After completing a professional master in plant biotechnology, Audrey Courtial obtained a Ph.D. in plant development (University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse). She joined the CNRGV team in order to continue the work initiated during her thesis. This project, funded by the maize breeder ProMaïs association, aims at identifying maize genes involved in lignification and secondary cell wall degradability through the elucidation of major QTLs.