Climate Change-Resistant "Smart Plants" to Be Developed

Boğaziçi University's Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics has begun genetic research necessary to produce climate-resistant "smart plants," according to reports on work led by Assistant Professor Steven Footitt and his team. [caption id="attachment_125284" align="aligncenter"] Steven Footitt[/caption] A two-year project supported by Boğaziçi University's Scientific Research Fund (BAP) will use gene research to reveal how climate change affects seed dormancy in plant seeds, which prevents germination. According to Footitt, this will significantly contribute to the production of smart plants and mark an important step for Turkey in agriculture and food security. Multiple studies are underway at Boğaziçi University examining the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security. Among these is the project by Assistant Professor Steven Footitt and his team from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, which aims to understand plant seed dormancy through gene research and pave the way for the development of smart plants capable of adapting to climate change. Responding to questions from the Corporate Communications Office, research team leader Footitt states that by focusing on genes that reduce seed dormancy, plants could more easily adapt to climate change, and adds: "Through this research project, we want to make significant contributions to the production of climate-smart plants needed for sustainable agriculture and food security in Turkey."  

"Extreme Heat Prevents Germination"

Assistant Professor Steven Footitt, who joined Boğaziçi University in 2019 after conducting research in various countries worldwide, notes that extreme temperatures caused by climate change can put seeds into a secondary dormancy state, preventing germination. The scientist, explaining this as a survival strategy, describes this process that could threaten food security in Turkey as follows: "Plants develop strategies to survive in the face of stress events such as extreme heat. This is because natural selection has enabled the development of mechanisms that help plants tolerate or avoid such harsh conditions. One of these behaviors is dormancy—the cessation of plant growth alongside dormancy that occurs in seeds of many plants. Dormancy is triggered after seeds are dispersed from the parent plant; it can continue to prevent germination even under favorable conditions of water, light and temperature. Seeds need to reduce this dormancy period until they become sensitive to environmental factors that allow germination. However, if conditions that prevent germination, such as extreme heat, persist after seed dispersal, a much deeper secondary dormancy state emerges. This way, seeds can survive in soil for several years until appropriate conditions develop. This is actually a survival strategy used by most wild plants. This strategy varies between species depending on the environments to which different plant populations have adapted."

"Genes Preventing Seed Germination Will Be Mapped"

Dr. Steven Footitt and his team aim to solve this seed dormancy mechanism through genetic mapping studies on the "Arabidopsis" plant, which has high genetic diversity. Emphasizing that this will make significant contributions to developing climate-resistant "smart plants," the scientist states, "We will use Arabidopsis as a model plant for the project. This plant has an average lifespan of 30-40 days and a small genome structure of approximately 25 genes on five chromosomes. The high level of genetic diversity in Arabidopsis species facilitates the identification of variations in climate adaptation that occur in different eco-types. My team and I will map climate-adapted genes that play a role in regulating processes that trigger secondary dormancy, such as extreme heat, which prevents seed germination. We will examine how genetically different seeds of the same species use dormancy to survive in order to adapt to climate change. This will provide us with significant contributions in the future for cultivating plants adapted to climate change. This is a major step for agriculture and food security in Turkey," he says.  

"A NEW GROWTH ROOM FOR 186 PLANTS WAS SET UP AT NORTH CAMPUS"

Boğaziçi will conduct intensive laboratory work encompassing plant cultivation, harvesting, molecular biology and genetic studies. The team will grow plants from 186 genetically different lines for the research and will use the newly established plant growth room at North Campus. Footitt notes that special systems have been set up in this room for the research project, and regarding the facility states: "We have a lighting system that can mimic natural daily temperature and light cycles, allowing us to optimize plant growth. The lighting system here consists of low-energy LED lights designed specifically for plant growth in a way that reduces carbon footprint."  

"Our Research Project Will Run Comparatively for Two Years"

Data emerging at the end of the two-year planned project will comparatively reveal which plant behaviors respond better to climate change. The scientist underscores that Turkey has a rich natural flora and therefore the information obtained about plants' responses to climate change will be important for preserving genetic plant diversity. Additionally, with data obtained from the project, genes that could be used in producing elite lines that would accelerate germination in plants from an agricultural standpoint by reducing secondary dormancy will be understood.