NWO Open Technology Program award for Nina Fatouros
The Open Technology Programme provides funding for application-oriented technical-scientific research that is free and unrestricted and is not hindered by disciplinary boundaries. The programme offers companies and other organisations an accessible way to participate in scientific research that is intended to lead to societal and/or scientific impact.
Early Intervention Pest Resistance (EI-RESIST): Understanding and harnessing egg-killing traits for crop resistance breeding
Co-applicant(s): Wageningen University & Research – dr. ir. Ing. K. Bouwmeester, dr. L. Caarls
Pest eggs represent a critical stage in the lifecycle of leaf-feeding insects and provide a vulnerable window for early pest management. While some plants can kill insect eggs soon after they are laid, the extent and mechanisms of this trait in crops remain poorly understood. This research aims to investigate the prevalence of 5/6 Toewijzingen Open Technologieprogramma september 2025 pest egg-killing across diverse crop species and their wild relatives and explore the genetic and molecular pathways driving these defenses. By elucidating these mechanisms, our study could inform innovative strategies to enhance early-stage pest resistance in key vegetable crops, offering a sustainable solution to improve agricultural resilience.
