Ecological importance of multi-trait regulation by a gene regulatory network (A06)

• Subject Area: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 456082119

Evolutionary adaptation to environmental change often involves complex coordinated biological responses, such as the co-regulation of genes underpinning stress adaptation of multiple traits. This project assesses the ecological importance of the MBW (MYB, bHLH, WD40) pathway, a genetic network coregulating five traits that are relevant for abiotic stress resistance at different stages of a plant's life cycle. We aim to understand how genes in the network integrate responses to different environmental stresses and thus modulate phenotypic adaptation to fluctuating environments during the life time of the plant.

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