Deciphering how nutrient status impacts plant defence

这个项目旨在改变我们对养分有效性和植物防御之间关系的理解。植物的防御是通过对病原体引起的细胞壁破坏的反应来激活的。我的初步数据发现，对细胞壁破坏的反应取决于植物的氮素状况；这提供了营养和防御之间的直接联系。这项研究将使用新的突变体来解除这种联系，以揭示这一过程背后的分子机制。研究结果将为培育氮素利用效率更高、抗病能力更强的作物提供新的途径。它将通过减少昂贵化肥和杀虫剂的使用而使农业受益，并减轻它们造成的巨大环境破坏。

This project aims to transform our understanding of the relationship between nutrient availability and plant defence. Plant defences are activated by responses to cell wall damage, caused by pathogens. My preliminary data uncovered that the response to cell wall damage depends on the nitrogen status of the plant; providing a direct link between nutrients and defence. The research will use new mutants that disengage this link to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying this process. The outcomes will provide new approaches to breed crop plants with improved nitrogen use efficiency and disease resistance. It will benefit agriculture by reducing the use of costly fertilisers and pesticides and mitigate the huge environmental damage they cause.