Temperature ‘Memory’ in Plants: How is it possible?
Science / Life Sciences
Global warming adversely affects agriculture, with some cultivars more susceptible than others. Interestingly, rainfed rice cultivars have been shown to memorize heat stress, allowing them to be more tolerant of future heat stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this “memory” are poorly understood.
Recent advances in molecular biology enable us to study two of the most likely mechanisms behind this “memory”: epigenetic modifications and RNA control. Both mechanisms regulate gene expression without altering DNA sequences.
This project will conduct a global and integrative analysis of these two mechanisms in rice cultivars contrasting in heat tolerance. We aim to understand how heat “memory” is established and maintained, which could lead to new mitigation strategies for climate-resilient agriculture.
