Project description
Profiling bacterial symbionts in legumes’ root nodules
Plants often form long-term beneficial relationships with bacteria. The symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria is among the best studied. The bacteria, called rhizobia, form nodules on the plant root within which the bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for use by the plant. Rhizobia cohabit with other nodule-associated bacteria, yet the role of these is largely unknown. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FITTER project will investigate the genetic material of all the microbes of legume root nodules. This could enable identification of the genetic features of these bacteria that can be harnessed to increase nutrient availability and plant growth of this important agricultural crop.
Objective
From shoot to root plants are exposed to a diverse range of microorganisms, which can play a major role in plant health, growth and development. A small fraction of bacteria can cause disease, the vast majority of bacteria has no known effect on the host, but there are bacteria that are beneficial to the plant. These microbes are able to protect plants from pathogens, modulate immune responses or assist in nutrient uptake. The best studied beneficial relationship for both plant and bacteria, is the long-term biological interaction (symbiosis) between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These bacteria called rhizobia, are hosted in root nodules of legumes such as clover or alfalfa, where they fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, rhizobia are not the sole occupants of nodules and despite early findings of the presence of other nodule associated bacteria (NAB), the diversity and role of NAB in symbiosis and plant growth has remained neglected. Legumes are important crop in agriculture worldwide and as such, the potential of plant growth promoting bacteria and increase of nitrogen-fixation abilities is a major topic of research aiming to enhance agricultural productivity. Investigating the genetic material of all the microbes, the so-called microbiome, of legume root nodules, will allow investigation of genetic features of those bacteria, which contribute to increased plant growth and nutrient availability. Here, I will use a holistic sequencing approach to (i) unravel the diversity and metabolic properties of NAB in legume nodules and (ii) gain insights into the environmental factors affecting NAB community composition, (iii) determine to what extent the bacterial community in the soil (rhizosphere) drives nodule community composition. The proposed research will provide a better understanding of the biological role of all co-occurring bacteria in nodules, in the otherwise binary interaction of legume-rhizobia symbiosis.
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
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds legumes
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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1010 Wien
Austria
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