In Arabidopsis seeds, distinct phases of seed germination are marked by testa and endosperm rupture. Testa rupture, which is not observed in dormant seeds, provides a visible sign of germination events occurring in seeds, while endosperm rupture marks completion of germination (in a strict sense). During these two phases, elongation of the endosperm together with the enclosed embryo is observed, suggesting that embryo growth potential is generated and increased and, more importantly, that the micropylar region of endosperm (ME) is being weakened. Recent work of our group on tissue-specific gene expression in Arabidopsis seeds has presented a substantial amount of information about ME-enriched gene expression, which provided new insights into the mechanisms of embryo endosperm interaction for the regulation of ME-specific gene expression, an important research theme in seed biology. These analyses suggest a role for mechano- or touch sensing in the control of testa rupture. One of the genes involved is TOUCH3 (TCH3), which is known to interact with PIDOID (PID) a regulator of auxin signaling and transport. Here we propose to investigate the suggested role for auxin signaling and TCH3 activity in testa rupture.

In order to meet the 2030 emissions reduction targets of the Climate Agreement, the Dutch and Chinese government requires active participation of all energy systems users. Only by properly coordinating energy generation and consumption among all users, we will be able to ensure a safe provision of energy with minimum cost. In this project, we propose to use different sources of data combined with advanced AI and engineering methods to achieve this required level of coordination. We will also develop new understanding methods of acceptance of renewable technology by residential users.