Individual Research Project 3. Molecular mechanisms underlying seed adaptation to warm temperature at the group of Dr Manuel Piñeiro,  Jose A. Jarillo,  and Pedro Crevillent at the Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP) (UPM – INIA, CSIC) in Madrid, Spain.

The project addresses the plant genetic and non-genetic mechanisms underlying the effect of maternal exposure to warm temperatures on seed germination and seedling establishment using the premium oil crop oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and the related model species Arabidopsis thaliana. Warm ambient temperature experienced by maternal plants can influence the germination behavior of their offspring, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for this seed response conditioning crop establishment remain largely unknown. A deeper knowledge of this process will facilitate the development of strategies that improve crop adaptation to the current scenario of global warming that is threatening agricultural production.

The objectives of the projects are:

  • to investigate global epigenetic changes triggered in the seeds following the exposure of mother plants to warm temperatures at different stages of development.
  • To correlate the warm temperature-induced modifications in epigenomic features with transcriptomic alterations and changes in seed vigour.

An active collaboration will be maintained with different partners including the company DSV (Germany) and Sequentia and other members of the consortium to get not only specific training in molecular approaches but also intellectual input that will fuel the progress of the Project.

CBGP-Host Institution

Our laboratory is based at the Plant Biotechnology and Genomics Centre (CBGP), a joint centre involving INIA, CSIC (the largest public research institution in Spain), and the Polytechnical University of Madrid (UPM), located in the Montegancedo Campus, awarded as Spanish Campus of International Excellence. The CBGP has been awarded twice with “Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D”, and hosts state-of-the-art laboratories working on both model plant and crop species.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact: Dr. Manuel Piñeiro; pineiro@inia.csic.es or Dr. José A. Jarillo; jarillo@inia.csic.es.