PRIMER

Enhancing Climate-Resilient Crops by Innovative Priming Strategies

Description

PRIMER is a Doctoral Network designed to provide advanced training and conduct breakthrough research addressing the escalating threat of climate change to agriculture, with a particular focus on the increasing frequency of heatwaves and their impact on food security. The network aims to enhance tomato resilience through innovative genetic, chemical and physiological priming approaches.

PRIMER will train 12 doctoral candidates through an integrated multidisciplinary programme, preparing them to address complex challenges in sustainable agriculture and pursue careers in academia and industry. At the core of PRIMER lies a cutting-edge training programme spanning plant stress biology, single-cell analysis, advanced genomics, computational biology, physiology, chemical priming and modern genetic approaches. The doctoral candidates will generate a single-cell gene expression atlas to decipher cell- and tissue-specific priming mechanisms, investigate the genetic basis of priming across diverse tomato varieties, develop computational models to predict plant responses under different heat-stress scenarios, and pioneer physiological, chemical and genetic interventions to enhance plant thermotolerance and crop resilience.

Each objective is addressed through a dedicated work package. PRIMER’s approach bridges fundamental research and practical application, ranging from the elucidation of cellular and molecular mechanisms to the development of interventions aimed at mitigating heat-related crop losses. By integrating state-of-the-art technologies and multidisciplinary research, the network will generate knowledge, tools and germplasm with potential value for future crop improvement and breeding.

In addition to scientific training, PRIMER will provide doctoral candidates with hands-on experience in advanced experimental and computational techniques, while developing transferable skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, communication and leadership. Through this integrated programme, PRIMER will equip a new generation of researchers to contribute to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

Coordinator

PD Dr. Sotirios (Akis) Fragkostefanakis

Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt am Main (GUF)

Email