Project in brief
Climate change is responsible for mild winters and early plant development in spring, with an increased frequency of cold stress (e.g., spring frost) on leaves and flowers. Endophytic bacteria contribute to cold stress mitigation, but no information is available on their efficacy and mode of action in perennial crops. This project aims to understand the role and mechanism of action of endophytic bacteria isolated from the Alpine environment in the mitigation of cold stress in crops.
Project objectives
- To understand the role of psychrotolerant endophytic bacteria in the mitigation of cold stress in crop plants.
- To identify acclimatization mechanisms activated by plants in response to the inoculation of endophytic bacteria against cold stress (priming effect).
Impact
Plan protection against frost is currently based on the use of physical methods with a large use of natural resources. The sustainable strategy characterized in this project is based on the use of bacteria capable of activating the physiological processes of acclimatization in the plant. The knowledge obtained from this project will be available for the further development of bacterial inoculants for the sustainable protection of crops against frost. In particular, cold-tolerant endophytic bacteria could be spayed to preventively activate the acclimation mechanisms against cold stress in plants.
Funding
This project has received funding from the Fondazione CARITRO, Cassa Risparmio Trento e Rovereto (project MITICLIMA).
