Location: Plant Gene Expression Center
Project Number: 2030-12210-003-012-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2025
End Date: Jun 30, 2029
Objective:
Develop novel methods of crop protection against plant pathogens and abiotic stress, and improve key yield traits in tomato, corn, wheat, sorghum, citrus, grape and other crops through genetic dissection of the molecular mechanisms by which plants respond to new diseases and allocate resources for growth.
Approach:
Molecular, genetic, genomic, and bioinformatic approaches will be used to identify genes and signaling components and transcriptional networks that controlling plant responses to developmental, biotic and abiotic signals. Plant growth facilities at the ARS location and the Cooperator field research station will be used to phenotype a broad range of genotypes of key commodity crops, including tomato, corn, wheat, sorghum, citrus, grape and pennycress, for their response to emerging pathogens and relevant abiotic stresses. Genes controlling vegetative and reproductive development will be identified and characterized to enable yield increases. Plant hormone function in mediating growth and developmental responses will be used to identify means of restructuring crop growth to increase percentage of harvestable biomass. Genes involved in plant responses to biotic threats will be identified and characterized to build new tools for crop protection and security against emerging bacterial and viral pathogens. Cutting-edge strategies in machine learning and computational modeling will be used in conjunction with the most advanced sequencing technologies to reveal genetic circuitry and networks involved in controlling crop health.