Objective
Roots play an essential role in plant growth by absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. As roots penetrate deeper into the soil, they encounter naturally decreasing oxygen levels, which can be exacerbated by soil structure and water content. With the increasing frequency and severity of floods due to climate change, these oxygen limitations (hypoxia) pose a growing threat to global food security because roots require oxygen for respiration, which is vital for efficient energy production. In addition to external factors, my previous research showed that internal factors can create hypoxic niches within root meristems, even in oxygen-rich environments. This pioneering study has begun to uncover a new area of research, highlighting the dynamics of root oxygenation and the consequences of inadequate oxygen supply on root architecture.
BreathingUnderground now sets an ambitious goal: to discover how roots breathe beneath the surface and the impact this has on their development and physiology. We will explore: 1) oxygen distribution in root tissues; 2) the impact of chronic hypoxia on root development; and 3) the ability of roots to sense and grow towards oxygen-rich zones. This holistic approach aims to revolutionise the way oxygen provision feeds into root architecture, using advanced microsensors, orthogonal biosensors, X-ray tomography, and spatial transcriptomics. This project aims to create a high-resolution 3D map of root oxygen distribution by precisely measuring root zone oxygenation in natural settings. The project will reveal how oxygen acts as a diffusible signal to monitor root barrier integrity, regulate vascular development. Finally, it will uncover the mechanisms by which roots perceive and respond to fluctuations in oxygen. This fundamental knowledge can be applied to improve plant resilience and/or to modify agricultural practices, and thus to increase crop yields in response to oxygen-limited environments and the challenges posed by climate change.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors biosensors
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
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Keywords
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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
NG7 2RD Nottingham
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.