Epigenetic and hormonal mechanisms of seed adaptation to changing ambient temperatures as targets for secure weed management tools

该项目的总体目标是更深入地了解杂草种子适应环境温度变化的基本机制。杂草和高温胁迫是农业和粮食安全的主要威胁；目前约有10%的农作物产量因杂草而损失。杂草的成功，至少在一定程度上，要归功于种子的休眠和寿命作为早期生命历史的适应机制。这个跨学科项目的目标和成果是由伦敦皇家霍洛威大学的G Leubner教授的种子生物学小组、伦敦帝国理工学院的宋杰博士的植物再生和表观遗传学小组以及Jealott Hill国际研究中心的先正达杂草控制的D Stock博士合作实现的。学生将进行跨物种杂草种子休眠和萌发热时间模型，作为适应的农业生态生理基础。这将为随后的比较激素、表观遗传和转录组分析提供定量生理框架和靶组织，以阐明潜在的分子机制。本文将从激素、表观遗传学和转录组学的角度分析不同杂草种类的休眠释放和发芽刺激物（化学生物学）的机制。该项目有可能确定新的行动方式并产生知识，以指导制定控制杂草种子的新战略。

The overall aim of this project is to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of weed seed adaptation to changing ambient temperatures. Weeds and heat stress are major threats to agriculture and food security; about 10% of crop production is currently lost to weeds. Weeds owe their success, at least in part, to seed dormancy and longevity as early-life history adaptation mechanisms. The objectives and deliverables of this interdisciplinary project are achieved in a collaboration between the Seed Biology Group of Prof G Leubner at Royal Holloway University of London, the Plant Regeneration and Epigenetics Group of Dr Jie Song at Imperial College London, and Dr D Stock from Syngenta Weed Control at Jealott's Hill International Research Centre. The student will conduct cross-species weed seed dormancy and germination thermal-time modelling as the agri-ecophysiological basis underlying the adaptation. This will deliver the quantitative physiological framework and target tissues for the subsequent comparative hormone, epigenetic and transcriptome profiling to elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms. The mechanisms of selected dormancy release and germination stimulant chemicals (chemical biology) will be analysed on the hormonal, epigenetics and transcriptome level in distinct weed species. The project has the potential to identify novel modes of action and to generate knowledge to guide the development of novel strategies to control weed seeds.