1-2A-3 Epigenetica (KB-34-005-003)

Due to climate change, plant and animal production have become more vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stressors, such as diseases, pests and weeds, temperature extremities and drought, which currently require the use of pesticides, antibiotics and interventions. At the same time, for the sake of climate change mitigation, a transition is needed from linear to circular production systems. Inherent to circular production is that agents that have been introduced into the production system (and residues of those agents) continue to circulate. The resulting accumulation of contaminants represents a safety hazard for plants, humans and animals. Therefore, in a circular production system it is of particular importance to reduce the dependence on the use of fertilizers and pesticides in plants, and of antibiotics in animals. Here we investigate natural methods in the production system that directly stimulate the natural resilience of plants and animals in order to decrease disease susceptibility. Recent studies show that this so-called "priming" process is based on epigenetic modifications, which can be transmitted from mother to the progeny or that can develop in early life (e.g. embryonic stage, seeds). In principle, thanks to these epigenetic modifications, the progeny is better prepared to cope with the expected environment, therefore also less dependent on antibiotics and pesticides or other human interference.  

In this project, plants and animals will be examined for possibilities to use epigenetic transfer of induced resilience as an alternative for a more resilient offspring. Epigenetics can then be used as a strategy to induce an increased health in different organisms under different defined circumstances. The final goal is to increase the resilience of circular production systems including the organisms itself within the system in a climate change scenario.