Uptake of RNAi precursors by Setaria leaves after exogenous application

• Grant number: 22/00244-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Danilo da Cruz Centeno
• Grantee: Carlos Gilberto Castro Cobos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/15576-9 - Carbon metabolism in plants under different perspectives: searching alternatives for crop yield enhancement, AP.JP2

Abstract

In this Project the master fellow will evaluate the uptake of RNAi precursors inplants of Setaria italica and Setaria viridis. Both species are C4 grasses and theircultivation is well stablished in our laboratory. The project includes the use of fumarasegene as a marker to evaluate the effects of exogenous application of RNAi precursors.Results obtained from the Young Researcher Project 1 support the idea that fumarasedecrease the growth rates in Setaria. Thus, our hypothesis is that the application of thefumarase RNAi precursors could, transiently, result in a similar phenotype, whichwould allow us to use the approach as a more environment-friendly herbicide. Thedelivery of the RNAi precursors to the leaves is a great challenge. Therefore, adjuvants, will be tested together with the RNAi precursors in orderto facilitate the uptake by the leaves.