{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100677"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100677","attributes":{"code":"DE260100677","administering-organisation":"Western Sydney University","announcement-administering-organisation":"Western Sydney University","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"How climate extremes shape plant microbiome functions and pathogen invasion. This project aims to investigate how extreme climate events impact the structure and functions of plant-associated microorganisms, which are essential for sustaining crop health. Climate extremes, such as heatwaves and floods, severely impact plant diseases and food security. Using advanced approaches and microbial analysis, this project will generate new knowledge about the responses of crop microorganisms to climate extremes and pathogen invasion. It expects to develop an innovative workflow for harnessing beneficial microbial traits to enhance plant health. This will provide novel microbial applications to boost plant resilience to climate change and pathogen threats and offer significant benefits to support sustainable agriculture.","funding-current":479712.00,"funding-at-announcement":475489,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Chao","familyName":"Xiong","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-3023-0494 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Chao","familyName":"Xiong","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-3023-0494 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"Western Sydney University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"NSW"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"Western Sydney University","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"NSW"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":false,"code":"310703","name":"Microbial Ecology","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"410102","name":"Ecological Impacts of Climate Change and Ecological Adaptation","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":true,"code":"4106","name":"Soil Sciences","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"410603","name":"Soil Biology","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"200405","name":"Food Safety","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"269901","name":"Climate Adaptive Plants","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["England","United States of America"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"Plant-associated microorganisms have co-evolved with their hosts over 400 million of years, providing essential functions that bolster plants against a range of environmental challenges, for example, climate change, pathogen invasion, and abiotic stresses. Extreme climate events, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods, are becoming increasingly frequent in Australia and worldwide, threatening plant health, agricultural productivity, and food security. However, the ways in which these conditions influence the diversity, interactions, and functions of crop-associated microorganisms, and subsequently lead to disease outbreaks and production losses, remain a mystery. This project aims to reveal, for the first time, the complex interactions between plants and microbial communities under climate extremes and pathogen threats. In particular, it will provide the first insight into whether stress-induced microbial traits and functions can improve crop adaptation and survival under these abiotic and biotic challenges. This improved understanding will empower Australian farmers and agribusiness industries to develop effective strategies for mitigating risks associated with climate extremes and pathogen outbreaks. New microbial solutions and bio-products developed in this research will reduce the risk of plant diseases and enhance plant resilience under changing climate, contributing to increased environmental health, economic returns, and sustainability of the agriculture."}}}