Project description
Mechanisms preventing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis with plants
A third of vascular plants, including the model organism Arabidopsis, have lost or suppressed their ability to develop symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, one of the essential mutualisms on Earth. However, molecular mechanisms controlling this symbiotic incompatibility are not completely understood. Understanding these mechanisms is central to improving symbioses for practical applications. The EU-funded SYMBIO-INC project will investigate the fundamental molecular limitations preventing AM fungi from developing symbiosis with land plants. The project will apply an interdisciplinary strategy focusing on fungal traits during interactions with Arabidopsis plants. SYMBIO-INC intends to test the hypothesis that fungal nutrition is critical during incompatible interactions. It will deliver an integrated survey of fungal molecular reactions under different levels of symbiotic incompatibility.
Objective
Understanding the mechanisms that control symbiotic incompatibility is fundamental to evaluate biological factors that delimit symbiosis on Earth and could help us to improve symbioses for practical applications. In terrestrial ecosystems, about 29% of vascular plants, including the plant model Arabidopsis, apparently lost or suppress their ability to host symbiosis with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, one of the most ancient and functionally important symbiosis on Earth. Yet, the molecular mechanisms that control this symbiotic incompatibility are largely obscure, which is limiting our ability to consistently predict the conditions that constrain AM symbiosis and to engineer new symbiotic partnerships. SYMBIO-INC addresses the challenging question of what are the key molecular constraints that prevent AM fungi from developing functional associations with land plants. Unlike traditional approaches, SYMBIO-INC will employ an interdisciplinary strategy focused on direct evidence with unprecedented emphasis on fungal traits during interactions with Arabidopsis plants differing in hosting phenotypes. Genotypic and molecular aspects will be evaluated for their potential to control Arabidopsis susceptibility to fungal colonization. The hypothesis that fungal nutrition is critical during incompatible interactions will be tested here for the first time. Finally, powerful transcriptomic tools will be employed to deliver a holistic overview of fungal molecular responses under different degrees of compromised symbiotic development. This horizon-broadening approach, combined with the maturity of our knowledge in the topic, supported by a robust set of new preliminary data, makes the proposed research a timely opportunity for paradigm shifting and high impact. Finally, SYMBIO-INC will allow the researcher to reinforce and further expand skills and expertise, create new collaborations, and forge a successful career aiming at a future tenure-track position.
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 microbiology mycology
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
1348 LOUVAIN LA NEUVE
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.