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Project title

Climate smart Ireland: identifying regulators of aerenchyma, the 'snorkel' tissue for survival of waterlogged crops

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Environmental Protection Agency

Lead Organisation

University College Dublin (UCD)

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

Science must address the global challenge of ensuring food security, particularly in the light of climate change and a growing world population. Global climate change is causing an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In the near future, Ireland is predicted to experience heavier rainfall, leading to more frequent flooding of arable land. Waterlogged soil struggles to hold oxygen and oxygen deficiency means that plant roots experience stress and consequently die, resulting in crop yield losses. Therefore, we urgently need novel research-informed strategies to develop more productive and stress resilient crops. Interestingly, some plants are capable of creating internal channels to transport gases between their shoots and roots, forming tissue known as aerenchyma. As a result, these plants are more tolerant to waterlogging and have increased flooding survival. However, we know very little about how this critical process is controlled and regulated. This project will elucidate the molecular events underpinning aerenchyma formation, explore its genetic regulation and forecast the effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on this agriculturally important process. I will use the advanced imaging technologies of computed tomography (CT) scanning to monitor the aerenchyma formation in real time, and determine its localisation without destroying the plant. Subsequently, I will identify cellular, molecular and morphological markers involved in this process. Generation and analysis of RNA sequencing data will identify genes that drive aerenchyma formation. The project will focus on two crops highly relevant to Irish agriculture, barley (susceptible to waterlogging) and ryegrass (relatively waterlogging tolerant). This will ensure that project discoveries are seamlessly transferred into novel crop breeding strategies in Ireland. This research will advance basic and applied science, and contribute to the development of climate smart agricultural strategies for increasing food security in Ireland, Europe, and internationally.

Grant Approved

�96,000.00

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options

Start Date

01/09/2019

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2021