Objective
The plant root defines the interface between a multicellular eukaryote and soil, one of the richest microbial ecosystems on earth. Roots grow in intimate association with a root microbiota that is distinct from the complex microbial community present in surrounding soil. A subset of soil bacteria is able to multiply inside roots as benign endophytes and modulate plant growth and development, with implications ranging from enhanced crop productivity to phytoremediation. Endophytic colonization represents an apparent paradox of plant innate immunity because plant cells can detect an array of evolutionary conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns to initiate immune responses and terminate microbial multiplication. We have developed an experimental platform to characterize soil, rhizosphere (the zone of soil influenced by roots) and root-inhabiting bacterial communities of Arabidopsis thaliana, grown in contrasting natural soils under controlled environmental conditions. This revealed that A. thaliana roots are preferentially colonized by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria, and each bacterial phylum is represented by a dominating class or family. Soil type defines the composition of root-inhabiting bacterial communities and host genotype determines their ribotype profiles to a limited extent. The identification of soil type-specific members within the root-inhabiting assemblies supports our conclusion that these represent soil-derived root endophytes. I propose to apply reductionist approaches to examine microbiota evolution and functions within in a single phylogenetic framework of host species. Towards this objective, we will utilize a combination of genomics, cell biological and microbial transplantation tools.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation phytoremediation
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology microbiomes
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology bacteriomes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2012-ADG_20120314
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.