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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Research Project #431132

Research Project: Analysis of Mechanisms Involved in Induction of Abiotic or Biotic Stress Tolerance in Horticulture Crops Through Nutrition or Temperature

Location: Application Technology Research

Project Number: 5082-21000-001-001-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 1, 2016
End Date: Sep 30, 2021

Objective:
The objectives of this cooperative research project are: 1) to determine the effects of silicon (Si) on copper (Cu) toxicity; 2) to examine Si transport and signaling pathways; and 3) to elucidate how cool temperatures delay Cauliflower mosaic virus infections.

Approach:
We will examine the beneficial effects of Si on Cu toxicity. We will be evaluating a number of parameters that help plants overcome Cu toxicity stress, including monitoring the expression of genes for detoxification of Cu. We will then be extending these studies to ornamentals. We will study how they function. The distribution of plant Si transporters in response to Si and stress will be examined by microscopy and other methods. At the same time, we will be examining factors that influence the activity of the transporters. To address the regulation of the transporters, we will identify proteins that interact with the Si transporters and could potentially modulate its activity. Finally, we will generate transgenic plants and determine if increased Si transporter levels help plants to better deal with stress. We will also examine how viral processes are affected. Based on preliminary data indicating that inclusion body (IB) formation is disrupted by cooler temperatures, we will elucidate how and why cold disrupts IB formation.