Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Biological Impact of Benzoxazinoid Metabolization by a Specialist Root Herbivore

Project description

Role of benzoxazinoid metabolisation in root herbivore defence

Some herbivores can appropriate plant secondary metabolites and employ them for their own defence. However, understanding the effect of such compounds on herbivores and their ability to resist natural enemies is still limited, especially for root herbivores. The EU-funded BISEM project will investigate the effect of benzoxazinoid N-glycosylation on the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, a major pest of maize that sequesters benzoxazinoids from maize roots. The research fellow will combine mass spectrometry imaging with environmental RNAi and ecological assays to determine how the formation of N-glycosylated benzoxazinoids affects herbivore performance and resistance to entomopathogenic nematodes. Hence, BISEM will reveal the importance of plant defence sequestration for root-feeding insects, plant-insect interactions and crop protection.

Objective

Some herbivores can sequester and use plant secondary metabolites for their own defense. Despite many examples of sequestration, the impact of these compounds on herbivore performance and natural enemy resistance in still not well understood, especially for root herbivores. The objective of this project is to investigate the biological relevance of benzoxazinoid N-glycosylation by the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, one of the main pests of maize that sequesters benzoxazinoids from maize roots. To reach this aim, the project will combine mass spectrometry imaging with environmental RNAi and ecological assays to understand how the formation of N-glycosylated benzoxazinoids affects herbivore performance and resistance to entomopathogenic nematodes. This will be the first study to investigate the relevance of secondary metabolite sequestration in a root pest through molecular manipulation. This project will shed light on the importance of plant defense sequestration for root-feeding insects, for plant-insect interactions and for crop protection.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

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.

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.

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAET BERN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 203 149,44
Address
HOCHSCHULSTRASSE 6
3012 BERN
Switzerland

See on map

Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 203 149,44
My booklet 0 0