Objective
Nectar inhabiting yeasts are increasingly considered as important third players in plant-pollinator mutualisms. Although it was generally assumed that nectar properties represent intrinsic plant features that are stable in time, it has recently been shown that nectar yeasts, may change nectar chemistry and attractiveness, and consequently pollination success and plant fitness. However, underlying mechanisms how yeasts affect pollinator behaviour and reproductive success are still poorly understood. In order to better understand the role of nectar-inhabiting yeasts in plant-pollinator interactions, physiological characterization of nectar yeasts should be pursued. In a preliminar small-scale study, high phenotypic diversity was observed between different yeast strains from nectar belonging to the same species, according to the origin of the isolates. The major aim of this project is to study the interspecific and intraspecific phenotypic diversity in nectar-dwelling yeast species in relation to their origin, nectar features and their genetic background using a huge collection of over 2000 yeast strains. Focus in the project will be on yeast species that predominate nectar yeast communities along a disparate group of plant species, namely Metschnikowia gruessii and M. reukauffii.
We expect that our results will contribute to a better understanding of the phenotypic landscape of nectar yeasts and their impact on pollinator attraction. In addition, we expect that our results on the genetic basis of the phenotypic variation in terms of yeast origin will provide support to the ‘diversifying selection hypothesis’ maintaining high local genotypic diversity in clonal lineages. At the same time, such exploration would help us to unravel the evolutionary mechanisms enabling high phenotypic diversity as presumed in nectar yeast species.
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 biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call
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.
Coordinator
3000 Leuven
Belgium
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.