Objective
The rhizosphere soil zone which surrounds plant roots is a crucial interface which acts as a conduit for biogeochemical cycling between the atmosphere, plant and soil, and hosts a distinct microbiome which has profound impacts on plant health and productivity, particularly by enhancing plant nutrient availability. As a result, management of the rhizosphere is central to the design of future agricultural systems which are both sustainable and resilient to global challenges. I have shown that the rhizosphere microbiome exhibits marked diurnal rhythmicity, so that rhizosphere plant-microbe interactions are far more dynamic than previously recognised. Crucially I have also demonstrated that abundance of rhizosphere microbes which control nitrogen (N) availability show strong rhythmicity. Since N-assimilation by the plant host is controlled by a circadian clock, this raises the intriguing possibility that microbiome rhythmicity may be coordinated by the plant clock so that the timing of microbial N-cycling processes coincides with plant nutritional requirements. RHYTHMS will test this hypothesis within model systems and at the field scale. In doing so it will unravel the mechanisms which drive microbiome rhythmicity for the first time, testing the hypothesis that rhythmicity is the result of an interplay between cyclic root exudation of labile carbon substrates and changes in plant immunity, modulated by the plant’s circadian clock and by turnover of microbiota by bacteriophages and protists, representing a novel microbial loop. New trait-based approaches for characterising rhythmic microbes based on genomic and transcriptional signatures will be devised which will have broad transformative potential across basic and applied research fields. The outcomes of the project will fill a major knowledge gap in our mechanistic understanding of how the rhizosphere operates as an extended plant phenotype and open new avenues to manage the rhizosphere for beneficial functions.
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.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture agronomy plant protection
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology
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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-ADG
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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.
CV4 8UW COVENTRY
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.