PI CBGP: Pedro Crevillén

Epigenetic regulation of agronomic traits

PI CEPLAS: Franziska Turck

Project summary:

Plant development occurs at different pace in diverse ambient temperatures but also under constant versus fluctuating temperature conditions. Plants respond to temperature by transcriptional changes that can be categorized as integrated and immediate responses, both of which relate to chromatin-mediated gene regulation. The aim of this project is to characterize the effect of stable and fluctuating ambient temperatures on chromatin in plants. We will work with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and a closely related Brassica rapa crop. We will determine the role of chromatin regulators on plant growth and crop yield under different climate scenarios. Additionally, we will investigate the effect of ambient temperature on chromatin states and their connection to changes in gene expression. The motivation of the work is to gain a better understanding how changes in chromatin states are related to short-term and long-term responses to fluctuating ambient temperatures. Understanding how plants respond to temperature is essential for breeding crops that are resilient against climate change.