Studies of genomic variation are critical to developing a synthetic, systems and quantitative understanding of how to improve crops. However, modern short-read methodologies may actually miss the very genes that are critical to adapting crops to new environments or making them healthier. This project will create high-quality genomes of multiple crops and species from the mustard family to test new methods and technologies to ensure that these genes essential for adaptation and improvement are identified. [Read More]

Black fungi spread in diverse extreme environments playing a crucial role by recycling organic matter, enabling nutrient uptake. They are also involved in biogeochemical processes, including rock transformations, bioweathering, mineral formation. The STRES project aims to dig into the genome diversity and metabolites involved in stress response to: i) gain insights into the evolutionary processes allowing black fungi to successfully adapt to extremes; ii) clarify their role in the functioning and balance in extreme-ecosystems; iii) explore the role of melanin in energy processes. [Read More]

Grass species have a tremendous potential to be engineered to generate biofuels that can feed our economy. A major challenge has been accessing the energy stored in plants. Purple false brome (Brachypodium distachyon), a wild grass species from the Mediterranean region, is a perfect model for testing novel ways of changing plants to help produce biofuels. In this study, researchers are accessing variation in this species to identify genes that could transform bioenergy crops. These resources are openly shared with the scientific community in order to speed up research and transform society. [Read More]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) systems produce methane-rich biogas, which can be upgraded and distributed within the existing energy grid. Despite the widespread adoption of AD for waste management and bioenergy generation, the microbial networks driving methane production from organic matter remain poorly constrained, limiting our capacity to predict impacts of process perturbations. Here, we will combine stable isotope and amino acid tracers with genomic sequencing to determine “who is doing what” in AD, with the overall aim of improving biofuel production efficiency from renewable biomass. [Read More]