Objective
Mutualism is wide spread in nature and significantly impacts ecosystems. However, the principles governing its evolution have proved elusive. The rhizobium-legume symbiosis is one of the most sophisticated mutualistic interactions, as it results in the formation of a novel organ, the root nodule, where rhizobium is hosted intracellularly as nitrogen fixing ‘organelles’. These are named symbiosomes and produce ammonia from air.
The rhizobium legume symbiosis evolved shortly after the rise of the legume family; 60 million years ago. However, by convergent evolution it also evolved more recent in the non-legume Parasponia. Ever since the discovery of Parasponia as the only non-legume that independently evolved the nodule symbiosis with rhizobium, it has intrigued the scientific community. It has been clear that this ‘bridging species’ will provide insight in how this unique symbiosis could arise during evolution. Further, it can teach us how to transfer this important agricultural trait to non-legume crops. However, it is first now that we can fully exploit the potential of this unique genus. Major insight in molecular mechanisms underlying the rhizobium legume symbiosis has been obtained by studying model legumes. This has made the rhizobium legume symbiosis one of the best understood mutualistic interactions. This insight can now be exploited to determine the evolutionary trajectory of the Parasponia rhizobium symbiosis, and to identify the genetic constraints of this interaction. Further, the revolution brought about by so-called next generation sequence technologies has made it now possible to cost efficiently sequence genomes of plant species with key positions in rhizobium nodule evolution.
The overall objective of this project is to identify the evolutionary trajectory underlying rhizobium nodule evolution by using Parasponia. To validate the findings I will copy this evolutionary trajectory in Trema; the non-nodulating sister genus of Parasponia.
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 ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences biological sciences botany
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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.
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.
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.
ERC-2011-ADG_20110310
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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.
Host institution
6708 PB Wageningen
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.