Project Grant 20233882139982

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WITH THE WORLD POPULATION INCREASING AND CLIMATE CHANGES BECOMING MORE PREVALENT, THE FOOD SUPPLIES ARE LEADING TO POTENTIAL PERIL TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. ALTHOUGH STAPLE CROPS OFFER THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF DAILY NUTRITION FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE, THESE CROPS, IN CONTRAST, ARE DEFICIENT IN MICRONUTRIENTS AND SEVERAL VITAMINS, CONTRIBUTING TO WHAT IS KNOWN AS HIDDEN HUNGER THAT RESULTS IN MALNUTRITION. TO GUARANTEE A HEALTHY AND BALANCED DIET, PLANTS, LIKE MUSTARDS AND AMARANTH, HAVE LONG BEEN STUDIED FOR ESSENTIAL PLANT METABOLITES CRITICAL FOR MAINTAINING GOOD HUMAN HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITIONAL GAINS. HOWEVER, INSIGHT FOR THE APPLICATION FOR NANOPARTICLES TO ENHANCE METABOLITES AND MECHANISM BEHIND THEIR ENHANCEMENT IS NOT WELL STUDIED. THE CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS IS THAT ELICITORS LIKE METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES MAY ENHANCE THE SECONDARY METABOLITES THROUGH OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCTION AND MODIFICATION OF GENE EXPRESSION OR ENZYME ACTIVITY. THEREFORE, WE PROPOSE AN INTEGRATED, COLLABORATIVE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT WITH THE GOAL TO ENHANCE SECONDARY METABOLITES IN EDIBLE LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES NECESSARY TO OVERCOME 'HIDDEN HUNGER'. THE RESEARCH GOAL WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY: A) DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF METALLIC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES OF DIFFERENT SIZES, SHAPES AND CONCENTRATIONS ON THE PRODUCTION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES IN MUSTARDS AND AMARANTH USING METABOLOMIC APPROACHES; B) ELUCIDATING THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES BY NPS USING TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSES; C) APPLYING MACHINE LEARNING TO DEVELOP PREDICTIVE MODELS TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NP EXPOSURE WITH THE PRODUCTION OF BENEFICIAL SECONDARY METABOLITES. THE EDUCATION GOAL IS TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES TO PVAMU STUDENTS THROUGH ENGAGEMENT IN INTERDISCIPLINARY HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES CENTERED ON HYPOTHESES DRIVEN RESEARCH.