Objective The STONE project addresses scientific issues related to stone fruit (Prunus species) biodiversity. In a worldwide competitive context, stone fruit breeding programmes have to face new challenges regarding the maintenance of high quality fruit production under a changing climatic environment and increasing threats from pathogens, especially the sharka disease. STONE is a four years coordinated joint programme of staff exchange for short and medium periods between two European organisations, an associated and two ICPC third countries. The IRSES scheme is designed to provide opportunities of mobility to researchers and support research organisations. It integrates existing bilateral collaborative activities into a coherent long-term multinational programme addressing a key issue to two high priorities on the political agenda of the EU, i.e sustainable agricultural fruit production and biodiversity. The programme of exchange is intended to develop common tools and to jointly use these tools for the comparison of the genetic biodiversity in the European, Caucasian and Central Asian Apricot, Peach and Cherry germplasms. The project objectives include the assessment of the genetic diversity at selected loci directly affecting response to virus infection and to climate changes. The range of common fruit tree species of interest and of climatic conditions, as well as the strategic importance of fresh fruit production in all the countries involved will provide a coherent framework and socio-economic background for the planned research activities. Three topics have been identified as most relevant for all partners involved in the STONE project: assessment of the broad genetic diversity at the centers of origin and along the expansion routes of Prunus species after domestication and analysis of the genetic variability at loci related to Plum pox virus resistance and at loci controlling winter chilling-dependent floral induction. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES - Marie Curie Action "International Research Staff Exchange Scheme" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IRSES - International research staff exchange scheme (IRSES) Coordinator INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT EU contribution € 151 200,00 Address 147 RUE DE L'UNIVERSITE 75007 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Véronique Decroocq (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all JULIUS KUHN INSTITUT BUNDESFORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUR KULTURPFLANZEN Germany EU contribution € 32 400,00 Address ERWIN BAUR STRASSE 06484 QUEDLINBURG See on map Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Knut Steffens Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INONU UNIVERSITESI Türkiye EU contribution € 39 600,00 Address ELAZIG YOLU 15 KM 44280 Malatya See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Bayram Asma (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data