Project description
Leveraging symbiosis signalling in barley could increase nutrient availability
Chemical fertilisers are commonly used to increase food production given that low soil nutrient levels are a key factor limiting crop yields. In the quest for more sustainable agriculture methods with lower environmental impacts, scientists have focused on symbiotic soil microbes with nutrient-sequestering functions. Many symbiotic relationships are mediated by the common symbiosis signalling pathway (CSSP). With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Barley-SymBioNet project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which CSSP genes in barley mediate symbiosis with beneficial bacteria. Barley-SymBioNet will study the effects of CSSP genes on bacterial assembly, look for other genes involved in symbiosis and identify CSSP-dependent root metabolites that govern plant-microbe signalling.
Objective
The rapid population increase and high demand for food production raise immense concerns about an upcoming global food crisis. Low soil nutrient levels are a key factor limiting crop yields, and farmers currently rely on extensive application of chemical fertilisers, which have severe negative environmental effects. The implementation of beneficial soil microbes with nutrient-sequestering functions has therefore become a mainstream interest, aimed at increasing crop productivity while reducing the ecological footprint of current agricultural systems.
The Common Symbiosis Signalling Pathway (CSSP) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating symbiotic relationships between plants and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, as well as leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These symbioses are vital for optimal plant nutrient acquisition, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. While the functions of CSSP genes in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in cereals are well-documented, their impact on other beneficial microbiota, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, remains unknown. Unraveling these interactions is crucial for addressing contemporary environmental challenges related to crop nutrient limitations and organic fertiliser development.
In the proposed project, we employ barley CSSP mutants and perform microbiome profiling, transcriptomics, and metabolomics approaches to elucidate the influence of CSSP genes on bacterial assembly, uncover genes involved in the interaction with beneficial bacteria, and identify CSSP-dependent root metabolites that govern plant-microbe signalling.
Preliminary data showed that barley CSSP mutations significantly alter bacterial assembly, particularly reducing the colonisation by bacterial orders known for hosting plant growth-promoting isolates.
A comprehensive assessment of cereal interactions with beneficial soil bacteria will provide the groundwork for future engineering endeavours aimed at addressing current environmental challenges.
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
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds cereals
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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)
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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
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.
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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.