021-1.2.6-TÉT-IPARI-MA-2022-00005 - Development of rhizobacteria inoculum to improve faba bean production and its agroecological services under climate changebr /> The aim of the project is to produce a prototype soil inoculum containing drought-stress-resistant bacteria, the application of which can mitigate the harmful effects of dry periods and make the cultivation of faba beans safer. In the course of the project, rhizobium and other soil bacteria tolerant to water deficiency are isolated and characterized, strains suitable for inoculum production are selected based on their favourable properties, their effect on faba bean plants is studied, and the growing conditions necessary for inoculum production are developed.

OTKA K-132646 - Functional analysis of lipid transfer proteins required for endosymbiotic interactions
The proposal focuses on the molecular and biochemical characterization of a symbiosis-specific lipid transfer protein (symLTP) that facilitates the establishment of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between rhizobia and Medicago truncatula. Mtsymltp is proposed to act in the NF signal transduction pathway or have nutrient or structural function at the early stage of nodule initiation and we perform the detailed phenotypic analysis of the mutant Mtsymltp to define the relative position and activity of symLTP in the NF signaling pathway. 

OTKA K-119652 - The functional study of nodule-specific cystein-rich (NCR) peptide genes required for bacterial differentiation in Medicago truncatula
One of the main objectives of this proposal wasthe (i) analysis of the regulatory elements in the promoters of the NCR168 and NCR2111 genes and define the residues essential for the function of the encoded peptides. The mutants deficient in NCR169 and NCR211 were used to test modified versions a promoters and peptides and gain more insights into the regulation and action of the essential NCRs. Forward and state-of-the-art reverse genetic approaches have been applied to achieve the other main objective of the proposal, the (ii) identification of additional NCRs and another symbiotic gene that might have non-redundant role controlling bacterial differentiation.