A transition from vegetative to reproductive stage is a crucial step in the plant development. Some plants have to undergo a few weeks of cold treatment – vernalization. In wheat, vernalization requirement is controlled by VRN genes. In comparison to recessive allele, a dominant allele VRN-1 responsible for a spring growth habit carries sequence changes. The aim of this project is to study a mechanism of vernalization as a response to a DNA sequence change of VRN-1 gene including changes in chromatin structure. Using targeted VRN-1 gene editing, we will analyse the sequences necessary for vernalization requirement and will study the possibility to alter growth habit. We will also study a mechanism of phenomenon called short day vernalization. Wheat mutant lines will be used to identify potential novel changes in DNA sequence modifying vernalization requirement. This project will contribute to better understanding of vernalization mechanism as important evolution change, which enabled spread of wheat cultivation over different climatic conditions.