DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This program represents a uniquely detailed analysis of the interaction of the environment with plant growth, made possible only by the combination of expertise and skills of the partners within a network. The programme is subdivided into integrated work-packages assigning tasks to all partners. A major task is analysis of the contribution of genotype and environment to growth under both normal and limiting conditions, and will make use of the availability of polyploids and a wide range of ecotypes in Arabidopsis. This analysis combines the development and application of novel kinematic growth measurement procedures with genomic approaches that will define gene expression profiles and protein profiles for different genotypes in various limiting conditions. In parallel, specific pairwise comparisons of normal plants with plants with enhanced vigour caused by environmental or genotypic changes will allow direct identification of vigour-related genes and biochemical pathways. This will utilise integrated RNA, protein and metabolic profiling analysis. All data will be built into a central database providing a unique resource for understanding the responses of plants to their environment. Directed molecular approaches will be used to identify by homology potential signalling and signal transduction components, including sugar signalling and hormone responses likely to be candidates for mediating growth responses. This directed analysis will be combined with the results of growth and vigour studies to generate candidate master regulatory genes and pathways. These will be manipulated in transgenic Arabidopsis (up and down regulation) to confirm their involvement. This analysis will utilise novel in vivo reporters of growth and hormone activity, as well as the kinematic facility. Validated candidate genes will be cloned from rapeseed (oil seed rape). The rapeseed genes will be mapped to relative to known QTLs for vigour, growth or yield. The potential for using the information for marker-assisted breeding will be assessed together with transgenic rapeseed and rice with altered expression of the genes.