Open Competition Domain Science -XS grants for 5 EPS members

Congratulations to P. Ding (Leiden University),  S.W. van der Horst (Wageningen University & Research), A.H. Sheikh (Utrecht University),
Dr M.A. Silva Artur (Wageningen University & Research) and K. Spaninks (Leiden University) for receiving the XS Open domain competition grant. 

The Open Competition Domain Science – XS grants of a maximum of € 50,000 are intended to support promising ideas and to facilitate innovative and more speculative initiatives within the seven Domain Science disciplines. The proposed research is ground-breaking and high-risk. What counts is that all results, be they positive or negative, must contribute to the advancement of science [source].

Decoding the growth–defense switch: How immune signaling reprograms plant development
Dr P. Ding (Leiden University)

Global food security depends on crops that resist disease without losing yield. Plants constantly face harmful microbes and must activate immune responses to survive, but strong immunity often reduces growth, limiting productivity. Most studies rely on pathogen infection, making it difficult to separate growth and defense effects. Here, we will use an inducible immune activation system in Arabidopsis to precisely control immunity and dissect this trade-off. Focusing on roots, key for nutrient uptake and stress responses, we will identify regulatory switches linking immune and hormone signaling, providing targets to optimize growth–defense balance and improve crop yield and disease resistance.

Every molecule deserves a CPuORF: engineering CPuORFs as programmable biosensors
Dr S.W. van der Horst (Wageningen University & Research)

All living organisms constantly “sense” what is happening inside their cells. For example, plants monitor sugar levels to decide whether to grow or save energy. Tiny genetic switches called CPuORFs help do this by turning protein production on or off. In this project, I will redesign these switches so they can detect new molecules that cells normally cannot sense. In the long run, this could lead to crops that detect disease earlier enabling faster protective responses or simple tests that spot harmful substances in the environment.

Why do aged seeds fail to germinate?
Dr A.H. Sheikh (Utrecht University)

Seeds are the bedrock of agriculture and our primary food source. However, during storage, they lose the ability to germinate, eventually crossing an irreversible point whose molecular basis remains unresolved.I hypothesize that depletion of the essential amino acid methionine, the initiator of protein synthesis, is the primary metabolic bottleneck in seed aging. When its levels fall below a critical threshold, the translational burst required to initiate germination fails.This project will test whether restoring methionine can rescue germination and extend seed longevity. If successful, it could redefine our understanding of seed aging and reveal new strategies for seed storage.

Timed to survive: a new regulatory layer in seed desiccation tolerance
Dr M.A. Silva Artur (Wageningen University & Research)

Plant seeds have the incredible capacity to survive after losing almost all their water while they are still developing. This ability, called desiccation tolerance, occurs because the right amounts of protective proteins are produced at the right time when seeds dry out. However, how this timing is controlled is still unknown. In this project we will investigate small chemical changes in the molecules that form these protective proteins and how they help seeds to survive without water. Understanding this process could help to better store seeds and to develop crops that are more resilient to drought in a changing climate.

Plant Highways: Unlocking long-distance mRNA traffic for climate-resilient plant breeding.
Dr K. Spaninks (Leiden University)

Climate change is one of the most critical threats of the 21st century, with global crop yields predicted to decrease by 3-12% circa 2050. So far, studies have focused mostly on the above-ground plant organs to identify heat tolerance genes, thereby ignoring the importance of long-distance communication, where numerous gene transcripts (mRNAs) travel “plant highways” that connect the root and shoot systems. This project will apply a novel grafting technique combined with state-of-the-art data analyses, to identify mobile mRNAs that drive heat tolerance. If successful, this could revolutionise breeding for climate-resilient crops and secure food production in a warming world.