EpiSeedLink

The overreaching mission of EpiSeedLink is to foster a European network that empowers crop improvement through epigenetics by providing expertise, know-how, and creativity in high-end technologies to 11 early stage scientists and enabling them to translate scientific knowledge and skills into innovation. Through international, multidisciplinary, and inter-sectorial training in experimental and computational biology, EpiSeedLink will not only contribute to excellence in research but also timely address societal and agricultural needs. This original research program combines the unique know-how of academic experts with that of two seed companies to synergize research and knowledge transfer between a plant model (Arabidopsis) and a crop of enormous agroeconomic importance (oilseed rape). EpiSeedLink will exploit the epigenetic regulation of seed priming mechanisms to improve crop performance under threats caused by climate change (drought, heat, high light) through non-GMO practices. As a summary the Main Research Objectives are: • to provide a “gene-to-field” applicability of new markers to produce or select varieties with an enhanced capacity for stress tolerance that, in the long term, will serve as a framework for knowledge transfer to other Brassica crops, to which various leafy vegetables, cauliflower/broccoli, mustard, and turnip belong. Oilseed rape is ideally suited to undertake the EpiSeedLink research program. On one hand, oilseed rape is Europe’s most important oils crop (for cereal and biofuel production) and is closely related to the model plant Arabidopsis. On the other hand, it is affected by environmental threats during the critical phases of germination and field emergence, such that the drought in 2018/19 caused up to 44% losses in the EU. The expertise of the BioAtlantis and DSV companies will beneficite as to achieve our objective. • Provide excellent know-how, and improve research and complementary skills of 11 early-stage scientists