Objective
Between 20-40% of global crop production is lost to pests annually, with the majority of crops never reaching their genetic potential for yield. Certain plant species, like wild tomato (Solanum habrochaites), produce Type-VI glandular trichomes containing high levels of specialized metabolites such as sesquiterpenes, which confer a natural resistance against biotic stress. Although tomato cultivars develop type-VI glandular trichomes, their cultivated varieties have lost the capacity for terpene accumulation at protective levels. Attempts by the host lab at reintroducing sesquiterpene-biosynthesis genes into cultivated tomatoes did not result in sufficient terpene accumulation to confer pest resistance. The bottleneck lies not in terpene biosynthesis alone but in the accumulation capacity of these natural defense compounds, indicating additional, yet unidentified factors (e.g. precursor flux or transport) required for driving high terpene accumulation.
The project aims to compare wild (high-terpene producer) and cultivated (low-terpene producer) tomatoes to identify the molecular mechanisms regulating terpene accumulation capacity. First, I will use integrative multi-omics, combining transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of type-VI glands, to uncover the key genes, proteins, and metabolites that modulate accumulation capacity between the high- and low-producer lines during trichome development, offering a holistic view of terpene biosynthesis. Secondly, I will validate rate-limiting candidate genes using Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)-based Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) system in a hypermutable tomato variety.
The proposed research could significantly facilitate the development of pest-resistant tomato varieties, reducing reliance on pesticides and improving crop yield. The multi-omics training component will form me into a unique and highly skilled plant biologist, with genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics expertise in my academic arsenal.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture agronomy
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
1012WX Amsterdam
Netherlands
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.