To seal or not to seal. Characterization of root sealing regulatory mechanisms in plant colonised by microbes

植物的根负责从“外部”环境中吸收养分和水分；土壤。这个过程是由根的一个特殊的细胞层——内胚层控制的。为了保持植物中营养物质的适当浓度，避免其泄漏，这个细胞层进化出了密封机制，堵塞了相邻细胞之间的空间。在这种密封机制中，对生物体生存至关重要的一个缺失的方面是，常驻的微生物群代谢活跃，可能会破坏细胞层的密封，从而影响营养和水的平衡。在这个项目中，我们将探索一种新的技术概念，利用外源小分子来模拟植物调控成分，直接或通过它们与常驻根微生物群的相互作用来控制根密封机制。它代表了一个宝贵的工具，以获得新的见解调控新的矿物质营养稳态机制控制的根微生物群。我们将讨论的问题包括：哪些调控分子协调了根封和微生物群之间的串扰？在生态相关条件下，不同的调控元素是如何调控矿质养分积累的？您将有机会使用独特的先进分析技术和设备（ICP-MS，激光消融断层扫描，微型计算机断层扫描）以及具有国际标准的世界级设施。您将在诺丁汉大学和先正达接受结构化的培训课程，并参加各种培训课程（如IT、职业、研究方法、项目管理），以发展您的研究和可转移技能。该博士学位由领先的可持续农业创新技术公司先正达集团提供支持。先正达的使命是为大型和小型农业企业提供工具，以应对与作物生产力和健康相关的各种挑战，管理气候变化的影响，并帮助保护生物多样性。学生将有机会在先正达的研发环境中与不同的团队进行参观和互动。博士生将被介绍到当前的范式，以发现和优化新的农用化学品，所谓的设计-合成-测试-分析（DSTA）周期。将在先正达实验室组织与不同专家（即化学家、生物学、计算专家）的特别互动会议。博士生将有机会向先正达科学界展示她/他的项目。

Plant roots are responsible for nutrient and water uptake from the "outside" environment; the soil. This process is controlled by a specialized cell layer in the root, the endodermis. To keep the right concentration of nutrients in the plant, avoiding its leakage, this cell layer has evolved mechanisms of sealing, the blockage of the space between contiguous cells. One missing aspect in this sealing mechanism, critical for the organism survival, is the resident microbiota that is metabolically active and might disturb the cell layer sealing with consequences for nutrient and water balance. With this proposed project we will explore a new technological concept around the use of exogenous small molecules that mimic plant regulatory components to control the root sealing mechanisms directly or through their interactions with the resident root microbiome. It represents an invaluable tool to gain new insight into the regulation of new mineral nutrient homeostatic mechanisms controlled by the root microbiota. Questions we will address include: What regulatory molecules coordinate the crosstalk between the root sealing and the microbiota? How do different regulatory elements control mineral nutrient accumulation under ecological relevant conditions? You will have access to a unique range of advanced analytical techniques and equipment (ICP-MS, Laser Ablation Tomography, micro-computed Tomography) and world-class facilities with international standards. You will receive structured training programmes at the University of Nottingham and Syngenta, and attend various training courses (e.g., IT, Career, Research Methods, Project Management) to develop your research and transferable skills. This PhD is supported by Syngenta Group that is a leading technology company for sustainable agricultural innovation. Syngenta's mission is to offer large and small farming businesses the tools to address a wide range of challenges associated with crop productivity and health, to manage the effects of climate change and to help preserve biodiversity. The student will have the opportunities to visit and interact with different teams in the R&D environment at Syngenta. The PhD student will be introduced to the current paradigm to discover and optimize new agrochemicals, the so-called Design-Synthesis-Testing-Analysis (DSTA) cycles. Ad-hoc interactive sessions will be organized with different specialists (i.e. chemists, biology, computational experts) at the Syngenta labs. The PhD student will have the opportunity to present her/his projects to the Syngenta scientific community.