (2014) Relationship between hexokinase and the aquaporin PIP1 in the regulation of photosynthesis and plant growth. PLoS ONE 9 (2): e87888. Link

• Kelly G, Moshelion M, David-Schwartz R, Halperin O, Wallach R, Attia Z, Belausov E, Granot D (2013) Hexokinase mediates stomatal closure. The Plant Journal 75: 977-988. Link

• Kelly G, David-Schwartz R, Sade N, Moshelion M, Levi A, Alchanatis V, Granot D (2012) The pitfalls of transgenic selection and new roles of AtHXK1: a high level of AtHXK1 expression uncouples hexokinase1-dependent sugar signaling from exogenous sugar. Plant Physiology 159: 47-51. Link                                                          
  
  

  
  

Reviews

• Granot D and Kelly G (2019) Evolution of guard-cell theories: the story of sugars. Trends in Plant Science 24 (6): 507-518. Link 

• Lawson T, Simkin A, Kelly G, Granot D (2014) Mesophyll photosynthesis and guard cell metabolism impacts on stomatal behavior. New Phytologist 203: 1064-1081.Link 

• Granot D, Kelly G, Stein O, David-Schwartz R (2014) Substantial roles of hexokinase and fructokinase in the effects of sugars on plant physiology and development. Journal of Experimental Botany 65 (3):809-819. Link 

• Granot D, David-Schwartz R, Kelly G (2013) Hexose kinases and their role in sugar-sensing and plant development. Frontiers in Plant Science 4 (44): 1-17. Link