Project description
Understanding light’s role in leaf shape regulation
Leaf growth is highly responsive to light, which acts as both a resource for photosynthesis and a signal for structural adaptation. While it is known that photoreceptors detect light to trigger structural adaptations, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Light2Shape project aims to bridge this knowledge gap by examining how blue light induces leaf flattening to enhance light capture. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining experimental data and mathematical modelling, the project will shed light on the molecular, cellular, and tissue-level regulations that shape plant development.
Objective
Leaves are one of the defining features of plants and are essential for their survival because they perform key functions such photosynthesis. Like for many plant organs, the growth of leaves is tremendously sensitive to the surrounding environment, including to the presence of light, which is necessary for photosynthesis. Light perception by plant photoreceptors can cause changes in leaf shape that help the plant adapt to its environment. Despite the agricultural importance of leaves, the mechanisms underlying these responses are poorly understood. The project will address this, using as a model the leaf flattening that is induced when plants detect blue light from above, a response that enables maximised light capture. A change in organ shape upon photoreceptor signalling requires coordinated regulation at the molecular, cellular, and tissue scales. The project will uncover the mechanisms underpinning regulation at each of these scales during blue-light-induced leaf flattening. The relationship between biological scales is often non-intuitive due to feedbacks and emergent properties. In these cases, mathematical models are particularly useful to generate and test hypotheses, and hence will be used for this project in combination with experiments. This work will generate a predictive understanding of how leaf shape is regulated by light, thereby answering a fundamental question about photobiology and plant development.
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 botany
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
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.