WP03: Functional Mechanisms A major problem related with high variability and often limited reproducibility of plant bio-effector responses under field conditions is the limited knowledge concerning environmental factors determining the performance of bio-effectors and the functional mechanisms behind the observed effects. Therefore, WP03 will address all aspects related with the function of the selected bio-effector products and product combinations. The major tasks comprise:
(i) Standardisation of new or already existing methodologies for measuring effects of bio-effectors on plants.
(ii) Tracing colonization of microbial bio-effectors along or inside the roots or even in aboveground plant parts.
(iii) characterisation of responses to bio-effector applications at the physiological and molecular level, both, in target plants and also in the applied microbial bio-effectors.
(iv) demonstrate the impact of bio-effector applications on the composition of plant-associated microbial communities especially with respect to nutrient cycling, plant pathogens, and bio-safety issues.
