Objectif Water stress is a key environmental factor that causes important quality and economical losses before and after fruit harvest. As water depletion is becoming increasingly problematic, improving water efficiency and tolerance of plants to dehydration is a priority of the European Union, as reflected in the societal challenge of Climate action, environment and resource efficiency. Likewise, food waste reduction is another key issue in the framework of Horizon 2020, as described in Food security and sustainable agriculture and forestry challenge. Indeed, a large proportion of fresh produce is wasted during postharvest (25-50%) of horticultural crops, which is largely caused by dehydration. Therefore, this project deals with the urgent need of understanding factors influencing water loss to develop innovative solutions geared to saving water and reducing food waste. Based on the idea that cuticular waxes are critical for limiting water loss from fruit, and thus for resisting desiccation and spoilage, we propose to uncover the structural and regulatory pathways that mediate its biosynthesis, transport and assembly in response to drought stress through a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, SEM and TEM microscopy, GC/MS, as well as up-to-date technologies, such as Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) and RNA sequencing, will be used. Tomato and citrus fruit will be selected as model systems to address this poorly understood area of plant biochemistry, physiology and molecular biology. The availability of mutants of both fruits, as well as the application of stress-related hormones during postharvest, will allow comparative surveys to better understand the regulation of these processes. The outcomes of this proposal will represent a major advance in the understanding of the crosslink between water stress, wax metabolism and fruit biology, and will suggest strategies for enhancing shelf life, drought hardiness and fruit quality in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruit. Champ scientifique agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agricultureagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growingmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbotanyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Thème(s) MSCA-IF-2014-GF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) Appel à propositions H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinateur AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Contribution nette de l'UE € 239 191,20 Adresse CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Espagne Voir sur la carte Région Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Type d’activité Research Organisations Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 239 191,20 Partenaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire Partenaire Les organisations partenaires contribuent à la mise en œuvre de l’action, mais ne signent pas la convention de subvention. CORNELL UNIVERSITY États-Unis Contribution nette de l'UE € 0,00 Adresse PINE TREE ROAD 373 14850 Ithaca Ny Voir sur la carte Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 160 130,40