Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, such as NDA methylation, play a central role in the endogenous modulation of plant immune responses. In the joint project BarEpiEdit, we are taking an integrative and interdisciplinary proof-of-concept approach that aims to translate fundamental insights into the epigenetic regulation of plant immunity into a potential application. To this end, we use epigenetic editing (EpiEdit) bases on a modified CRISPR-Cas9 system to specifically modulate epigenetic marks and thereby enhance disease resistance in crop plants. This technology, which is also being explored in human medicine, including cancer therapy, is further adapted and optimized with the project for use in plant systems. The overarching goal is to develop a novel, innovative, and environmentally friendly plant protection strategy that harnesses DNA (de) methylation as a molecular mechanism for crop protection. Using barley as a model, we demonstrate that EpiEdit can increase disease resistance against major fungal pathogens, here Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. In parallel, multi-omics analyses of powdery mildew-infected barley plants reveal pathogen-induced changes in the barley epigenome.
Epigenetic regulatory mechanisms (e.g. DNA methylation) also play an important role in the endogenous modulation of the plant immune response. In the joint project BarEpiEdit, an integrative and interdisciplinary proof-of-concept approach is being developed with the aim of transferring fundamental findings on epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of plant immunity into a potential application for the first time.
To this end, epigenetic editing (EpiEdit) based on a modified CRISP-Cas9 system will be used to optimize the disease resistance of crop plants.
The technology, whose use is among others being researched for cancer therapy in humans, is being further developed and modified in the project for use in plant systems. The aim is to develop a novel, innovative and environmentally friendly plant protection process that for the first time utilizes the molecular mechanism of DNA (de)methylation for plant protection with the help of EpiEdit technology. Using barley as an example, we will show that EpiEdit can be used to achieve increased immunity and thus increased disease resistance to important fungal pathogens (Blumerig graminis f. sp. hordej and Fusarium graminearum).
In addition, the multi-omics analysis of the epigenome of powdery mildew and Fusarium-infected barley plants provides fundamental insights into epigenetic mechanisms in plants and the relationship between phenotypic trait expression and intrinsic genetic changes.
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