Stress-induced flowering response to abiotic stimuli in sustainable bio-systems

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Flowering in horticultural crops is the result of physiological, chemical and molecular changes. Regulation of these is done either autonomously (e.g. genotype) or through the effect of environmental factors (e.g. photoperiod or temperature). Flower bud induction remains a limiting factor in intensive and sustainable fruit production systems. Recently, stress-induced flowering has received increased attention as a potential way to manipulate fruit set and the overall quality of produced fruits due to the plant response to stress.******Using Fragaria spp. as a model plant, my research program is based on the general hypothesis that fruit set and quality composition can be enhanced through manipulation of stress-induced flowering in day-neutral species. The long-term objective is to elucidate the biochemical and genetic mechanisms that elicit and regulate stress-induced flowering in Fragaria spp. and evaluate the subsequent impact on berry quality. My research team and I will first of all 1) characterize the physiological flowering response of day-neutral Fragaria spp. to individual and combined abiotic stimuli. We will then 2) elucidate the role of secondary metabolites as signal molecules regulating flower bud induction in Fragaria spp. in response to abiotic stimuli. Finally, we will 3) characterize the regulation of key genes involved in stress-induced flowering in Fragaria vesca. These objectives will be achieved through a well-balanced combination of classic phenotypic assessment of plant development and state-of-the-art strategies for transcriptomic and metabolite analysis (RNA-seq and HPLC).******The knowledge generated by the three proposed objectives will provide a clear understanding of the regulation of stress-induced flowering in Fragaria spp. and will highlight the potential use of abiotic stimuli manipulation to enhance flowering and berry quality. This will benefit the Canadian strawberry industry by providing new practices to improve fruit production as well as consumers by increasing availability of locally-produced berries. My research answers a need to pursue discoveries in the field of sustainable development within the biofood industry to ensure long-term health benefits for consumers by promoting improved resource use efficiency in high-quality fruit production, which directly addresses one of the seven priority areas targeted by the Canadian government. My research program will also have a strong socio-economic impact through the unique multidisciplinary training platform for Ph.D. (2), M.Sc. (2) and undergraduate (5) students, allowing them to gain expertise and a complete skill set in a sector characterized by a high demand in trained scientists.