During the ERC-CoG BIOMATFAB reporting period, we achieved multiple breakthroughs, advancing knowledge beyond the current state of the art. Our high-risk, high-gain approach required the development and validation of entirely new methodologies, aligning with ERC’s philosophy of enabling ‘research leaps’ through unconventional exploration.
A major breakthrough was demonstrating that sugars can be taken up by plant roots and transported to fibers, challenging the long-standing paradigm that plants rely solely on photosynthesis for carbon acquisition. We provided the first experimental evidence that root-absorbed sugars are integrated into fibers. These findings lay the foundation for using glucose derivatives and root-feeding strategies for fiber modification, bringing Aim 3 within reach.
To support this controversial claim, we developed a metabolic pipeline for tracking 13C incorporation across plant tissues (leaf, stem, fruit, fibers) at a molecular resolution. This enabled us to elucidate transport mechanisms and strengthened our earlier observations on unconventional upward sugar movement. Further systematic data collection is ongoing, facilitated by the groundwork established in the first phase of this project, including stabilized greenhouse conditions, dwarfing protocols, and optimized data analysis pipelines.
The implications of these findings extend far beyond cotton. Sugar derivatives could be delivered through root uptake, allowing for enhanced metabolite production and nutrient-rich crops (e.g. superfoods) without requiring lengthy regulatory approval for genetic modifications. This approach may also serve as an innovative pest control strategy by feeding plants cyanogenic glucose derivatives to activate defense pathways.
Finally, while conducting glucose derivative screening, we unexpectedly discovered that cotton fibers can incorporate glucose with azides, resulting in fibers that degrade more rapidly in soil. Even more remarkably, we demonstrated that biodegradation rates can be controlled by varying glucose derivative concentrations, effectively programming fiber lifespan.
This breakthrough addresses a major environmental challenge, as textile waste has severe ecological and societal impacts. Current studies primarily focus on post-processing biodegradability (e.g. finishing methods), whereas we pioneer a built-in, programmable biodegradability approach at the molecular level. Our next step is to translate this concept into whole dwarfed cotton plants, leveraging our established methods workflow to develop innovative, market-ready products that could revolutionize sustainable textile production.
