Research Projects

Uniparental genome elimination (UGE) is a process where one of the parental genomes is selectively eliminated during early embryonic divisions, resulting in the production of in planta haploid progeny. This process can be mimicked in an intraspecific cross by manipulating the centromere histone H3 (CENH3) using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The production of haploid plants is crucial for plant breeding, facilitating the development of hybrid cultivars. A mutant phenotype bushy was identified due to genome instability induced by UGE crosses, showing high organogenic potential and drought avoidance features valuable for crop breeding. This project proposal aims to molecular and genetic characterization of the bushy mutant derived from a natural tetraploid accession Wa-1 induced by UGE crosses. The synthetic diploid derived from UGE is true-breeding, displaying perenniality, high organogenic potential, modular growth, and remarkable drought tolerance. Genetic segregation analysis reveals that the mutant phenotype segregates in a mendelian monogenic pattern, suggesting a mutation at a single gene locus. The project plans to integrate omic approaches (genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomics) to decipher and unravel the signaling pathways governing this severe drought-tolerant mutant phenotype. Cloning, molecular, and biochemical characterization of the gene will pave the way to engineer high organogenic potential and drought tolerance traits into agronomically important crops.