Chromatin-guided engineering for enhanced heat stress resilience in strawberries
This solution offers a novel approach to enhancing heat stress resilience in woodland strawberries by engineering epigenetic memory states without prior stress exposure. By utilizing endogenous Heat Shock Factors (HSFs) and epigenetic effectors, this technology aims to produce climate-resilient plants, improving yield and fruit quality.
Overview
Strawberry production faces significant challenges due to increasing heatwaves that compromise yield and fruit quality. Our innovative solution leverages chromatin-guided engineering to enhance heat stress resilience in woodland strawberries. By identifying and manipulating type I heat-memory genes through endogenous Heat Shock Factors (HSFs), we can establish epigenetic memory states without prior stress exposure. This approach aims to produce strawberries that are primed for heat resilience, offering a sustainable solution to climate challenges.
Technical specifications
The core of this technology involves the use of ATAC-seq to identify chromatin accessibility changes and regulatory motifs associated with memory establishment. We employ HSF-based epigenetic effectors to recreate these states, promoting DNA demethylation and H3K4 methylation. These processes result in epigenetically primed plants capable of enduring harsh climate conditions. The system is initially tested in Nicotiana benthamiana and strawberry protoplasts before integration into established strawberry transformation pipelines, where transgenic plants are generated and assessed for transcriptional memory and epigenetic signatures.
Technology readiness level
Currently, the technology is at TRL 2, focusing on the development and initial testing of HSF-based epigenetic engineering systems. Future stages involve transferring these systems into strawberry plants and evaluating their performance under simulated heatwave conditions to achieve higher TRL levels.
About University of Dundee
University of Dundee is a comprehensive public research university of around 16,000 students with an internationally engaged, impact-oriented culture. Its Dundee campus is closely connected to Ninewells Hospital and NHS Tayside, creating a shared environment for clinical research, trials, health-data collaboration, and commercial engagement. Regional medtech infrastructure adds clinical testbeds, prototype-development resources, business incubation, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Research is supported by UK Research and Innovation, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Wellcome, the Scottish Funding Council, and other public and charitable funders. Research and Innovation Services support industry partnering, IP protection, licensing, spinout formation, and commercial agreements.
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