PDWallMech: Harnessing PlasmoDesma Wall Mechanics for plant biotech and biomaterials

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Plant cells communicate with each other despite the rigid cell wall surrounding them. Communication is essential to coordinate development and responses to environmental inputs perceived locally or in distant organs. Some small molecules can move freely between cells using cell specific transport machineries. Cell walls limit diffusion of larger molecules, such as proteins and RNAs, however these can move via small channels that connect the insides of neighboring cells known as Plasmodesmata (singular, plasmodesma). Plasmodesmata function impacts all aspects of plant growth and development, including spreading of diseases, capacity to exploit soils resources, adaptation and survival to climatic changes. Despite their fundamental importance to all forms of plant life, we know very little about plasmodesmata and consequently this is one of the most promising but least exploited targets when developing new strategies to improve crop growth and resilience to climate change. The work that will be carried out in this project will fill key knowledge gaps on plasmodesmata, such as how different components in the surrounding cell walls affects plasmodesmata structural organization and function in different plants, cells and tissues. The mechanical properties of cell wall components affecting plasmodesmata function will be analysed to identify genes that can be targeted to modify intercellular communication, plant growth and environmental resilience. I will develop plant-type specific platforms that allow exploitation of plasmodesmata knowledge for the improvement of desirable crop traits, thus addressing their untapped potential to modify root branching (to improve access to water and nutrients uptake in depleted soils), resistance to viruses (plasmodesmata serve as a conduit for virus spreading) or the response to toxic metals and other abiotic stress conditions, through modulating intercellular signalling. At the end of the program the goal is to have novel, accessible tools to modify plasmodesmata in a targeted and specific manner that allow the design of strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on plant growth, thus agricultural sustainability and food security, in a wide range of plant species including food crops such as wheat and tomato. Complementary to the fundamental work, the properties of cell walls controlling plasmodesmata will be exploited in the design of new products, such as novel biomaterials. The project, which integrates plant biomechanics, biotechnology and material engineering, has a wide range of outputs and impacts, thus offering maximal societal and economic benefits. The Fellowship will deliver crucial knowledge for the development of novel applications in the biopolymer and bioplastic sector and in crop biotechnology strengthening the UK's leading position worldwide in industrial biotechnology. Knowledge translation also addresses global priorities to ensure food security for a growing global population and to discover new resources to manufacture products with green credentials for sustainable living.