This project aims to characterize the mode of action of a novel plant growth activator A68, previously identified through a chemical genetics screen and shown to improve plant growth of Arabidopsis plants grown under normal and osmotic stress conditions in vitro or drought stress in soil. We will adopt the thermal proteome profiling to monitor the protein-A68 interactions using multiplexed quantitative mass spectrometry and take advantage of gene expression studies. Detailed dissection of the effects of the chemical activator at mRNA transcript and protein levels will yield insights into the molecular mechanisms determining the improved plant growth phenotypes. The obtained information will ultimately lead to the discovery of novel candidate genes for increasing crop yield and/or enhancing abiotic stress tolerance.