Multi- Inter- and Trans-disciplinary research promoted by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST): Lessons and experiments

Multi-, inter-, trans- disciplinary research has gained a lot of interest and investment during the past two decades as a result of the realization that many of today's challenges are resistant to traditional research approaches and require cross-fertilization between different disciplines and integrated knowledge from heterogeneous sources. Despite these needs, evaluation of multi- / inter- / trans- disciplinary research remains one of the least defined aspects. For the purpose of this paper multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinarity will be indicated with the acronym MIT. The objective of this paper is to share with research managers the experience garnered with this evaluation process of MIT proposals for the formation of research networks at COST. The discussion also includes, the advantages and disadvantages of this process and how it compares to other evaluation procedures implemented by several European research funding agencies

Multi- Inter- and Trans-disciplinary research promoted by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST): Lessons and experiments

Multi-, inter-, trans- disciplinary research has gained a lot of interest and investment during the past two decades as a result of the realization that many of today's challenges are resistant to traditional research approaches and require cross-fertilization between different disciplines and integrated knowledge from heterogeneous sources. Despite these needs, evaluation of multi- / inter- / trans- disciplinary research remains one of the least defined aspects. For the purpose of this paper multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinarity will be indicated with the acronym MIT. The objective of this paper is to share with research managers the experience garnered with this evaluation process of MIT proposals for the formation of research networks at COST. The discussion also includes, the advantages and disadvantages of this process and how it compares to other evaluation procedures implemented by several European research funding agencies

Seasonal Shifts in Soil Microbiome Structure Are Associated with the Cultivation of the Local Runner Bean Variety around the Lake Mikri Prespa

Leguminous crops play a key role in food production and agroecosystem sustainability. However, climate change and agricultural intensification have a significant impact on the available arable land, soil microbiome functions, and ultimately, crop productivity. The “Prespa bean” (Phaseolous coccineous L.) is an important leguminous crop for the agricultural economy of the rural areas surrounding the lake, Mikri Prespa, which is of significant ecological importance. The seasonal effects on soil microbiome structure, diversity and functions associated with the runner bean cultivation were investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that the presence of the runner bean differentially shaped the soil microbial community structure. The runner bean was implicated in the recruitment of specific bacteria, by favouring or excluding specific classes or even phyla. Soil functions involved in nutrient availability and carbon metabolism, among other pathways, were associated with microbiome–plant interactions. The temporal relative abundance shifts could be explained by the impact of soil organic matter, the fertilization regime, and the equilibrium in carbon metabolic processes. This research has shown the effect of runner bean cultivation on the soil microbiome which, in future, may potentially contribute to research into sustainable agricultural productivity and the protection of soil ecosystem services

Arabidopsis thaliana inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase 4 (AtITPK4) is an outlier to a family of ATP-grasp fold proteins from Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis genome encodes a family of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinases which form a subgroup of a larger group of ATP-grasp fold proteins. An analysis of the inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase family might, ultimately, be best rewarded by detailed comparison of related enzymes in a single genome. The enzyme encoded by At2G43980, AtITPK4; is an outlier to its family. At2G43980 is expressed in male and female organs of young and mature flowers. AtITPK4 differs from other family members in that it does not display inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate 1-kinase activity; rather, it displays inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate isomerase activity

Biosolid-Amended Soil Enhances Defense Responses in Tomato Based on Metagenomic Profile and Expression of Pathogenesis-Related Genes

Biosolid application is an effective strategy, alternative to synthetic chemicals, for enhancing plant growth and performance and improving soil properties. In previous research, biosolid application has shown promising results with respect to tomato resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Forl). Herein, we aimed at elucidating the effect of biosolid application on the plant–microbiome response mechanisms for tomato resistance against Forl at a molecular level. More specifically, plant–microbiome interactions in the presence of biosolid application and the biocontrol mechanism against Forl in tomato were investigated. We examined whether biosolids application in vitro could act as an inhibitor of growth and sporulation of Forl. The effect of biosolid application on the biocontrol of Forl was investigated based on the enhanced plant resistance, measured as expression of pathogen-response genes, and pathogen suppression in the context of soil microbiome diversity, abundance, and predicted functions. The expression of the pathogen-response genes was variably induced in tomato plants in different time points between 12 and 72 h post inoculation in the biosolid-enriched treatments, in the presence or absence of pathogens, indicating activation of defense responses in the plant. This further suggests that biosolid application resulted in a successful priming of tomato plants inducing resistance mechanisms against Forl. Our results have also demonstrated that biosolid application alters microbial diversity and the predicted soil functioning, along with the relative abundance of specific phyla and classes, as a proxy for disease suppression. Overall, the use of biosolid as a sustainable soil amendment had positive effects not only on plant health and protection, but also on growth of non-pathogenic antagonistic microorganisms against Forl in the tomato rhizosphere and thus, on plant–soil microbiome interactions, toward biocontrol of Forl

Biosolid-Amended Soil Enhances Defense Responses in Tomato Based on Metagenomic Profile and Expression of Pathogenesis-Related Genes

Biosolid application is an effective strategy, alternative to synthetic chemicals, for enhancing plant growth and performance and improving soil properties. In previous research, biosolid application has shown promising results with respect to tomato resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Forl). Herein, we aimed at elucidating the effect of biosolid application on the plant–microbiome response mechanisms for tomato resistance against Forl at a molecular level. More specifically, plant–microbiome interactions in the presence of biosolid application and the biocontrol mechanism against Forl in tomato were investigated. We examined whether biosolids application in vitro could act as an inhibitor of growth and sporulation of Forl. The effect of biosolid application on the biocontrol of Forl was investigated based on the enhanced plant resistance, measured as expression of pathogen-response genes, and pathogen suppression in the context of soil microbiome diversity, abundance, and predicted functions. The expression of the pathogen-response genes was variably induced in tomato plants in different time points between 12 and 72 h post inoculation in the biosolid-enriched treatments, in the presence or absence of pathogens, indicating activation of defense responses in the plant. This further suggests that biosolid application resulted in a successful priming of tomato plants inducing resistance mechanisms against Forl. Our results have also demonstrated that biosolid application alters microbial diversity and the predicted soil functioning, along with the relative abundance of specific phyla and classes, as a proxy for disease suppression. Overall, the use of biosolid as a sustainable soil amendment had positive effects not only on plant health and protection, but also on growth of non-pathogenic antagonistic microorganisms against Forl in the tomato rhizosphere and thus, on plant–soil microbiome interactions, toward biocontrol of Forl

Solanum tuberosum inositol phosphate kinase (StlTPK1) displaying inositol phosphate-inositol phosphate and inositol phosphate-ADP phosphotransferase activities

We describe a multifunctional inositol polyphosphate kinase/phosphotransferase from Solanum tuberosum, StITPKa (GenBank accession number: EF362784), hereafter called StITPK1. StITPK1 displays inositol 3,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate 1-kinase activity: Km = 27 µM, and Vmax = 19 nmol min-1 mg-1. The enzyme displays inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 1-phosphatase activity in the absence of a nucleotide acceptor and inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate–ADP phosphotransferase activity in the presence of physiological concentrations of ADP. Additionally, StITPK1 shows inositol phosphate-inositol phosphate phosphotransferase activity. Homology modelling provides a structural rationale of the catalytic abilities of StITPK1. Inter-substrate transfer of phosphate groups between inositol phosphates is an evolutionarily conserved function of enzymes of this class