Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MetaFun (Metatranscriptomics to discover root microbiome functions activated during recognition of stressed and non-stressed plants (MetaFun))
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-09-01 bis 2023-08-31
What is the problem/issue being addressed?
The problem addressed by the MetaFun project is the need to enhance our understanding of the plant microbiome's role in supporting disease resistance. Specifically, the project aimed to identify critical microorganisms and microbial molecular functions that are enriched during plant stress conditions. This research seeks to uncover the mechanisms underlying plant-microbiome interactions and how they can be harnessed to improve disease resilience in plants, ultimately contributing to agricultural sustainability.
Why is it important for society?
This project is important for society for several reasons. Agriculture plays a vital role in providing food for the global population, and plant diseases can lead to significant crop losses, affecting food security and economic stability. By improving our understanding of plant-microbiome interactions and disease resistance, MetaFun has the potential to lead to more sustainable agricultural practices and increased crop yields. Additionally, the project has broader implications for environmental and ecological sustainability, as it may offer insights into how microorganisms can be leveraged to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, thus benefiting the environment and human health.
What are the overall objectives?
The core objective of MetaFun was to advance our comprehension of the plant microbiome's role in supporting disease resistance. This was achieved by identifying critical microorganisms and microbial molecular functions enriched during plant stress conditions. The project sought to answer two main scientific questions:
WP1: What are the microbial functions involved in the early stages of plant root exudate recognition and later during colonization of the rhizosphere niche?
WP2: What are the microbial functions activated after the recognition of root exudates of stressed plants, and which microbial functions elicited by root exudates of stressed plants occur simultaneously, indicating cooperation between microbes within a community?
Conclusions:
Through its focused research, MetaFun successfully pinpointed essential microorganisms and microbial molecular functions that become enriched when a plant is resistant to stress conditions. This achievement has not only expanded our comprehension of plant-microbiome dynamics but could also possibly lead to the development of innovative strategies to bolster disease resistance in plants—a step with considerable potential to transform agricultural sustainability.
The problem addressed by the MetaFun project is the need to enhance our understanding of the plant microbiome's role in supporting disease resistance. Specifically, the project aimed to identify critical microorganisms and microbial molecular functions that are enriched during plant stress conditions. This research seeks to uncover the mechanisms underlying plant-microbiome interactions and how they can be harnessed to improve disease resilience in plants, ultimately contributing to agricultural sustainability.
Why is it important for society?
This project is important for society for several reasons. Agriculture plays a vital role in providing food for the global population, and plant diseases can lead to significant crop losses, affecting food security and economic stability. By improving our understanding of plant-microbiome interactions and disease resistance, MetaFun has the potential to lead to more sustainable agricultural practices and increased crop yields. Additionally, the project has broader implications for environmental and ecological sustainability, as it may offer insights into how microorganisms can be leveraged to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, thus benefiting the environment and human health.
What are the overall objectives?
The core objective of MetaFun was to advance our comprehension of the plant microbiome's role in supporting disease resistance. This was achieved by identifying critical microorganisms and microbial molecular functions enriched during plant stress conditions. The project sought to answer two main scientific questions:
WP1: What are the microbial functions involved in the early stages of plant root exudate recognition and later during colonization of the rhizosphere niche?
WP2: What are the microbial functions activated after the recognition of root exudates of stressed plants, and which microbial functions elicited by root exudates of stressed plants occur simultaneously, indicating cooperation between microbes within a community?
Conclusions:
Through its focused research, MetaFun successfully pinpointed essential microorganisms and microbial molecular functions that become enriched when a plant is resistant to stress conditions. This achievement has not only expanded our comprehension of plant-microbiome dynamics but could also possibly lead to the development of innovative strategies to bolster disease resistance in plants—a step with considerable potential to transform agricultural sustainability.
The work performed in the MetaFun project encompassed three main work packages:
Work Package 1 (WP1) focused on characterizing the microbiome response to the presence of "healthy" and stressed plants. This involved in-vivo experiments, metagenomics analysis of soil inoculum, and metatranscriptomics analysis of the rhizosphere microbiome. Results from WP1 contributed to the identification of key microbial species associated with both plant disease and plant resistance.
Work Package 2 (WP2) included similar in-vivo experiments, metatranscriptomics analysis, and network analysis but with a specific focus on stressed Arabidopsis plants. The results from this work package aimed to uncover the microbiome dynamics of stressed plants and to identify microbial genes and molecular functions associated with plant disease and disease resistance.
Work Package 3 (WP3) focused on the researcher's career development, providing hands-on theoretical and experimental training and transferable skills training. The researcher successfully completed this training, enhancing their skills and knowledge in various aspects of microbiome research.
In terms of dissemination, the project made significant efforts to share its results, including:
- One research article has been published (Proietti, S., Falconieri, G. S., Bertini, L., Pascale, A., et al. "Beauveria bassiana rewires molecular mechanisms related to growth and defense in tomato." Journal of Experimental Botany, (2023): erad148).
- Two manuscripts are currently in submission, including a methodological book chapter and a literature review.
- One manuscript will be prepared upon completion of the ongoing analysis.
- The project also presented its findings at international and national conferences and utilized social media and online platforms to engage with the scientific community.
Work Package 1 (WP1) focused on characterizing the microbiome response to the presence of "healthy" and stressed plants. This involved in-vivo experiments, metagenomics analysis of soil inoculum, and metatranscriptomics analysis of the rhizosphere microbiome. Results from WP1 contributed to the identification of key microbial species associated with both plant disease and plant resistance.
Work Package 2 (WP2) included similar in-vivo experiments, metatranscriptomics analysis, and network analysis but with a specific focus on stressed Arabidopsis plants. The results from this work package aimed to uncover the microbiome dynamics of stressed plants and to identify microbial genes and molecular functions associated with plant disease and disease resistance.
Work Package 3 (WP3) focused on the researcher's career development, providing hands-on theoretical and experimental training and transferable skills training. The researcher successfully completed this training, enhancing their skills and knowledge in various aspects of microbiome research.
In terms of dissemination, the project made significant efforts to share its results, including:
- One research article has been published (Proietti, S., Falconieri, G. S., Bertini, L., Pascale, A., et al. "Beauveria bassiana rewires molecular mechanisms related to growth and defense in tomato." Journal of Experimental Botany, (2023): erad148).
- Two manuscripts are currently in submission, including a methodological book chapter and a literature review.
- One manuscript will be prepared upon completion of the ongoing analysis.
- The project also presented its findings at international and national conferences and utilized social media and online platforms to engage with the scientific community.
The MetaFun project has made progress beyond the state of the art by delving into the intricate interactions between plant, microbiomes, and disease resistance. The project's expected results include the completion of metatranscriptomic and network analysis, which will provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that drive microbiome-induced disease resistance in plants.
The potential impacts of the project are significant. In the context of agriculture, the research may lead to the development of strategies for improving disease resilience in crops, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and promoting sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, the project's findings can have broader environmental and ecological implications, as understanding how microbes support plant health can contribute to a more balanced and sustainable ecosystem. Additionally, the researcher's career development has been greatly enhanced, providing them with the potential to become an independent researcher and contribute to future advancements in the field of plant-microbiome interactions.
The potential impacts of the project are significant. In the context of agriculture, the research may lead to the development of strategies for improving disease resilience in crops, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and promoting sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, the project's findings can have broader environmental and ecological implications, as understanding how microbes support plant health can contribute to a more balanced and sustainable ecosystem. Additionally, the researcher's career development has been greatly enhanced, providing them with the potential to become an independent researcher and contribute to future advancements in the field of plant-microbiome interactions.