Regulation of terpenoid metabolism in lavender

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This research will improve our understanding of the metabolism of the isoprenoids (or terpenoids), which encompass over 40,000 biochemical compounds in plants. Isoprenoids play crucial roles in the growth, development and ecology of plants. They are also industrially very significant and impact human lives in many ways, including as key constituents of functional foods, cosmetics, hygiene products, medicines, and biofuels, among others. Given the physiological roles and industrial importance of the terpenoids, there is considerable interest in understanding the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that control production of these metabolites in plants. The proposed studies primarily focus on the metabolism of terpenoids in lavender, a valuable crop plant, as a model system. Lavender produces large quantities of a commercially important monoterpene-rich essential oil (EO) in floral glandular trichomes, or oil glands, and is an excellent model for investigating regulation of isoprenoid production and storage in plants. Specific objectives are to: i) study the structural and regulatory genes involved in biosynthesis and secretion of EO constituents. ii) Investigate the partitioning of carbon flux into various terpenoid sub-classes. iii) Explore the molecular basis of the initiation and development of flowers, the specific sites for the production of commercially marketed lavender EO. This research generates knowledge in an important and currently very active area of plant science. The findings, which can be extrapolated to other plants, provide several avenues for improving EO yield and quality, and other important agronomic traits such as resistance to disease, through plant breeding and biotechnology. There is also excellent potential for development of technologies for enhancing the production of industrially important phytochemicals in plants, and in microbial and/or cell-free systems. Further, the research facilitates collaboration among university, government and industrial researchers and creates opportunities for training and employment of undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Additionally, the research benefits several industry sectors including nurseries, farmers, and businesses that rely on medicinal and industrial plants.