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Unravelling Biocontrol and Physiological challenges in pine wood NEMAtode pathosystem

Project description

Saving Europe’s pine trees from a deadly disease

Pine wilt is one of the most devastating forest diseases worldwide. It is caused by tiny worms called pinewood nematodes (PWNs) that spread from infected pines to healthy ones before quickly discolouring and killing them. In the coming decades, pine wilt will threaten over 60 % of two native pine species. How woodlands adapt to climate change and how this will affect defences against the disease is unknown. The EU-funded BiPhyNEMA project aims to address these issues by examining how an infected native pine in Europe reacts under two different environmental conditions. It will also investigate infected seedlings and PWNs, look into PWN populations and study virus-based control potential using viruses that infect bacteria.

Objective

Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Pine Wood Nematode, PWN) is one most devastating forest diseases worldwide. This pathology was detected in Europe in 1999 and future climatic scenarios point PWD will spread in the next decades threatening more than 60% of native range of Pinus sylvestris and P. pinaster. In parallel, adaptation of woodlands to Climate Change and its effect in tree defense against this pathology remain unclear. BiPhyNEMA will investigate how pines will react to those stress sources to better understand ecophysiological and pathogenic procedures that will drive their response in the middle term. The project has four research objectives: a) to evaluate physiological response of two P. pinaster genotypes (susceptible and resistant) infected by PWN under two different environmental conditions according to IPCC scenarios; b) to characterize functional response of infected seedlings and PWNs by dual-transcriptomics approach in the aforementioned scenarios; c) to monitor populations of PWN-mutualistic bacteria during nematode infection, and d) to investigate virus-based control potential using phages against PWN-associated bacteria. BiPhyNEMA combines transcriptomics with tree ecophysiology from an integrative point of view (ecophysiolomics) to achieve a holistic description of disease development. In addition, the project integrates that approach with pathology and applied virology, resulting in an original and interdisciplinary research with high potential for innovative findings. BiPhyNEMA provides a detailed personal career development plan focused in reinforcing autonomous research profile of the fellow. Moreover, the project will transfer new knowledge between forest researchers, foresters, and society using the most suitable means in each case. BiPhyNEMA adheres to key strategic orientations of Horizon Europe Program, and addresses the need to develop eco-friendly methods for forest protection

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-TALENTS-02

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA PORTUGUESA
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.

€ 156 778,56
Address
PALMA DE CIMA
1649 023 LISBOA
Portugal

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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