Plant stress responses in the rumen

At least half of the plant cells ingested by ruminants are viable and capable of responding to the multiple and simultaneous stresses they are suddenly exposed to (anaerobic, 39oC, invasive microbial population). These responses culminate in autolytic cell death in both the presence and absence of micro-organisms. This work involves detailed analysis of the biochemical and gene expression response of model and forage crop plants to understand the regulation of autolysis in ingested forage in the rumen, with particular emphasis on proteolysis. This will enable the identification of plant-based metabolic and genetic control points that could be amenable to manipulation and so be exploited to alter rumen ecosystem outputs.