Interactions
between WPs in the PLANTMETALS Action. (1) Metal
solubilising microorganisms in nature; (2) Metal loading
of the active centres / cofactors of metalloproteins;
(3) Interactions between siderophores mediating metal
uptake, metal solubilising microorganisms and plant
systemic responses to microbes; (4) Metal detoxification
pathways / Metabolic processes affected by metal levels
in the environment; (5) Modification of metal
accumulation in crops by changing metal transporter
expression; (6) Microbial inoculants for metal nutrition
/ Crop biofortification; (7) Improved metal uptake from
soil and delivery to sink organs; (8) Metal toxicity by
non-functional substitution of active centres / metal
cofactors in metalloproteins. WG5-6 are made up of
members of WGs 1-4. WG5-6 members will therefore be
automatically present at the activities of the
scientific WGs while they will ensure the dissemination
and IP objectives
WG
Description
1
Metal
transport
Pathways of TMs from the soil and
through the plant. WG1 identifies the
limiting factors in the uptake of plant
physiologically active TMs from the rhizosphere
and limit the uptake or the transfer to edible
parts of toxic non-essential TMs. WG1 determines
the chemical form (speciation) of TMs in each
compartment. WG 1 studies crop plants and the use
of hyperaccumulators and identify key nodes to
improve/limit the uptake and accumulation of
essential/non-essential TMs. WG1 studies
interactions between TMs (antagonistic or
synergistic effects).. Leader: Prof. Sebastien Thomine
<Sebastien.THOMINE@i2bc.paris-saclay.fr>,
deputy leader: Prof. Ana Assuncao
<agla@plen.ku.dk>
2
Metalloproteins
Metalloproteins important for TM
homeostasis, metalloenzymes. WG2 identifies
metalloproteins important for TM use efficiency.
WG2 studies interaction of the proteins (other
than transporters) with a TM: substrate affinity,
regulation of activity, mechanism of function. Leader: Prof. Eva Freisinger
<freisinger@chem.uzh.ch>, deputy leader: Prof. Marie-Theres
Hauser
<marie-theres.hauser@boku.ac.at>
3
Environment
Responses of plant TM metabolism to
the environment. TM deficiency, TM toxicity,
interactions with beneficial microorganisms and
pathogens. WG3 identifies targets of both stress
conditions and mechanisms, from the initial target
to the whole- plant response. The initial targets
can be lack or non-functional replacement of metal
centres in metalloproteins, but also direct or
indirect interactions with nucleic acids and
metabolites. WG3 reveals how beneficial
microorganisms and pathogens interact with the
metal metabolism of plants. Such interactions may,
for example, involve changes in the uptake and
intra-plant distribution of metals, enhanced or
diminished expression or activity of
metalloproteins. Leader: Dr. Marek Vaculik
<marek.vaculik@uniba.sk>, deputy leader: Dr. Dorina Podar
<dorina.podar@ubbcluj.ro>
4
Agronomy
Agronomic aspects of TM
homeostasis. WG4 conducts studies to
contribute to better nutritional quality of food
crops by using targeted fertilisation and
agricultural management also in consideration of
the new EU regulation on fertilisers, and to
characterise crop plant response to low and excess
application of TMs by employing physiological
assays and analytical tools, which will be
developed in WG1-3. WG4 evaluates how
micronutrient fertilisers are absorbed (after
foliar vs. soil application, added in organic or
mineral forms), how microorganisms and fungi can
be used to improve plant TM nutrition (through a
better use of soil metals), how TMs are
transported within crop plants and how their
localisation and speciation changes in this
process. Finally, workshops / symposia will be
organised for farmers associations and industrial
stakeholders dealing with targeted breeding,
fertilisation and micronutrient foliar fertiliser
production. This will be done in the last year of
the Action, to facilitate the transfer of the
knowledge gained from the COST Action to the
stakeholders. Leader: Dr. Valerie Bert
<Valerie.BERT@ineris.fr>, deputy leader: Prof. Giancarlo Renella
<giancarlo.renella@unipd.it>
5
Dissemination
Dissemination. WG5 is focused
on how to best target the results from this Action
to the different stakeholders. WG5 is responsible
for preparing the press releases to news outlets,
update the Action’s social media accounts, and
support the efforts at the national front.
Moreover, WG5 will organise training sessions on
writing skills to target research journals, farmer
bulletins, and press releases. In addition, WG5
coordinates any joint project by groups within the
consortium to maximise group interactions, avoid
overlaps and redundancy of research efforts, and
increase success rates. Leader: Prof. Seçkin Eroğlu
<erogluseckin@gmail.com>, deputy leader: Prof. Alexander Lux
<alexander.lux@uniba.sk>
6
IPP
Intellectual property protection.
It is expected that a number of the results
obtained within the PLANTMETALS Action will have
an impact on the private sector. WG6 coordinates
all the IP protection efforts, promoting them
whenever possible in collaboration with the
universities involved – (which usually have their
own IP department). In addition, to maximise this
output, WG6 will organise a training session on IP
protection for the younger participants and
promote meetings with the private sector to ensure
the exploitation of the key results of the Action. Leader: Dr. Muhammad Imran
<muhammad.imran2@nouryon.com>, deputy leader: Prof. Mark Aarts
<mark.aarts@wur.nl>
designed
by Hendrik
Küpper, last modified 18 August 2023