Unravelling Biocontrol and Physiological challenges in pine wood NEMAtode pathosystem

Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Pine Wood Nematode, PWN) is one most devastating forest diseases worldwide.

This pathology was detected in Europe in 1999 and future climatic scenarios point PWD will spread in the next decades threatening more than 60% of native range of Pinus sylvestris and P. pinaster.

In parallel, adaptation of woodlands to Climate Change and its effect in tree defense against this pathology remain unclear.

BiPhyNEMA will investigate how pines will react to those stress sources to better understand ecophysiological and pathogenic procedures that will drive their response in the middle term.

The project has four research objectives: a) to evaluate physiological response of two P. pinaster genotypes (susceptible and resistant) infected by PWN under two different environmental conditions according to IPCC scenarios; b) to characterize functional response of infected seedlings and PWNs by dual-transcriptomics approach in the aforementioned scenarios; c) to monitor populations of PWN-mutualistic bacteria during nematode infection, and d) to investigate virus-based control potential using phages against PWN-associated bacteria.

BiPhyNEMA combines transcriptomics with tree ecophysiology from an integrative point of view (ecophysiolomics) to achieve a holistic description of disease development.

In addition, the project integrates that approach with pathology and applied virology, resulting in an original and interdisciplinary research with high potential for innovative findings.

BiPhyNEMA provides a detailed personal career development plan focused in reinforcing autonomous research profile of the fellow.

Moreover, the project will transfer new knowledge between forest researchers, foresters, and society using the most suitable means in each case.

BiPhyNEMA adheres to key strategic orientations of Horizon Europe Program, and addresses the need to develop eco-friendly methods for forest protection