Project description
Unlocking the mechanisms that keep plant embryos healthy and growing despite the heat
Auxin is a plant growth hormone with several roles in plant growth and development including embryo axis formation, vascularisation and cell elongation. Embryonic auxin biosynthesis appears to be controlled on both spatial and temporal levels, suggesting the presence of regulatory networks. Since auxin acts as an integrator of environmental cues, this process also seems to be affected by elevated temperatures, resulting in impaired seed production. Given the trend of global warming and the increased difficulties of the agricultural sector in keeping up with growing food demand, the EU-funded ITRABAE project is studying the mechanisms of the spatiotemporal regulation of auxin genes during embryo development and the effect of heat stress. Better understanding could help flowering plants produce healthy seeds in the face of rising global temperatures.
Objective
Survival of flowering plants is determined by the proper production of seed, whose shape and size are defined by the development of an embryo. Such mature embryo mimics the body pattern of the new plant that will develop after germination. Auxin is a key regulator of various aspects of plant development, including embryo morphogenesis. Cellular auxin gradients, maintained by auxin production along with signalling and transport, are essential for proper embryo development. The embryonic local auxin biosynthesis appears spatiotemporally controlled, necessitating the presence of regulatory networks. Also, it became evident that auxin plays a critical role as an integrator of environmental cues, notably high temperatures, known to impair seed production. Thus, I aim at deciphering the molecular and genetic mechanisms behind the spatiotemporal regulation of auxin biosynthetic genes during embryo development, and how this regulatory network is impacted by heat stress. In the proposed work, I will functionally dissect the contribution of AGL transcription factors, identified in a yeast one-hybrid screen as binding to auxin biosynthetic promoters, to the direct regulation of auxin biosynthetic pathways using multidisciplinary approaches such as genetics, metabolomics, and molecular biology. Further, I will investigate whether high temperatures impact this regulation, notably at epigenetic levels. Overall, the proposed work would serve as an excellent foundation to dissect the mechanisms responsible for local auxin biosynthesis during embryo development, which would pave the way to devise strategies for mitigating the effects of climate warming on seed and plant morphogenesis.
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 genetics
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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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-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.
601 77 Brno
Czechia
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.