Genetic basis and ecological importance of adaptive myxospermic strategies to drought stress in the Camelineae tribe and the Brassicaceae family (A04)

• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 456082119

The ability of seeds to survive and germinate under varying environmental conditions is crucial for the survival of plant populations. This project will evaluate the ecological role of seed mucilage composition, and link the trait to seed quality and germination in Camelina sativa, a species adapted to semiarid environments and frequently described as a competing weed. We will compare the role of mucilage synthesis and regulation genes in seed germination ability under adverse conditions in C. sativa and ruderal A. thaliana with the aim to identify and compare adaptive gene effects across these related species with different ecologies.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 341: Plant Ecological Genetics
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Björn Usadel, since 7/2022