Owing to its multidisciplinary nature and the topic addressed, PDgate may yield long-lasting breakthroughs in different fields.
Scientific progress.- This proposal will lead to a series of groundbreaking outcomes in the field of plant virology, and will also open new avenues of research in the area of plant physiology, as transport through PD is also essential for carbon allocation and hormone signaling, both crucial processes in food production and pathogen defense. The development of novel concepts, methodologies and virus resistant plants are by themselves major insights that will derive from PDgate. The fundamental understanding gained of the viral proximity maps will push the frontiers of knowledge in plant virology. In addition, the novel multidisciplinary approach with the high-end- technologies that I am applying has never been explored so far in plant biology. The impact of PDgate goes beyond narrow categories of viral strains or host plants thanks to the complementary used of TMV as a model for ssRNA viruses (over 80% of known plant viruses). The new insights would be thus easily applicable to other plant virus. This maximises the importance of this proposal, since key insights will be established regarding the virus-host arms race. For example, proximity labeling workflow could be directly applied to other plants belonging to the tobamoviruses host range or to new viral species by developing new plants.
Climate change impact and socioeconomic aspects.- Plant virus infections account for global economic losses estimated in 30 billion annually and are responsible for nearly 50 % of plant diseases worldwide. Global warming and climate instability are promoting virus infections and virulence due to rising temperatures, the introduction of species into previously uncultivated areas, and the proliferation of vectors in new ecosystems. In addition, these new conditions increase virus epidemics and the appearance of emerging viruses against which there are often no sources of resistance. PDgate is a breakthrough proposal focused on the generation of new antiviral targets and developing new resistant crops through the study of viral transport and host response.
Efficient strategies targeting sustainable primary production are required and encouraged by EU policy. PDgate deals with the global challenges of Horizon Europe programme, specifically the cluster 6 “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment” that aims to ensure food security and sustainable primary production. PDgate tackles some priorities of this cluster 6 premises: 1) strengthen agriculture contribution to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change effects, 2) making plants resistant to disease, 3) providing alternative approaches to pesticides, 4) deal with emerging risks, 5) avoid supply chain disruptions due to diseases or abiotic stresses, and 6) ensure consumer confidence in food security by mitigating the potential risks to plant health.
The production of pesticides is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions and their extensive use causes the appearance of pest resistance. The control of vectors that transmit viruses through the use of pesticides is a common practice in crop production. PDgate will help in the identification of antiviral genes that can be then study in crop plants and make them immune to viral infection that would reduce the use of pesticides, providing safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly agricultural products. Such approaches are particularly important as the world population continues to grow–it will hit 7.5 billion this year and it is projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050– and climate change progresses, putting global food security at risk.
