Project Grant 2126144

This $3.4 million Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) was awarded to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on October 1, 2021 for research exploring the role of cytokinin in regulating shoot apical meristem function in rice. The University will investigate this topic through September 30, 2025. As part of the grant, North Carolina State University and Dartmouth College will contribute specific research activities. North Carolina State University will perform single-cell RNA sequencing, RNA in situ hybridization, and scanning electron microscopy to identify genes involved in shoot and inflorescence meristem development and analyze mutant meristems. Dartmouth College will characterize the role of cytokinin in shoot and inflorescence meristems through reporter-based and single-cell approaches, with an emphasis on type-B response regulators. The grant aims to advance fundamental understanding of plant growth and development through meristem research.