Project description
A plant genetic strategy to promote plant growth
Although soil contains important nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus for crop production, the amounts are not always enough to support healthy plant growth. Without fertilisers, nature struggles to replenish the nutrients in the soil. However, extensive use of nitrogen or phosphorus fertilisers often reduces endosymbiosis – a process in which a bacterium/fungus is taken up by a host plant cell. For example, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizas create a strong connection between the plant roots and the soil around them, allowing greater nutrient uptake. The success of root endosymbioses relies on the molecular dialogue between symbionts and plants. The EU-funded EASY-CROPS project will investigate a plant genetic strategy to enhance endosymbiosis and promote plant growth.
Objective
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) are essential for all aspect of plant growth. As a paradox, they are poorly available in soil, leading to extensive use of fertilisers to fulfil the demand of a growing population. However, this agronomical practice is detrimental to the environment. To exploit N and overcome P starvation, numerous plant families interact with mutualistic root-endosymbionts such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria with legumes, or phosphate-delivering arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) with the 80% of land plants. Despite the benefit of these endosymbioses, P and N fertilizers reduce AM and nitrogen-fixing bacteria endosymbioses. In addition, climate change impact endosymbioses with a decrease in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis at high temperature, in acidic and saline soils. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel strategies to enhance endosymbioses in crops and optimize N and P nutrition under global warming.
The success of root endosymbioses relies on the molecular dialogue between symbionts and plants. One of the core functions of this dialogue is to stimulate the release of calcium by the plant nucleus to switch on the symbiotic program. This calcium release is mastered by the cyclic nucleotide gated channels (CNGC)15. A recent Mtcngc15c-easy allelic variant discovered in the proposed laboratory presents spontaneous calcium release and increase of nodulation and mycorrhization. My objectives are to reveal the effect of CNGC15c-EASY mutation on the channel activity and symbioses, and use this knowledge to translate this system into crops. In addition to discover a novel strategy to improve plant production, this work will give me training in plant biology technics and structural biology. Simultaneously, the project will benefit from my expertise in microbiology. Finally, the work in the proposed destination centre will also provide me a valuable international network and skills for my future career.
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 bacteriology
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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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.
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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-2019
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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.
NR4 7UH Norwich
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.