ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EPIGENETIC CROP IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY IN MULTIPLE CROP SPECIES

The project is comprised of theseprimary objectives:1. To identify and characterize the genetic networks that underpin epigenetic reprogramming in plants, in association with the RNA-directed DNA methylation(RdDM) pathway, stress-responsive histone deacetylation/acetylation activity, and transcriptome regulation. These experiments use Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant species.2. To establish a crop breeding method that employs epigenetic reprogramming to derive novel phenotypic variation that enhances crop resilience and growth vigor, and incorporates crossing and grafting strategies. These experiments use tomato, canola and strawberry as primary focus crops.3. To characterize the role of epigenetics in perennial plant development and trans-seasonal regrowth potential. These experiments incorporate both fundamental studies of RdDM-based mechanisms in overwintering/regrowth, and applied studies on the employment of epigenetics in the enhancement of perennial plant growth vigor, involving poplar trees and alfalfa forage crops as primary models.