Objectives
RESEARCH COORDINATION
- To develop an understanding at the molecular level of assemblies and signaling regulating phytobionts.
- To develop understanding (theoretical vs experimental achievements), regarding “keystone microorganisms” to improve microbiome assemblies under different cropping systems.
- To develop an understanding (theoretical vs experimental achievements) on the interference of abiotic stress (heat and drought) and biotic stress (e.g., pathogens) on microbiome associations, and exploit how keystone microorganisms (e.g., PGPs and BCAs) improve crop performance/tolerance.
- To engineer microbial communities for successfully improving holobiont fitness.
- To develop databases on plant microbiomes, and tools to make them (as much as possible) of wide Open Access.
- To provide inputs to stakeholders for solutions for a precision 3S-Agriculture.
CAPACITY BUILDING
- To stimulate long-lasting transdisciplinary research network on plant microbiomes, with a joint R&D&I agenda.
- To involve long-term interactive balanced networks.