Project name: Genetic pathways of extremophilic plants: new approach to genetic engineering of crops for abiotic stress tolerance.

Principal Investigators: León A. Bravo and Helaine Carrer

Co-investigator: Marjorie Reyes

Duration: 2021-2023

Funding: FAPESP-UFRO

Objectives:

To study genes associated with the ability of atypical species (break trade-off between stress tolerance and photosynthetic capacity) to tolerate water stress with limited compromise of photosynthetic capacity. 

Atypical species (Deschampsia Antarctica; Colobanthus Quitensis and Prosopis Tamarugo) will be compared with congeneric (or phylogenetically close) species under optimal and water stress conditions to evaluate their gene coexpression network using a transcriptomic approach. Subsequently, the Brazilian group will use transgenesis in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana to demonstrate the efficacy of the identified genes.

This project is linked to the “antarcticplantscience” network because Antarctic species (Deschampsia antarctica; Colobanthus quitensis) present an atypical response.  Belonging to this network allows us to disseminate our research and collaboration nationally and internationally.

Conceptual model of the project (By Dr. Olman Gómez)