Deciphering Nitrogen–Phosphorus Crosstalk in Flowering Time Using Next-Generation 2D-GWAS

Collaboration with the Hatem Rouached Laboratory (Michigan State University)

At BionomeeX, we are advancing next-generation integrative genomics to understand how plants perceive, integrate, and respond to multiple nutrient cues. In strategic collaboration with the Hatem Rouached laboratory at Michigan State University, we are applying and expanding Two-Dimensional Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS-2D)to decipher how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) jointly regulate the timing of flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Classical GWAS approaches, designed for single-condition and single-factor analyses, fall short when traits emerge from interacting nutrient signals, conditionally expressed alleles, and epistatic architectures. Nutrient crosstalk—especially along the N–P axis—represents one of the most complex yet critical regulatory dimensions of plant development. Flowering time sits at the convergence of these signals, acting as a developmental gate that integrates environmental and nutritional information.

GWAS-2D, a technology we help develop and scale, overcomes these limitations by mapping how genetic effects shift across environmental gradients. This approach exposes interaction-dependent allelic responses—regulatory layers invisible to conventional GWAS—allowing us to dissect the molecular logic that couples nutrient availability with developmental timing.

Together with the Rouached Lab, we are:

● Profiling flowering behavior across controlled N × P combinatorial environments in Arabidopsis.

● Revealing genotype-specific sensitivities to nutrient interactions.

● Identifying nutrient-conditioned loci underlying the floral transition.

● Extending the GWAS-2D framework for broader use in complex trait dissection and nutrient-use efficiency research.

This collaboration brings together BionomeeX’s computational and statistical innovation with the nutrient signaling expertise of the Rouached laboratory, creating one of the most advanced platforms to study nutrient crosstalk in plants. Beyond foundational discoveries, this work lays the groundwork for next-generation breeding strategies aimed at enhancing nutrient-use efficiency and enabling sustainable, low-input agriculture.

By partnering with the Hatem Rouached lab, BionomeeX reinforces its commitment to transforming biological complexity into actionable insights for the future of plant science and agritech.