Trace metal metabolism in
plants -PLANTMETALS
Objectives of
PLANTMETALS
Research Coordination
Objectives
|
| 1) Progress in basic
science using the synergies of expertise in the
network: Determine transport pathways of metals
from the soil to and through the plant; understand
how plant metalloproteins are functioning;
evaluate by which mechanisms metal deficiency and
toxicity affect plants and how this is modulated
in plant-microbe interactions. |
| 2) Develop/improve
methods to achieve the scientific goals, in
particular in the fields of analysing metal
uptake, localisation and speciation in plants
incl. determining optimal preparation methods. We
will also set a detailed protocol to determine the
metal nutritional status of plants, as well as
their bioavailability for plants. |
| 3) Provide knowledge
to the agricultural sector regarding localisation
and bioavailability of micronutrients in plant
products. Make available to farmers the best
management practices for micronutrients
considering crops, soils and climatic conditions.
This includes agronomic approaches for reducing
toxic metal accumulation in plants and providing
microbial inoculants that enhance micronutrient
uptake. |
| 4) Environmental and
agricultural risk assessment: Evaluate the
relevance of different proposed mechanisms of
metal-induced inhibition of plant metabolism under
environmentally relevant conditions. |
| 5) Phytoremediation
of polluted soils and aquifers. Our action will
improve the basis of this technology by revealing
physiological and biochemical mechanisms of
hyperaccumulation using the synergies of different
field of expertise in the network |
| 6) Train researchers
from the public and private sectors in metal
imaging and speciation methods, particularly in
sample preparation, in order to avoid incorrect
conclusions from artefactual metal re-distribution
or changes in speciation during sample preparation |
| 7) Provide expert
advice in forums (pro and contra) dedicated to
genetic modification and the use of synthetic
biology in agriculture |
| 8) Increase public
awareness of the importance of trace metals in
biology and their impacts on human nutrition and
public health. Help industry with the technical
base for the production of micronutrient-based
fertilisers and authorities in their regulation |
Capacity
Building Objectives
|
| 9) Bridging the gap
between fundamental scientists and the applied
(productive, commercial) sector |
| 10) Transferring new
technologies for metal studies to the community
working on trace metals in plants |
| 11) Generating
knowledge and new insights for end users to test
micronutrient deficiency in crop plants,
fertiliser safety and bioavailability, also in
relation to the new EU regulation on fertilisers |
| 12) Characterising
and evaluating the role and safety of biological
fertilisers, as well as agrochemicals, in
micronutrient nutrition of crop plants |
| 13) Developing an
EU-wide network of plant metallomics analyses |
| 14) Training of young
researchers through mobility promotion in academic
and private sectors |
designed
by Hendrik
Küpper, last modified 19 November 2024