EncRNA: Evaluation of exogenous RNA as non-GMO based strategy to improve plant stress resilience

This project aims to investigate the target and non-target effects of exogenously applied long noncoding RNAs (encRNAs) on rice plants. Several long ncRNAs have been selected and uptake of these RNAs in rice is predicted to enhance stress resilience in plants. We will focus on salt and drought stress as abiotic stresses, and defense against nematodes as biotic stress. The off-target effects through various epigenetic mechanisms will also be investigated as these could have implications for regulation and acceptance of this non-transgenic approach for crop protection.