Objective
SPECIFY aims to address the urgent global challenge of food security by enhancing wheat resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici, the pathogen responsible for Septoria tritici blotch (STB). STB significantly threatens wheat production, leading to substantial annual losses. Current management strategies, including resistant cultivars and fungicides, are increasingly ineffective due to the pathogen's rapid development of resistance. Our research seeks to explore diversity in wild wheat relatives and their septoria pathogens to uncover the genetic basis of host-pathogen interactions in Z. tritici. We will leverage a unique collection of Z. tritici isolates from Iran and integrate genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with map-based cloning to identify key effector genes. This dual approach will provide robust insights into pathogen adaptation mechanisms, guiding the development of targeted breeding strategies for resistant crops and novel fungicides. Additionally, we will explore the transcriptome and genome data of native Iranian Aegilops species infected by Z. tritici to identify resistance genes (R-genes). By comparing gene expression profiles between resistant and susceptible Aegilops samples, we aim to pinpoint key genes involved in the resistance response. These discoveries will be validated through functional assays and potentially introduced into wheat varieties to enhance STB resistance. Our interdisciplinary methodology combines genetics, genomics, plant pathology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to comprehensively understand host-pathogen interactions. This project not only aims to advance scientific knowledge but also to translate findings into practical solutions for sustainable agriculture, ultimately enhancing global wheat production resilience. Moreover, undertaking this research will significantly contribute to my career development by providing me with advanced skills in cutting-edge genomic and bioinformatics techniques.
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.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
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Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
24118 Kiel
Germany