BBSRC MIBTP - Controlling the location and frequency of meiotic recombination in plants

Most of our food arise from plants either directly (crops/vegetables/fruits) or indirectly (animal foods). Plant reproduction plays a key role as it provides the grain and fruit that we eat. In addition, during plant reproduction (meiosis), genetic variation is able to occur. This genetic variation is the base for plant breeding and produce better crops. The challenges of increasing global population (~9billion by 2050) and climate change will constrain the global food security. To overcome these challenges is essential to develop more resilient and higher yield crops. Understanding the processes to control meiotic recombination in plants is essential to provide food security for the 21st century.
Our laboratory has been involved in meiotic recombination research for several years which has allowed us to gain a very good overview of the different molecular pathways and the dynamic interactions of different chromatin components in the control of meiotic recombination (genetic crossovers) in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This knowledge is being recently applied into other plant crops like Brassicas and cereals. We are especially interested in investigating the fundamental molecular mechanisms that are controlling the frequency and distribution of genetic crossovers along chromosomes. We are particularly interested in understanding how the programmed global changes in chromosome organization direct the fate of crossovers and just occur in specific regions. This problem is very important for plant breeders in cereals. Different molecular, biochemical, cytological and microscopy techniques would be applied in this project in order to study different aspects of meiotic recombination and being able to manipulate them to use them as tools in plant breeding techniques.