Changes in gene expression underpin the ability of a plant to adapt to, or mitigate the negative impact of abiotic stress. RNAi is a natural regulatory and defense mechanism present in most eukaryotic organisms. The presence of free double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the cell triggers RNAi and directs sequence-specific degradation of other RNA molecules resulting in translational repression of homologous messenger RNA targets, and downregulation or knockdown of protein expression.

The RNAi mechanism can be exploited as a strategy for crop improvement through the silencing of specific plant genes. We will investigate how dsRNA delivery in plant cells and plant tissues can be optimized using protein, peptide or polymer carriers coupled to dsRNA. Furthermore we will study the uptake of dsRNA, polymers, proteins, their fate in the plant cell or tissue, and optimize the conditions for targeting of gene down-regulation, aiming towards plants with improved tolerance to abiotic stresses.