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H2020Doctoral network2017–2021

MIRA · Microbe induced Resistance to Agricultural pests

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2017-12-01 → 2021-11-30
EU contribution
€3,936,528
Participants
11
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Microbe induced Resistance to Agricultural pests

Plants are intimately associated with beneficial microorganisms in their root zone, which can enhance their resistance against agricultural pests. Use of microbe-induced resistance (MiR) has therefore emerged as a promising option to improve resilience and reduce pesticide use. However, MiR is often context dependent, and it is a challenge to ensure stable associations of microbes and plants under field conditions and to avoid negative effects on other biocontrol organisms used in integrated pest management. Improved understanding and skilled researchers are therefore needed. In the training network MiRA, "Microbe-induced Resistance to Agricultural pests”, 15 early-stage researchers (ESRs) have been trained in basic and applied aspects of MiR, with focus on impacts, context dependency, mechanisms, effects on other biocontrol organisms, combinations of different beneficial microbes, and economic constraints. The ESRs have been trained and hosted by a consortium of academic and private institutions across Europe. Despite Covid restrictions, all ESRs have finalized their MiRA projects, delivered results on their planned objectives and are preparing for their PhD defences (or have already defended). Results from their projects have been and will be disseminated in scientific journals, at meetings and conferences, and through media outlets.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Plants are intimately associated with a diversity of beneficial microorganisms in their root zone, some of which can enhance the plant’s resistance to insect pests. Thus, the use of Microbe-induced Resistance (MiR) to reduce pest losses in agriculture has emerged as a highly promising possibility to improve crop resilience and reduce use of harmful pesticides. European companies have therefore started to develop and market beneficial microbes. However, MiR appears to be strongly context-dependent, with reduced benefits under certain biotic and abiotic conditions and in some crop varieties. Further, it is a challenge to deliver and ensure stable associations of beneficial microbes and plants, and avoid undesired effects on beneficial insects. Thus we absolutely must improve our understanding of MiR mechanisms and context-dependency, in order to improve context stability of MiR and promote the use of MiR for crop protection. Our MiRA project will train 15 ESRs in basic and applied research on context-dependency of MiR, mechanisms, and impacts on plant performance and other biocontrol organisms. We will use this understanding to improve our ability to predict the effectiveness of MiR under different conditions, to select plant and microbial strains with improved context-stability, and to develop better methods for the formulation of microbial inoculants and their application in agriculture. Finally, we will analyse economic prospects and constraints for MiR development and use. To achieve these goals, we have assembled a consortium of 11 academic institutions and 6 companies, including microbial inoculant producers and agricultural advisors, with complementary skills in basic and applied research and innovation. Our ESRs will be trained within this multi-sectoral interdisciplinary network for a future career in research, product and service development in European horticulture and agriculture, pushing boundaries in European research and innovation.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNCoordinatorDenmark
  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridSpain
  • CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisFrance
  • FRIEDRICH-SCHILLER-UNIVERSITÄT JENA · JENAGermany
  • INOQ GMBH · SCHNEGAGermany
  • KONINKLIJKE NEDERLANDSE AKADEMIE VAN WETENSCHAPPEN - KNAW · AMSTERDAMNetherlands
  • KOPPERT BV · Berkel En RodenrijsNetherlands
  • RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS-UNIVERSITAT BONN · BonnGermany
  • THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE · InvergowrieUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITE DE NEUCHATEL · NeuchatelSwitzerland
  • UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT · UtrechtNetherlands

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union