Objectives
• Multidisciplinary approach to the ecology of BVOCs at different levels of biological integration under laboratory and field conditions
• To study how biotic and abiotic stresses interact in the process of BVOC induction and emission by plants
• To characterize crosstalk in the induction and emission of BVOCs and its effects on interactions of the plant with community members under laboratory conditions
• To study the effects of BVOC-induced effects on species interactions and community Dynamics under field conditions
• To develop a quantitative stress dose vs plant response model
Objectives
• Multidisciplinary approach to the ecology of BVOCs at different levels of biological integration under laboratory and field conditions
• To study how biotic and abiotic stresses interact in the process of BVOC induction and emission by plants
• To characterize crosstalk in the induction and emission of BVOCs and its effects on interactions of the plant with community members under laboratory conditions
• To study the effects of BVOC-induced effects on species interactions and community Dynamics under field conditions
• To develop a quantitative stress dose vs plant response model
Activities
Plants in nature are exposed to a wide variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. Yet, the research field on induced
plant VOCs has so far mainly concentrated on the effects of individual stresses on induced BVOCs. The
extensive knowledge that these studies have yielded now pave the way for an exciting step, i.e. to study how plants respond to combinations of stresses.
We will do this for a system consisting of the annual brassicaceous weed Brassica nigra and its biotic and
abiotic environment. There is ample knowledge on the induction of BVOCs in brassicaceous plants, included B. nigra. Therefore, this brassicaceous model system provides an excellent system to address the role of multiple stresses on BVOC emission and its ecological consequences, in the laboratory and field. The link to A. thaliana also ensures that mechanistic aspects can be directly addressed through the use of the full molecular genetic and genomic toolbox and extensive mechanistic data on e.g. signal-transduction available for this plant. Thus, we will address the molecular basis, the physiological mechanisms and the ecological functions of induction of plant volatiles by combinations of stresses.
Activities
Plants in nature are exposed to a wide variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. Yet, the research field on induced
plant VOCs has so far mainly concentrated on the effects of individual stresses on induced BVOCs. The
extensive knowledge that these studies have yielded now pave the way for an exciting step, i.e. to study how plants respond to combinations of stresses.
We will do this for a system consisting of the annual brassicaceous weed Brassica nigra and its biotic and
abiotic environment. There is ample knowledge on the induction of BVOCs in brassicaceous plants, included B. nigra. Therefore, this brassicaceous model system provides an excellent system to address the role of multiple stresses on BVOC emission and its ecological consequences, in the laboratory and field. The link to A. thaliana also ensures that mechanistic aspects can be directly addressed through the use of the full molecular genetic and genomic toolbox and extensive mechanistic data on e.g. signal-transduction available for this plant. Thus, we will address the molecular basis, the physiological mechanisms and the ecological functions of induction of plant volatiles by combinations of stresses.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other EU research and development funds
- Agricultural sectors
- Crops (generic)
Project keyword
1 Practice Abstracts
This project will connect closely to recent breakthroughs in the knowledge on the role of BVOCs in plant
ecology in response to biotic and abiotic stresses in the laboratories of the 6 partners. The proposed research integrates the effects of different (classes of) stress and thereby sets a novel and original step forward towards understanding how plant BVOCs are induced in more realistic stress conditions and how plant responses affect the surrounding community. This will be done in a comprehensive manner from gene to ecosystem and from the laboratory to the field.
This project will connect closely to recent breakthroughs in the knowledge on the role of BVOCs in plant
ecology in response to biotic and abiotic stresses in the laboratories of the 6 partners. The proposed research integrates the effects of different (classes of) stress and thereby sets a novel and original step forward towards understanding how plant BVOCs are induced in more realistic stress conditions and how plant responses affect the surrounding community. This will be done in a comprehensive manner from gene to ecosystem and from the laboratory to the field.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Laboratory of Entomology Wageningen University (the Netherlands)
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Laboratory of Plant-Microbe; Interactions Utrecht University (the Netherlands)
Project partner
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Plant Molecular Biology; Department University of Lausanne (Switzerland)
Project partner
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Institute of Plant Protection; the National Research Council of Italy (Italy)
Project partner
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Department of Environmental Science; University of Eastern Finland (Finland)
Project partner
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Umeå Plant Science Centre Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden)
Project partner
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Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia )
Project partner
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Department of Animal Ecology Free University of Berlin (Germany)
Project partner