The Governors of the University of Alberta

Published purpose

Seeds are the primary source of plant-based protein, and a comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal developmental and metabolic pathways at the cellular level is essential for unraveling the fundamental mechanisms that can enhance plant-based protein crops. Metabolomics analysis holds immense promise and advantages compared to conventional methods. It often serves as the foundation for understanding the biochemical intricacies within cells. This research aims to create a high-resolution spatiotemporal atlas of the transcriptome, chromatin accessibility, and the metabolome for canola and pea, during seed development and in vitro embryogenesis, all at the cellular level. Furthermore, this multi-omics data will be integrated with panomics platforms and systems biology approaches. Additionally, an atlas focused on seed development under heat stress conditions will be generated. This dataset will serve as a foundational resource, enabling the prediction of complex seed component traits and the elucidation of regulatory networks for enhancing crop yield and seed quality.