NCDC228: Plant Lipids
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NCDC228: Plant Lipids
Duration: 12/15/2014 to 12/15/2016
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
The issues to be addressed are (1) improving and extending methods for lipid characterization and measurement, (2) identifying and characterizing lipid-related metabolism and traits relevant for crop improvement, (3) developing crops with improved yield and/or functionality of seed oils, and (4) developing crops with lipid-related traits resulting in improved stress tolerance and yield.
Justification: The multistate “Plant Lipids” project will work to improve understanding of plant lipid metabolism and function, in terms of the roles of lipids in plant growth and development, plant response to stress, and seed and seed oil production. Lipids play critical structural, metabolic, and regulatory roles in plant growth, development, and in response to biotic and abiotic challenges. Plant oils are an important sources of nutrition for humans and livestock, and plant oils are increasingly used as renewable chemical feedstocks and fuels. Yet many fundamental questions about lipids, their metabolism, and functions remain unanswered. The interstate group will work together to improve our understanding of lipids and their roles in plant physiology and to bring lipid-related knowledge to bear on improving crop stress resistance, yields, and seed oil production.