NWO Open Competition Domain Science -M grant for Nora Gigli Bisceglia

M-grants are intended for realising curiosity-driven, fundamental research of high quality and/or scientific urgency. The M-grant offers researchers the possibility to elaborate creative and risky ideas and to realise scientific innovations that can form the basis for the research themes of the future.

Abstract

Soil salinity, intensified by global warming, threatens plant survival and crop yields. Understanding how plants respond to salt is vital for enhancing their tolerance. My recent discovery reveals that salt alters cell wall (CW) composition and structure. By inhibiting these disruptions, we can reduce salt stress. Interestingly, salt-induced CW-changes trigger the transcription of small plant peptides that, when applied externally, can suppress salt-induced stress. However, their release and regulatory roles remain unknown. Using molecular, biochemical, and physiological approaches, our goal is to unravel these mechanisms, revealing critical insights into plant stress signaling and paving the way for agricultural solutions [source:NWO].