RNA as a proxy in seed viability

Funding period: 2023-2024

Lead: Leonardo Galindo González

Total GRDI funding: $10,000

Detection of weed seeds in exports and imports is key to maintain ongoing trade with major international partners and to avoid the introduction of alien invasive and detrimental species into the natural and agricultural settings. However, contaminant seeds may not be viable and would not represent a problem. This project aims to use RNA as a proxy of seed viability. Contrary to DNA, RNA is a molecule that indicates metabolic activity and degrades rapidly when organisms lose viability. We performed preliminary testing to check on RNA integrity (before and after heat treatment) and found a gene that may be used as an indicator of viability showing high expression on seeds.