Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-03338, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Braeutigam, Katharina (University of Toronto), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Discovery Grants Program - Individual, program name french : Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles, program purpose english : Immobile organisms cannot simply evade unfavorable, stressful, conditions. They can, however, show a remarkable flexibility under varying environmental conditions that ensures growth and survival. Especially long-lived plants like trees exhibit such an astonishing flexibility. In addition to a genetic component, epigenetic mechanisms play key roles in contributing to this &ldquo;phenotypic plasticity&rdquo;. Epigenetics, literally &ldquo;above genetics&rdquo;, refers to the study of changes in gene function that can be induced in response internal or external signals, that can be heritable across cell division but that do not result from changes in an organism&rsquo;s DNA. Thus, epigenetic marks can provide an additional layer of plasticity at the molecular level. The goal of my research is to investigate how remodeling of the epigenome relates to stress &ldquo;memory&rdquo; and life cycle characteristics in long-lived plants. In the next five years, my lab will address the following three interconnected research objectives, using the poplar as model for tree species. 
 
1: We will provide an in-depth characterization of the epigenetic inventory in a long-lived plant with focus on gene function, conservation and diversification. This will generate information necessary for subsequent experiments, and it will provide novel insights into the function of the epigenetic machinery. 
 
2: We will analyze stress-induced epigenetic patterns in long-lived plants by using an integrated approach that combines physiology and molecular patterns with systems-level data analyses. This work will allow us to gain deeper insights into the plasticity of plant-environment interactions and the role that epigenetic mechanisms play in contributing to stress &ldquo;memory&rdquo;. 
 
3. We will explore artificially-induced epigenetic diversity by targeting selected components of the epigenetic machinery in trees. This will allow us to create molecular and functional variation without altering the genetic makeup of the plant directly, complementing our understanding of naturally-induced epigenetic diversity and providing the material for alternative tree breeding strategies. 
 
Results from the proposed research will provide the most comprehensive understanding of epigenome function, stress "memory" and phenotypic plasticity in long-lived plants to date. The findings will not only be of scientific interest, they will have implications for plantations, breeding strategies, and our understanding of tree performance in light of climate change. 
 
Highly qualified personnel (HQP) will be key to all facets of the proposed research. HQP will gain expertise in a unique combination of state-of-the-art techniques and approaches (epigenetics, tree physiology, bioinformatics), that will provide future scientific leaders with the skills needed to succeed in modern careers in research and innovation., program purpose french : Immobile organisms cannot simply evade unfavorable, stressful, conditions. They can, however, show a remarkable flexibility under varying environmental conditions that ensures growth and survival. Especially long-lived plants like trees exhibit such an astonishing flexibility. In addition to a genetic component, epigenetic mechanisms play key roles in contributing to this &ldquo;phenotypic plasticity&rdquo;. Epigenetics, literally &ldquo;above genetics&rdquo;, refers to the study of changes in gene function that can be induced in response internal or external signals, that can be heritable across cell division but that do not result from changes in an organism&rsquo;s DNA. Thus, epigenetic marks can provide an additional layer of plasticity at the molecular level. The goal of my research is to investigate how remodeling of the epigenome relates to stress &ldquo;memory&rdquo; and life cycle characteristics in long-lived plants. In the next five years, my lab will address the following three interconnected research objectives, using the poplar as model for tree species. 
 
1: We will provide an in-depth characterization of the epigenetic inventory in a long-lived plant with focus on gene function, conservation and diversification. This will generate information necessary for subsequent experiments, and it will provide novel insights into the function of the epigenetic machinery. 
 
2: We will analyze stress-induced epigenetic patterns in long-lived plants by using an integrated approach that combines physiology and molecular patterns with systems-level data analyses. This work will allow us to gain deeper insights into the plasticity of plant-environment interactions and the role that epigenetic mechanisms play in contributing to stress &ldquo;memory&rdquo;. 
 
3. We will explore artificially-induced epigenetic diversity by targeting selected components of the epigenetic machinery in trees. This will allow us to create molecular and functional variation without altering the genetic makeup of the plant directly, complementing our understanding of naturally-induced epigenetic diversity and providing the material for alternative tree breeding strategies. 
 
Results from the proposed research will provide the most comprehensive understanding of epigenome function, stress "memory" and phenotypic plasticity in long-lived plants to date. The findings will not only be of scientific interest, they will have implications for plantations, breeding strategies, and our understanding of tree performance in light of climate change. 
 
Highly qualified personnel (HQP) will be key to all facets of the proposed research. HQP will gain expertise in a unique combination of state-of-the-art techniques and approaches (epigenetics, tree physiology, bioinformatics), that will provide future scientific leaders with the skills needed to succeed in modern careers in research and innovation., agreement title english : The relationship between genome, epigenome, and performance in long-live plants, agreement title french : The relationship between genome, epigenome, and performance in long-live plants, agreement number : RGPIN, agreement value : 150000.0, agreement start date : 2017-05-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2022-2023), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada