SOS-CROPS · Solving the tangled ontogenesis of the stem for sustainable crops
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-05-20 → 2021-06-03
- EU contribution
- €224,934
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Solving the tangled ontogenesis of the stem for sustainable crops
The SOS-CROPS looks at a region of the shoot apical meristem called the rib zone (RZ), where the stem initiates and develops, and it is one of the least understood aspects of plant development, despite its importance in crop productivity. The research questions how the ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEODOMAIN GENE 1 (ATH1) functions as a central node in the regulatory network that controls RZ activity and stem growth through the regulation of organ boundary genes and integration of hormone signalling. Such topic is important because there is a pressing need for redesigning the crop production systems to achieve sustainability, i.e., lesser impact on the environment, while maximizing yield to ensure adequate food production for the society. Objectives of this Action have been to (a) test whether ATH1 restricts GA level and signalling in the RZ; (b) test whether ATH1 and BR have antagonistic roles in the RZ; (c) assess whether the transcriptional corepressor TOPLESS protein mediates repressive interactions in the ATH1 regulatory network; (d) use genome editing to select regulatory mutations in ATH1 that can be used to inhibit stem growth with fewer side effects than current semi-dwarf mutations.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Crop yield depends in a large part on stem height and inflorescence structure. Mutations that reduce stem growth have been used widely to improve crop yields but also have undesired side effects, for example during seed formation. In spite of its importance, stem development is poorly understood. Fundamental knowledge of how genes control stem growth is required to develop more precise genetic tools to increase plant productivity by modifying plant height and shape.The ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX1 (ATH1) gene inhibits stem development but is rapidly downregulated prior to the floral transition to allow elongation of the inflorescence stem. Data from the host lab indicate that ATH1 integrates two of the key hormonal signals that control stem growth: gibberellin (GA) and brassinosteroid (BR). My objectives are to reveal the mode of action of ATH1 and use this knowledge to develop new ways of modifying plant height with fewer undesired side-effects. I will reveal how ATH1 influences GA and BR signalling, understand molecular mechanisms of ATH1 action and identify cis-regulatory mutations that result in dwarf plants due to persistent ATH1 expression after flowering. Such mutations would be particularly useful for two reasons: first, regulatory mutations have been selected repeatedly in evolution and crop improvement because they allow subtle changes in gene expression, with fewer pleiotropic effects. Second, this type of mutation would be expected to be dominant and especially useful in polyploid crops.In addition to addressing a fundamental problem with practical use, this work will give me cutting edge training in plant developmental genetics and quantitative phenotyping at cellular and macroscopic levels. At the same time, the project will benefit from my knowledge of plant hormonal signalling and extensive experience in genome editing. More broadly, the work will provide me with a valuable network on international contacts and skills for my future career.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- JOHN INNES CENTRE · NorwichCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union