Crop genome complexity: sulphur metabolism and mustard pungency

本项目旨在解释复杂作物基因组背景下作物可塑性的分子基础。它将确定表观遗传机制如何有助于调节从芥菜植物收获的次生代谢物的产量，以响应环境因素的变化。具体而言，将探讨硫代谢与硫代葡萄糖苷小RNA调控之间的关系。该项目将揭示复制的遗传位点和表观遗传标记在调节组织特异性基因网络中所起的作用，特别是在田间生长环境中。该项目将探索基因复制如何使芥菜等作物对硫肥的施用作出反应，以及如何调节芥菜种子（一种有价值的出口商品）中“热”挥发油的储存。

This project aims to explain the molecular basis of crop plant plasticity in the context of a complex crop genome. It will determine how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to regulating the yield of a secondary metabolite harvested from mustard plants in response to variation in environmental factors. Specifically it will explore the relationship between sulphur metabolism and small RNA regulation of glucosinolates. The project should uncover the role that duplicated genetic loci and epigenetic marks play in regulating tissue-specific gene networks, particularly in field-grown environments. The project will explore how duplication of genes enables a crop such as mustard to respond to application of sulphur fertiliser and regulate the stockpiling of the 'hot' volatile oil in mustard seed, a valuable export commodity.