Development of bacteria-based plant immunity activators

植物病害在世界范围内造成重大作物损失，这一问题可能随着气候变化而恶化，目前的控制方法仍然不足，表明迫切需要新的作物保护方法。该项目将研究诱导系统抗性（ISR），一种由非致病性细菌引起的自然免疫形式，并开发用于农业应用的激活ISR的细菌生物刺激剂。我们对土壤微生物组中根定殖细菌对植物健康的影响的新认识再次强调了这种免疫的重要性，但ISR的分子基础仍有待阐明。在这个项目中，我们将筛选非致病性细菌（以前从加拿大土壤中分离出来）的培养物，看它们通过根系激活ISR和促进植物抗逆性的能力。此外，为了提供对ISR的分子理解，我们将使用分子和组学分析来阐明这些细菌ISR激活剂的作用模式。该项目的成果将为研究开发新的植物免疫激活剂和提供对环境更安全的合成化学品替代品奠定基础。这个项目将为我们的合作伙伴，总部设在加拿大的生物技术公司Agri-Neo开辟一条新的途径，该公司完全有能力将拟议项目的成果应用于开发商业产品，以便在加拿大实施。此外，我们对诱导ISR的细菌通过根系激活防御的详细分子分析将为ISR信号转导提供新的科学信息，并进一步导致新的植物防御信号成分的发现，可用于抗病和抗逆性作物的育种计划。该项目的成果将具有创新和重要的农业应用，并将产生对ISR的科学见解，使研究人员、植物育种者和农业公司能够帮助作物耐受气候变化产生的生物和非生物压力。这些准备工作将有助于保持农业产量和产量稳定，从而促进全球粮食安全，并通过限制作物损失来改善农业经济。

Plant diseases cause major crop losses worldwide, a problem that may worsen with climate change, and current control methods remain inadequate, indicating the urgent need for novel methods for crop protection. This project will investigate Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR), a form of natural immunity elicited by non-pathogenic bacteria, and develop bacterial biostimulants that activate ISR for agricultural applications. Our emerging understanding of the effect of root-colonizing bacteria in the soil microbiome on plant health has re-emphasized the importance of this type of immunity, but the molecular basis of ISR remains to be elucidated. In this project, we will screen cultures of non-pathogenic bacteria (previously isolated from Canadian soil) for their ability to activate ISR through the root system and to promote plant stress tolerance. Moreover, to provide a molecular understanding of ISR, we will use molecular and 'omics analyses to elucidate the mode of action of these bacterial activators of ISR. The outcome of this project will lay a foundation for research to develop new activators of plant immunity and provide environmentally safer alternatives to synthetic chemicals. This project will open up a novel avenue for our partner, the Canada-based biotechnology company Agri-Neo, which has the full capacity to apply the results of the proposed project to develop commercial products for implementation in Canada. In addition, our detailed molecular analysis of the activation of defense by ISR-inducing bacteria through the root system will provide novel scientific information on signal transduction in ISR and further lead to the discovery of novel plant defense signaling components that can be used for breeding programs for disease- and stress-resistant crops. The outcome of this project will have innovative and important agricultural applications and will generate scientific insight into ISR, enabling researchers, plant breeders, and agricultural companies to help crops tolerate the biotic and abiotic stresses produced by climate change. These preparations will help maintain agricultural yields and yield stability to promote global food security and improve agricultural economics by limiting crop losses.