DSSS - The (epi)genetics underlying biochemical plant-organismic interactions

Plants are exposed to and engage with their living environment in a multitude of ways; they have therefore evolved intricate strategies to defend themselves and to interact with the organismic communities in their vicinity. We study the genetic and epigenetic components that shape such plant-organismic interactions. In particular, we are interested in the role of plant-derived specialized metabolites and their role in modulating the interaction of plants with bacteria, fungi, and insects. I will present case studies of three such metabolite classes, all of which are synthesized via biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). In the case of benzoxazinoids from grasses, we have uncovered how chemically mediated re-configuration of the soil microbiome influences soil-plant feedbacks in subsequent plant generations. I will further present how genus-specific diterpenoids in rice play a dual role in plant defence and growth promotion. Lastly, our data on withanolides, steroidal triterpenoids that are prominent in the Solanaceae family, illustrate how neo-functionalisation of a BGC can lead to chemical diversification and eco-physiological adaptation.