This $649,929 federal Project Grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program will fund research at the University of Maryland, College Park to investigate the molecular and genetic basis of seasonal nitrogen cycling in poplar trees. The research aims to advance understanding of how perennial plants like trees efficiently acquire and utilize nitrogen, which is a critical nutrient for plant growth and productivity. The project will leverage CRISPR gene editing and molecular biology approaches to study the role of plant hormones and regulatory factors in controlling nitrogen storage and mobilization in poplar. This work builds on prior discoveries about the importance of seasonal nitrogen cycling to the nitrogen use efficiency of forest trees and fruit trees. Findings from this 3-year research effort could lead to new strategies for enhancing nitrogen management in agricultural and forestry systems.
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