Vici grant: two sums of 1.5 million for Wageningen scientists

Leading scientist Christa Testerink has received 1.5 million euros from the Dutch Research Council (known by its Dutch acronym NWO). With this Vici grant, she will spend the next five years researching how plants handle stress with more flexibility than hitherto assumed. Vici is one of the most significant scientific grants in the Netherlands.

Wageningen professor in Plant Physiology dr. Christa Testerink, and member of the NPEC executive board, was awarded an NWO Vici Grant of 1,5 MEuro for her project ‘In shape under stress’. This proposal covers the growth and development of plants. A lack of water or the availability of only saline water inhibits growth and development. Plants try to overcome these conditions by stimulating local root growth and altering the flowering season. Drought and salinity of the soil present threats to plants, as basic development is impaired under these stressful conditions. Plants mount responses above- and belowground to locally overcome the general block in development. Testerink and her team will investigate how this developmental flexibility is achieved and will exploit it to improve stress resilience. In year 3 -5 the use of NPEC modules are scheduled.

Source: Vici grant: two sums of 1.5 million for Wageningen scientists – wur.nl