An integrative multi-omics based approach to determining the rate-limiting factors of the production of anti-insect sesquiterpenes in Solanum habrochaitescore
TARGETS · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-12-01–2028-11-30
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF · scheme HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF · topic HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF-01-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
Between 20-40% of global crop production is lost to pests annually, with the majority of crops never reaching their genetic potential for yield. Certain plant species, like wild tomato (Solanum habrochaites), produce Type-VI glandular trichomes containing high levels of specialized metabolites such as sesquiterpenes, which confer a natural resistance against biotic stress. Although tomato cultivars develop type-VI glandular trichomes, their cultivated varieties have lost the capacity for terpene accumulation at protective levels. Attempts by the host lab at reintroducing sesquiterpene-biosynthesis genes into cultivated tomatoes did not result in sufficient terpene accumulation to confer pest resistance. The bottleneck lies not in terpene biosynthesis alone but in the accumulation capacity of these natural defense compounds, indicating additional, yet unidentified factors (e.g. precursor flux or transport) required for driving high terpene accumulation.The project aims to compare wild (high-terpene producer) and cultivated (low-terpene producer) tomatoes to identify the molecular mechanisms regulating terpene accumulation capacity. First, I will use integrative multi-omics, combining transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of type-VI glands, to uncover the key genes, proteins, and metabolites that modulate accumulation capacity between the high- and low-producer lines during trichome development, offering a holistic view of terpene biosynthesis. Secondly, I will validate rate-limiting candidate genes using Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV)-based Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) system in a hypermutable tomato variety.The proposed research could significantly facilitate the development of pest-resistant tomato varieties, reducing reliance on pesticides and improving crop yield. The multi-omics training component will form me into a unique and highly skilled plant biologist, with genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics expertise in my academic arsenal.
Beneficiaries (1)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM | NL | coordinator | €217,076 |
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