This grant from the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, supported by the North Atlantic Coast CESU, is for research focused on “Truncating the Competitive Ability of Phragmites australis by Targeting Microbial Endophytes.” The project aims to evaluate non-toxic treatments that interfere with the symbiotic relationship between Phragmites and its endophytic microbes. This strategy involves three components: stimulating the plant’s microbiome to become virulent using sugars and organic acids, disrupting plant-root microbial signaling, and applying fungi to accelerate plant death and degradation. The ultimate goal is to develop an environmentally friendly approach to reduce Phragmites’ competitive abilities, facilitating site remediation and the return of native vegetation. This work aligns with broader efforts to combat invasive species through microbial symbiosis manipulation.
Opportunity ID: 327905
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | G20AS00110 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Cooperative Agreement |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Science and Technology and other Research and Development |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 1 |
| Assistance Listings: | 15.808 — U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Jun 30, 2020 |
| Last Updated Date: | Jun 30, 2020 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 22, 2020 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Jul 22, 2020 |
| Archive Date: | Sep 30, 2020 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $156,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $156,000 |
| Award Floor: | $0 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU¿s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the North Atlantic Coast (CESU) Program. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Geological Survey |
| Description: | U.S. Geological Survey¿s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center is offering a funding opportunity for research on ¿Truncating the Competitive Ability of Phragmites australis by Targeting Microbial Endophytes.¿ This project will evaluate the use of non-toxic treatments to reduce the invasive character of Phragmites by interfering with symbiosis between endophytic microbes and host plant Phragmites. The strategy has three linked components: 1) stimulate the plant microbiome to become virulent or otherwise overgrow, thus killing the host; 2) interfere with plant-root microbial signaling in the soil so that root-microbe symbiosis does not establish and the plant’s growth is reduced; and 3) apply endophytic/saprophytic fungi to post-treated plants to facilitate death and degradation of standing plant material and remediate the site for growth of native vegetation. The first component will turn the microbiome against the plant by applying sugars and organic acids with adjuvants (oils and surfactant). The non-toxic adjuvents will breakdown waxy cuticle barriers, and the sugars will overload the Carbon:Nitrogen ratio and stimulate use of nitrogen aboveground and below ground by endophytes. The increased microbial activity will cause a crash in nitrogen and other nutrients available to the plant, thus killing the invasive plant. The second component targets the plant-microbe signaling system since carbohydrates are thought to disrupt this system. Liquid carbohydrates applied to the aboveground biomass (component 1) will fall to the soil and begin interfering with the normal symbiotic relationships belowground. The third component of the strategy is intended to accelerate harm to the invasive plants. Testing of spray application of fungal endophyte/saprophyte suspensions to bioherbicide treated plants are anticipated to increase the rate of plant death and decomposition. Reduced dead biomass after treatment may prepare the site for rapid return of native vegetation. If successful, this approach may provide a new model for combating invasive species by reducing the competitive abilities of plants through targeting their symbiotic associations using environmentally friendly compounds. This work is consistent with the overall science agenda (http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.201 5.00095/full) driving the multi-agency federal-academic Collaborative for Microbial Symbiosis and Phragmites Management. |
| Link to Additional Information: | https://www.grants.gov/ |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Faith Graves 703-648-7356
fgraves@usgs.gov Email:fgraves@usgs.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 327905 Full Announcement-FUNDING OPPORTUNITY -> Funding Opportunity.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Faith Graves 703-648-7356 fgraves@usgs.gov Email: fgraves@usgs.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.808 | G20AS00110 | Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU | PKG00262396 | Jun 30, 2020 | Jul 22, 2020 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
327905 SF424_3_0-3.0.pdf
327905 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
327905 SF424A-1.0.pdf
327905 SF424B-1.1.pdf
Share This Post, Choose Your Platform!
About the Author: osnqt
