Project description DEENESFRITPL How plants can identify their neighbours For decades, intraspecific interactions among plants were assumed to be purely competitive in nature. However, recent experimental evidence has revealed the existence of positive interactions for various wild plant species, where a genotype can cooperate with a conspecific to reduce competitive growth. In order to alter their competitive response, plants must be able to distinguish the identity of their neighbours. The EU-funded KNOWN project will investigate the direct or indirect role of root-secreted compounds in mediating neighbour perception and recognition in conspecific interactions. This will be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach combining evolutionary ecology, chemistry, quantitative genetics and microbiology. Understanding this link between recognition and below-ground plastic responses will help in designing high-yield crop varieties. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Understanding the social networks of plants is essential for predicting their coexistence. For decades, intraspecific interactions were assumed to be purely competitive in nature. However, recent experimental evidence has demonstrated the existence of positive interactions for various wild plant species, wherein a genotype can recognize a conspecific, and cooperate to reduce competitive growth when growing with either their kin, or even an unrelated intra/con specific. My PhD research took this a step further by giving the first-ever evidence for the existence of both these types of positive interactions within the same plant species, varying between natural populations.To alter their competitive response, plants must have mechanisms to reliably distinguish the identity of their neighbors. The root systems are known to be critical for sensing and integrating signals that allow plants to perform elaborate behaviors similar to those of intelligent animals. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This project aims to understand the direct or indirect role of root-secreted compounds in mediating neighbor perception and recognition in conspecific interactions. To do this, we will combine interdisciplinary approach at the interface of evolutionary ecology, chemistry, quantitative genetics, and microbiology Understanding how plants recognize each other is a crucial step in determining how competitive traits evolve in intraspecific plant-plant interacting systems, which has implications in both natural and agroecological contexts. Comprehending intraspecific recognition mechanisms can ultimately help illuminate the dynamics of natural plant populations and aid in predicting their resilience in the face of current and future global changes. More importantly, understanding this link between recognition and belowground plastic responses can be exploited to design efficient crop variety mixtures with high yield potential owing to cooperative interactions. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyevolutionary ecologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturenatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology Keywords Intraspecific interactions recognition cues root exudates trait plasticity eco-evolutionary genomics GWA mapping chemistry microbiology local adaptation rhizobiome interdisciplinary 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 Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator AARHUS UNIVERSITET Net EU contribution € 207 312,00 Address NORDRE RINGGADE 1 8000 Aarhus C Denmark See on map Region Danmark Midtjylland Østjylland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 207 312,00