Project description
Harnessing the Brassica microbiome for sustainable crop protection
Fungal pathogens cause crop yield losses of up to 20 %. However, the widespread use of fungicides damages the environment and promotes resistance. Sustainable agricultural practices and natural, microbiome-based antifungal strategies are vital for effective and eco-friendly disease control. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the VertiSeed SelECT project will investigate the Brassica microbiome by isolating plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) that target fungal pathogens such as Alternaria and Fusarium. The research aims to develop stable, bio-primed seeds that transmit beneficial endophytes vertically. Field trials will also be conducted to evaluate the performance and storage stability of these bio-primed seeds.
Objective
Global crop yield losses caused by fungal pathogens are estimated to range from 10% to 20%, amounting to $100-$200 billion per annum. The widespread use of fungicides has a significant negative impact on the environment, and the growing resistance to fungicides is further exacerbating the problem. Adopting sustainable agricultural practices is crucial for effectively combating fungal pathogens while also remaining environmentally friendly. Natural microbiome-based anti-fungal approaches are both more sustainable and less subject to development of fungal resistance.
As an MSCA PostDoc Fellow, Dr. Aqueel will investigate the Brassica microbiome in Dr. Devlin’s lab at Royal Holloway University of London. The microbiomes of susceptible and resistant cultivars have different microbial communities and metabolic pathways, reflecting disease resistance mechanisms. Through disease incidence assays we will isolate Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) responsible for the disease suppressing capabilities combating fungal pathogens like Alternaria and Fusarium. As the main outcome of our research, we present a novel strategy for application of these PGPB SynComs via vertical transmission as endophytes, developing stable bio-primed seeds.
The researcher will also receive training under a 6-month non-academic placement at Tozer Seeds Ltd where extensive field trials will test the efficacy of these bio-primed seeds in the field as well as their stability and seed storage stability. Dr. Aqueel has an outstanding research track record, publishing in well-reputed international journals, presenting internationally and developing long-term collaborations. Dr Devlin has extensive experience in the field of plant-microbiome interaction as well as in mentoring early career professionals. In addition to developing ground-breaking innovation, the experience gained by the researcher at RHUL and Tozer Seeds Ltd. will greatly benefit her in her future career in industry and academia.
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.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
TW20 0EX EGHAM
United Kingdom
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.