CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT: ACCELERATED INTROGRESSION OF SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID DERIVED DIVERSITY INTO AN APPLIED HARD WINTER WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM

Polyacetylenic lipids comprise a diverse class of powerfully bioactive, fatty acid-derived natural products that contain multiple triple carbon-carbon bonds with known human health promoting properties and implications in plant defense against microbial pathogens. Falcarins are a subclass of polyacetylenes commonly found in Apiaceous species such as carrot.Despite knowledge of their existence for multiple decades, only recently has any progress been made on comprehending falcarin biosynthesis in plants. Nonetheless, a dearth of knowledge on their synthesis still remains.The overarching goal of this researchto provide an in-depth understanding of the biosynthetic pathways and deposition of falcarins in carrot and sunflower to facilitate breeding and biotechnological approaches for modulating plant falcarin concentrations as strategies for mitigating in-field and post-harvest crop losses, improving organoleptic properties, and fortifying the health promoting benefits of carrots and other crop species.Our research will be accomplished through the following specific aims:Elucidate the falcarin biosynthetic pathway in carrot as well as the developmental dynamics of falcarin biosynthesis using biochemical and genomics-based approachesDevelop carrot germplasm that is enhanced and deficient in falcarins using biotechnological methodologies, including CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, as tools for future studies of falcarin-mediated health promotion, flavor properties, and pathogen resistanceInvestigate the biosynthesis and tissue level distribution of falcarin-type molecules in an agronomically relevant crop from the Asteraceae family, sunflower