This research proposal aims to deliver fundamental scientific insights into plant
stress responses and resilience. All the research in this proposal will be executed on
cereals such as rice, wheat, and barley, feeding the majority of the human population on a daily basis. Based on
preliminary observations from running research projects in the group, in combination with
scientific literature, this project is designed around a general working
hypothesis that considers an interconnection between reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and DNA
hypomethylation during plant stress responses and defense priming.
Although the link between oxidative stress and plant defense is well-known,
the impact of ROS  on plant epigenetics is currently
undescribed. Using state-of-the-art stress bio-assays, (bio)chemical
investigations combined with epigenetic techniques, this proposal
aims at identifying the role of ROS homeostasis in the plant
stress response and DNA methylation profiles. This will provide
groundbreaking insights into the connection between plant
physiology and epigenetics. Understanding the physiological and
epigenetic basis of plant stress responses will be a way forward to
design environmental friendly methods to
enhance crop stress resilience.