Towards Improved Stress Resilience, Optimal Growth and Enhanced Biosafety in Transgenic Plants

Author

• Xiaotong Chen, Clemson UniversityFollow

Date of Award

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Genetics and Biochemistry

Committee Chair/Advisor

Hong Luo

Committee Member

Haiying Liang

Committee Member

Liangjiang Wang

Committee Member

Kerry Smith

Abstract

This dissertation investigates biotechnology strategies to improve plant stress resilience, growth, and biosafety in transgenic perennial grasses using creeping bentgrass as a model system. Functional analyses of non-coding RNAs such as miR164 and miR169 showed that regulatory non-coding RNAs influence plant architecture and abiotic stress responses through broad developmental and transcriptional networks, supporting them as valuable engineering targets for complex trait improvement. The dissertation also developed a dual recombinase platform for transgene containment and removal, linking trait engineering with biosafety control. Additionally, the recombinases themselves were examined for their potential impact on heterologous host and were found to reshape plant architecture and abiotic stress responses that are likely associated with defense-primed transcriptional and metabolic reprograming in the host, leading to the development of beneficial agronomic traits. Together, these findings provide an integrated framework for identifying influential regulators, designing controllable genetic systems, and evaluating the biosafety implications of synthetic biology tools in perennial grasses.

Recommended Citation

Chen, Xiaotong, "Towards Improved Stress Resilience, Optimal Growth and Enhanced Biosafety in Transgenic Plants" (2026). All Dissertations. 4374.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4374

Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0009-0863-5936