Project information
Floodproof mustards: Deciphering flooding tolerance mechanisms and the impact of polyploidy in Cardamine species

As global climate change accelerates, severe weather events like droughts and floods increasingly threaten agricultural regions and natural ecosystems. While most crop plants struggle with these stresses, wild species have adapted to endure extreme conditions. This project aims to investigate the genetic and anatomical traits linked to flood tolerance in Cardamine species (Brassicaceae, the mustard family) adapted to different soil moisture levels, including polyploid species such as C. flexuosa, C. scutata, C. kokaiensis, and C. occulta, alongside their diploid progenitors (C. amara, C. hirsuta, and C. parviflora). We will analyze all these species in terms of their tolerance to submergence and waterlogging, studying their specific biochemical and anatomical traits. The high-quality genome assemblies of these species will enable transcriptome studies to identify essential genes and molecular mechanisms related to water tolerance, ultimately guiding agricultural practices for a changing climate.