** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INCREASED CROP PLANT PRODUCTION IS NECESSARY TO FEED A GROWING GLOBAL POPULATION AND SUPPORT RENEWABLE RESOURCES. NOVEL CROP RESISTANCE TO NEMATODES AND OTHER BIOTIC ATTACKERS IS REQUIRED TO MEET THESE DEMANDS. XYLAN, A PLANT CELL WALL COMPONENT, PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN PLANT INTEGRITY AND HEALTH. THE HIGH AMOUNT OF XYLAN BIOMASS INCORPORATED INTO GRASS CELL WALLS HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS POLYSACCHARIDE, AS U.S. GRASS CROPS PROVIDE MANY STAPLE FOODS AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES. XYLAN INFLUENCES CELL WALL STRUCTURE AND FLEXIBILITY, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO STORED PLANT BIOMASS, MECHANICAL STRUCTURES, AND RESILIENCE.DISCOVERIES FROM BASIC RESEARCH IN PLANT BIOLOGY CAN INFORM ENGINEERING EFFORTS AND INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATIONS. INSIGHTS FROM INTERACTIONS BETWEEN RICE PLANTS AND ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE (RKN) PESTS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED A HOST-PARASITE ARMS RACE AT THE CELL WALL INTERFACE. ENDOPARASITIC RKNS ARE DEVASTATING PESTS THAT RESPOND TO THE PLANT HOST'S XYLAN BARRIER BY SECRETING XYLANASES, XYLAN-DEGRADING ENZYMES. TO COUNTERACT THIS, RICE PROTECTS XYLAN VIA PROTEASES WITH INHIBITORY ACTIVITY ON XYLANASES. THIS MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROJECT COMPLEMENTS AN EVOLUTIONARY SYSTEMS BIOLOGY FRAMEWORK WITH BIOCHEMISTRY, CELL BIOLOGY, AND GENETICS TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF XYLAN PROPERTIES, WHICH CAN INFORM EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PLANT HEALTH AND ENGINEERING OF HIGH-IMPACT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL FOOD AND RESOURCE SECURITY. TO CHARACTERIZE THESE MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS AND DETERMINE REGULATION OF XYLAN-RELATED GENES, I WILL USE VARYING MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES WITH COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSES. EXPLORATION OF XYLAN METABOLISM AND HYDROLYSIS COULD ENHANCE PLANT PRODUCTS, SUCH AS BIOFUELS, AND PLANT QUALITY TRAITS, BIOMECHANICS, AND RESILIENCE TO STRESSORS.