Project description
Discovering detection methods and plant resistance in European forests
Ash trees (genus Fraxinus) are an important hardwood tree common in forests, parks, and streets in the northern hemisphere. They are also under threat and are being attacked by the emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis). This non-native insect causes mortality of trees in eastern Europe, that will potentially kill tens of millions of ash trees, as has happened in the United States. To prevent the spread of EAB in western Europe, urgent research action is needed. The EU-funded EMERALD project aims to perform innovative, multidisciplinary research combining new techniques, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and other fields, to find resistance traits in ash trees and formulate early detection methods to slow and potentially stop EAB invasion in European forests.
Objective
Ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in Europe are threatened by two alien invasive organisms; a deadly fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus that has been causing a slow, steady decline in Europe’s ash population, and emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis), a buprestid beetle that is quickly killing trees in eastern Europe, and moving west. There are fears that EAB will follow the same path as it did recently in USA – killing millions of ash trees, unless active research is undertaken to prevent the spread of EAB and protect the ash resource. EMERALD is a multidisciplinary and innovative project that approaches this invasion through the combination of molecular biology, analytical chemistry, sensor technology, insect ecology, and tree physiology to understand host-pest interactions and improve the options for integrated pest management in European forests. In this project, naïve and a co-evolved ash species will be investigated to understand their attractive volatile chemistry and influence on EAB’s behaviour and host preference (antixenosis), differences in host chemical defenses that either promote or deter EAB performance (antibiosis), and the confounding effect of H. fraxineus in relation to both interactions. Novel early detection tools will be developed including new lure traps and molecular assays based on optimized environmental DNA protocols of samples filtered from stem flow and canopy foliage, and portable loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to achieve point-of-use and real-time detection of EAB. The training-through-research will diversify and expand the skillset of the applicant, while also providing reciprocal teaching and new insights for the host unit. The results of this project will have tremendous value for European stakeholders and the general public for those concerned with saving the economically and ecological valuable ash in urban and rural forested environments by developing an arsenal of tools to manage the impending EAB invasion.
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 chemical sciences analytical chemistry
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology mycology
- 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-2020
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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.
750 07 Uppsala
Sweden
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.