Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is an important cereal grain which serves as major animal fodder crop as well as basis for malt beverages or staple food. Currently barley is ranked fourth in terms of quantity of cereal crops produced worldwide. In times of a constantly growing world population in conjunction with an unforeseeable climate change and groundwater depletion, the accumulation of knowledge concerning cereal growth and rate of yield gain is important. The Nordic Genetic Resource Center holds a major collection of barley mutants produced by irradiation or chemical treatment. One phenotypic group of barley varieties are dwarf mutants (erectoides, brachytic, semidwarf, uzu). They are characterized by a compact spike and high rate of yield while the straw is short and stiff, enhancing the lodging resistance of the plant. Obviously they are of applied interest, but they are also of scientific interest as virtually nothing is known about the genes behind the development of plant dwarfism. The aim of this project is to identify and isolate the genes carrying the mutations by using state of the art techniques for gene cloning at the Carlsberg Laboratory. The identified genes will be connected with the mutant phenotype to reveal the gene function in general. One or two genes will be overexpressed and the resulting recombinant proteins will be biochemically and structurally characterized. The insights how the mutation effects the protein will display the protein function in particular. Identified genes and their mutant alleles will be tested in the barley breeding program of the Carlsberg brewery.
Salinity occurs often simultaneously with drought stress. Therefore, breeding for tolerance to combined both stresses can contribute significantly to crop yield. However, classical selection in salinity has generally been unsuccessful, partly due to high variability of salt stress resulting from the different salinity and drought status. Unfortunately, the use of unrealistic stress protocols for mimicking salinity and drought stress is the norm rather than the exception in biotechnological studies. Therefore, the great challenge is to gain knowledge required to develop plants with enhanced tolerance to field conditions. Our overall hypothesis is that a realistic stress protocol simulating a field environment with combined salt and drought stress as a platform for precision phenotyping of plant tolerance to salinity may solve this problem. This study will demonstrate that highly managed stress environments can be created and key traits of plants can be characterised by using advanced non-destructive sensors that are able to identify relevant traits of plants.
Eine hohe Resistenz gegen Bodenpathogene, gute Standortanpassung und Veredlungsaffinität sind die entscheidenden Merkmale von Unterlagen. Bei der Pathogenresistenz ist bei Reben die Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen die Reblaus Daktulosphaira vitifoiae essentiell, da die europäische Kulturrebe Vitis vinifera L über keinerlei Resistenzen verfügt und nur an wenigen Standorten ein wurzelechter Anbau möglich ist. Amerikanische Wildformen mit solchen Reblausresistenzen sind daher in der Unterlagenzüchtung von großer Bedeutung. Die langfristige Sicherung solcher Genotypen ist daher eine Voraussetzung für spätere Züchtungsarbeiten zur Erstellung neuer besserer Unterlagen. Daneben spielt auch die Standortanpassung eine wichtige Rolle. Vitis berlandieri ist hier am wichtigsten, da sie als einzige Art über eine hohe Kalkverträglichkeit verfügt und die Mehrheit der deutschen und europäischen Weinbaustandorte durch hohe Kalkgehalte im Boden charakterisiert sind. Kalkempfindliche Arten leiden unter Kalkchlorose mit stark vermindertem Wuchs. Aufgrund begrenzter Verfügbarkeit wurden jedoch nur wenige Pflanzen der Art in der Unterlagenzüchtung verwendet und damit nur ein Teil des Potentials der Art genutzt. In einem gemeinsamen Projekt mit dem United States Department for Agriculture wurden daher im September 2005 im ursprünglichen Verbreitungsgebiet der Art in Zentraltexas Samen von Wildformen gesammelt und die Hälfte davon in Geisenheim zur Keimung gebracht und ausgepflanzt. Derzeit werden mehr als 5000 Pflanzen in der in vivo Erhaltung. In den kommenden Jahren werden diese hinsichtlich ihrer relevanten Eigenschaften phänotypisch charakterisiert und in einem späteren Stadium auch genotypisiert, um für weitere Kreuzungs- und Selektionsarbeiten nutzbares material zu identifizieren.
Eine hohe Resistenz gegen Bodenpathogene, gute Standortanpassung und Veredlungsaffinität sind die entscheidenden Merkmale von Unterlagen. Bei der Pathogenresistenz ist bei Reben die Widerstandsfähigkeit gegen die Reblaus Daktulosphaira vitifoiae essentiell, da die europäische Kulturrebe Vitis vinifera L über keinerlei Resistenzen verfügt und nur an wenigen Standorten ein wurzelechter Anbau möglich ist. Klimaveränderungen erfordern neue Unterlagen mit hoher Reblausfestigkeit und besserer Standortanpassung. Aufgrund der derzeitigen Szenarien werden sowohl Trockenresistenz als auch Toleranz gegen hohe Kalkgehalte insbesondere in Verbindung mit hohem Bodenwassergehalte zukünftig von Bedeutung sein. Hierfür werden entsprechende Kreuzungen vorgenommen, die Sämlinge aufgezogen, auf ihre Reblausfestigkeit getestet und anschießend Prüfungen der Wurzelungs- und Veredlungsfähigkeit vorgenommen. Anschließend wird die Witterungs- und Bodenanpassung der Zuchtstämme insbesondere auf Trocken- und Kalkstandorten untersucht. Ziel ist die Entwicklung verschiedener Unteralgen, die eine vollständige Reblausresistenz mit hohen Trockenheits- und/oder Kalktoleranz kombinieren.
Die Flussperlmuschel (Margaritifera margaritifera) ist als vom Aussterben bedrohte Art einzustufen. Die Nachzucht der Muschel gelang in den letzten Jahren mittels einer eigens errichteten Nachzuchtstation jedoch durchaus sehr erfolgreich. Um für die Wiederansiedelung der Flussperlmuschel in Fließgewässern zu gewährleisten gilt es vorab geeignete Lebensraumbedingungen zu finden. Dabei ist die Habitatmodellierung als geeignetes Instrument für eine Bewertung bzw. eine Vorauswahl anzusehen. Diese Modellierung beruht auf Eingangsparametern, die in intakten Flussperlmuschelgewässern erhoben werden müssen. Solche intakten Gewässer mit reproduktiven Flussperlmuschelpopulationen existieren aktuell nur noch in Nordeuropa (z. B. Schweden, Finnland, Norwegen) und in einem deutschen Heidebach, der Lutter, in der ein umfangreiches, das gesamte Einzugsgebiet umfassendes Sanierungs- und Wiederansiedelungsprojekt sehr erfolgreich umgesetzt wurde. Ziel des Projektes ist es, in verschiedenen österreichischen Gewässern jene (Lebensraum-)Parameter zu erfassen, welche von der Flussperlmuschel genutzt bzw. auch nicht genutzt werden, um funktionale Zusammenhänge für ein zukünftiges Management zu erkennen, bzw. auch jene Nutzungskurven abzuleiten, die für mögliche hydraulische Modellanwendungen zur Habitatevaluierung benötigt werden. Um dieses Ziel zu Erreichen wird eine Charakterisierung der Gewässermorphologie mittels tachymetrischer Vermessung von genutzten und nicht genutzten Gewässerprofilen durchgeführt als Grundlage für die eindimensionale numerische Modellierung (HEC-RAS). Weiters werden Kornverteilungskurven mittels volumetrischer Beprobung aus Deck- und Unterschicht erstellt mit einer Bestimmung der Feinsedimentanteile (kleiner als 0,063 mm, kleiner als 0,125 mm, kleiner als 0,250 mm) durchgeführt.
This ITN provides training multidisciplinary and multisectorial opportunities in a diversity of research approaches and methodologies for sustainable apple growing. The scientific work focuses on apple as one of the economically most important European fruit crops. It will investigate the most devastating bacterial disease (fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora). The overall aim is to identify and exploit general resistance mechanisms and to apply them to other crop-pathogen systems. The research programme will adopt both, short- and long-term strategies, to obtain new, cost-effective and ecologically beneficial protectants and protective strategies. Short-term strategies refer to agronomic influences on disease resistance. Long-term strategies will focus on the breeding for disease resistance and, therefore, on the identification of resistance genes. The use of resistant plants will reduce the need for plant protectants and, thus, the potential risks to consumers, fruit-growers and environment. Full genome sequence information of horticultural plants (apple published 2010, pear expected this year) and their main pathogens opens completely new possibilities to develop control measures and define breeding strategies. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to develop innovative approaches. Therefore, it is necessary to provide wide-ranging opportunities to overcome institutional and disciplinary boundaries for some time and to work and obtain training on related research fields at other institutions. These cover natural defence mechanisms, host-pathogen interactions and agronomic effects. Young researchers will become familiar with modern methods in breeding, horticulture, phytopathology, analysis, biochemistry, molecular biology and bioinformatics. In addition, training in research management, communication/presentation and team management will provide key skills for public and private sector employment thereby improving employment chances of young researchers.
The impacts of global climate change will also affect the winter wheat production in Central Europe. Cultivars with improved yield stability and high quality when exposed to abiotic stresses like drought and heat are necessary to continue the leading position of the European Union at the global wheat market. In general breeding towards improved yield stability has been hindered by its quantitative genetic basis and the complexity of abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms and up till now was focused in permanent dryland conditions using spring wheat cultivars. The strategy proposed for the current study is to exploit high yielding European breeding material for drought/heat tolerance with no or limited negative genetic linkage to yield components. For the characterization of morpho-physiological attributes visual screening, spectral reflectance as well as in plant biochemical measurements will be performed together with molecular genetic analyses of important genomic regions and candidate genes. This project will result in the identification of valuable screening tools and molecular markers that will help the breeders to speed up the development of new cultivars with improved yield stability and high quality under environmental stress. The SME dominated plant breeding and seed branch in Germany, Austria and Hungary will be the beneficiaries of WHEAT STRESS. Project results will contribute to maintain their competitiveness by new breeding techniques and tools, and identification of quality parameters. One third of the transnational SME-User Committee is directly involved in project activities (field trials and data collection) and interacts closely with the scientists. This guarantees that project results will gain direct and broad access into the practical work of the breeders. Furthermore WHEAT STRESS affects societal needs: security of food/feed, preservation of water resources, and stability of rural environments and agricultural employment.
Abiotic environmental stresses are among the major factors limiting agricultural productivity in many developing countries. A common feature of various environmental stresses is the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the leaf tissue leading to 'oxidative stress' and in turn visible leaf lesions, reduced growth, and in severe cases plant death. This project aims at identifying molecular mechanisms associated with oxidative stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under three different environmental conditions: (i) high tropospheric ozone concentration, (ii) zinc deficiency, and (iii) iron toxicity. This is achieved by dissecting naturally occurring genotypic variability in oxidative stress tolerance into distinct quantitative trait loci (QTL). Physiological mechanisms and genes underlying such tolerance QTL are identified by adopting an interdisciplinary approach including biochemical characterization of the antioxidant systems, transcriptome profiling, and experiments with gene knock-out mutants for candidate genes. Theoretical understanding of stress tolerance mechanisms obtained from laboratory experiments would be validated in field experiments together with international research institutions and partners in developing countries. At a later stage, the project strives to adopt emerging techniques in gene discovery such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) based association mapping, and apply lessons learned from studying the 'model cereal crop' rice to other species such as barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The project is expected to contribute to world-wide efforts in adapting crop production to stress environments by specifically advancing the understanding of oxidative stress tolerance.
The proposed RTN adopts a unified approach to a unique sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) collection. It will provide excellent training for young researchers in evaluating traditional resources and developing novel strategies for sustainable agriculture. This is timely because of the pending CAP reforms. The RTN will offer multisectorial and multidisciplinary training at 12 first-class research institutions and 3 SMEs in 11 countries. It is based on a structured combination of research and training activities to ensure that the young researchers will achieve optimal development of professional skills for their future careers . The young researchers will greatly benefit from the vast expertise in a wide range of disciplines amongst the partners: agronomy, plant breeding, seed production and marketing, animal nutrition, veterinary science, chemical analysis, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. The scientific approach will develop a scientific and technical basis for animal feeding systems based on lower chemical inputs by re-popularising traditional fodder legumes for more efficient, animal- and environment-friendly farming systems. Sainfoin will be a showcase for an excellent fodder legume, which was widely grown in Europe before the use of commercial fertilisers and synthetic drugs. Currently, a considerable amount of research occurs on sainfoin but includes only a few cultivars. This prevents exploitation of its full genetic potential. The unique collection already available within this network and a concerted evaluation will lay the foundation for exploiting the full potential of this traditional forage crop in contemporary cultivation systems. Training will consist of extensive scientific education on a local and network-wide basis and include complementary skills, e.g. foreign languages, personal, social and inter-cultural skills (management skills and soft skills). The proposed RTN adopts a unified approach to a unique sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) collection. It will provide excellent training for young researchers in evaluating traditional resources and developing novel strategies for sustainable agriculture. This is timely because of the pending CAP reforms. The RTN will offer multisectorial and multidisciplinary training at 12 first-class research institutions and 3 SMEs in 11 countries. It is based on a structured combination of research and training activities to ensure that the young researchers will achieve optimal development of professional skills for their future careers . The young researchers will greatly benefit from the vast expertise in a wide range of disciplines amongst the partners: agronomy, plant breeding, seed production and marketing, animal nutrition, veterinary science, chemical analysis, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology...
For effective crop improvement, breeders must be able to select on relevant phenotypic traits without compromising yield. This project proposes to investigate the evolutionary consequences of flowering time modifications on a second trait of major importance for plant breeding: immunity. This will have implications both for understanding cross-talks between flowering time and defense network and for developing efficient breeding strategies. There is clear evidence that plant maturity influences levels and effectiveness of defense. Theoretical models actually predict that changes in life-history can modulate the balance between costs and benefits of immunity. Simultaneously, actors of the immune system have often been observed to alter flowering time. Two alternative and possibly complementary hypotheses can explain this link: genetic constraints due to the pleiotropic action of players in either systems, or co-evolution, if flowering-time changes modulate the cost-benefit balance of immunity. We will conduct field assays in Arabidopsis thaliana, using constructed lines as well as recombinant inbred lines and natural accessions, to differentiate the action of the two explanatory hypotheses. Using transcriptome analyses, we will identify defense genes associating with flowering time modification (f-t-a defense genes). We will quantify their expression along the assay and test whether it varies with both flowering time and fitness. We will further test whether flowering time and immunity interact to determine yield in tomato and potato.
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