Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GEN4OLIVE (Mobilization of Olive GenRes through pre-breeding activities to face the future challenges and development of an intelligent interface to ensure a friendly information availability for end users)
Período documentado: 2020-10-01 hasta 2022-03-31
GEN4OLIVE project seeks to leverage olive Genetic Resources (GenRes) by bringing them closer to breeders and farmers. The olive industry is one of the most critical sectors in the Mediterranean Basin and European agriculture, with major social and economic repercussions.
Recent reports stress the rising problems related to biodiversity loss and genetic erosion of crops, which subsequently cause problems related to agricultural sustainability and food security. These challenges have also affected the olive sector. Furthermore, emerging diseases and climate change threaten olive growing on a daily basis, whereas the genetic resources that are the key to solving these problems remain largely unexplored. The solution to this situation lies in genetic resources. However, a shared endeavour is needed to effectively characterize them, integrate results, and make them available to farmers, breeders and other relevant stakeholders.
The overall goals of GEN4OLIVE are to expedite the mobilization of olive GenRes and to foster pre-breeding activities by:
(1) Developing collective pre-breeding activities to characterize in-depth more than 500 olive varieties and hundreds of wild and ancient genotypes worldwide around four main topics:
• Climate change resilience.
• Pest and disease resilience varieties.
• High production and high-quality varieties
• Adapting to modern planting systems.
(2) Developing an innovative and user-friendly interface to make genetic resources accessible for the end user.
(3) Building two mobile apps implementing Image Analysis and Machine Learning so as to detect olive diseases and identify olive varieties effortlessly.
(4) Engaging the private sector in innovation through two open calls to facilitate SMEs' pre-breeding activities.
GEN4OLIVE project encompasses a consortium of 16 partners from seven countries providing the genetic material to be explored and exploited. Additionally, it is directly supported by the International Olive Council (IOC).
Recent reports stress the rising problems related to biodiversity loss and genetic erosion of crops, which subsequently cause problems related to agricultural sustainability and food security. These challenges have also affected the olive sector. Furthermore, emerging diseases and climate change threaten olive growing on a daily basis, whereas the genetic resources that are the key to solving these problems remain largely unexplored. The solution to this situation lies in genetic resources. However, a shared endeavour is needed to effectively characterize them, integrate results, and make them available to farmers, breeders and other relevant stakeholders.
The overall goals of GEN4OLIVE are to expedite the mobilization of olive GenRes and to foster pre-breeding activities by:
(1) Developing collective pre-breeding activities to characterize in-depth more than 500 olive varieties and hundreds of wild and ancient genotypes worldwide around four main topics:
• Climate change resilience.
• Pest and disease resilience varieties.
• High production and high-quality varieties
• Adapting to modern planting systems.
(2) Developing an innovative and user-friendly interface to make genetic resources accessible for the end user.
(3) Building two mobile apps implementing Image Analysis and Machine Learning so as to detect olive diseases and identify olive varieties effortlessly.
(4) Engaging the private sector in innovation through two open calls to facilitate SMEs' pre-breeding activities.
GEN4OLIVE project encompasses a consortium of 16 partners from seven countries providing the genetic material to be explored and exploited. Additionally, it is directly supported by the International Olive Council (IOC).
During this first reporting period, GEN4OLIVE has made significant progress along four main lines:
a) Drawing up coherent and straightforward protocols to evaluate a large number of olive cultivars.
b) Olive germplasm evaluation and sampling. GEN4OLIVE partners have characterised over 500 olive cultivars’ responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, their phenological cycle, plant architecture, main agronomical characters, and oil quality. The analysis of fatty acid profiles, individual phenols and volatiles compounds will unveil an unprecedented range of variability for many of the healthy compounds found in olive oil. Moreover, 30 cultivars shared among the five GBs will help assess the gene–environment interaction for most of the characters under review.
c) Broad sampling and characterization of Olea wild subspecies, which has never been exploited for breeding, in the Mediterranean Basin has also started. The agronomic characteristics and determinant stress resistance of wild olives are being explored, including the genotypes of wild and cultivated ancient olives.
d) A user-friendly online database is being fed to develop an open catalogue of cultivated and wild olive forms describing their main agronomical characteristics. Likewise, significant progress has been made in image analysis and machine learning applications to identify olive cultivars and olive pests and diseases.
In addition, genomics and transcriptomics are also being applied to find markers to increase the efficiency and expedite the breeding of new cultivars resistant to olive diseases and abiotic stresses. Transcriptomic approaches are unveiling the epigenetic control of the juvenile-to-adult transition. Specific small RNAs are being tested as possible markers for the early selection of genotypes with a short juvenile phase. Impetus is also given to forced growth of the seedlings under controlled conditions.
GEN4OLIVE has boosted the involvement and interest of private companies in olive breeding through an early cascade call for projects focusing on pre-breeding activities and new technologies that enhance the breeding process. As a result, eight (six collaborative and two individuals) innovative projects were funded.
During this first stage of the project, through co-creation, communication, and dissemination activities, GEN4OLIVE raised awareness among researchers, olive farmers and private companies regarding olive breeding and the need to characterize the olive genetic germplasm to pave the way for more productive, high quality olive cultivars that can adapt to the challenges brought about by climate change.
a) Drawing up coherent and straightforward protocols to evaluate a large number of olive cultivars.
b) Olive germplasm evaluation and sampling. GEN4OLIVE partners have characterised over 500 olive cultivars’ responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, their phenological cycle, plant architecture, main agronomical characters, and oil quality. The analysis of fatty acid profiles, individual phenols and volatiles compounds will unveil an unprecedented range of variability for many of the healthy compounds found in olive oil. Moreover, 30 cultivars shared among the five GBs will help assess the gene–environment interaction for most of the characters under review.
c) Broad sampling and characterization of Olea wild subspecies, which has never been exploited for breeding, in the Mediterranean Basin has also started. The agronomic characteristics and determinant stress resistance of wild olives are being explored, including the genotypes of wild and cultivated ancient olives.
d) A user-friendly online database is being fed to develop an open catalogue of cultivated and wild olive forms describing their main agronomical characteristics. Likewise, significant progress has been made in image analysis and machine learning applications to identify olive cultivars and olive pests and diseases.
In addition, genomics and transcriptomics are also being applied to find markers to increase the efficiency and expedite the breeding of new cultivars resistant to olive diseases and abiotic stresses. Transcriptomic approaches are unveiling the epigenetic control of the juvenile-to-adult transition. Specific small RNAs are being tested as possible markers for the early selection of genotypes with a short juvenile phase. Impetus is also given to forced growth of the seedlings under controlled conditions.
GEN4OLIVE has boosted the involvement and interest of private companies in olive breeding through an early cascade call for projects focusing on pre-breeding activities and new technologies that enhance the breeding process. As a result, eight (six collaborative and two individuals) innovative projects were funded.
During this first stage of the project, through co-creation, communication, and dissemination activities, GEN4OLIVE raised awareness among researchers, olive farmers and private companies regarding olive breeding and the need to characterize the olive genetic germplasm to pave the way for more productive, high quality olive cultivars that can adapt to the challenges brought about by climate change.
GEN4OLIVE has brought together the leading olive germplasm banks, research groups, and public and private entities to disclose the agronomical value of olive germplasm, opening new avenues for breeding and olive genetic resources. GEN4OLIVE partners have developed effective protocols to evaluate olive genetic resources, increasing their breeding value and the efficiency of conservation strategies. Harmonising cultivar evaluation and authentication using GBS is paramount to provide a sound foundation for breeding and to increase the olive sector’s sustainability.
Having characterized the phenology, productive traits, abiotic stress tolerance, pest and disease resistance and oil quality for over 500 olive cultivars, GEN4OLIVE will tap into the potential of many cultivars in the germplasm banks that could be crucial for breeding. Similarly, wild Oleas has been sampled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary and Madeira islands, as this survey work is performed across the Mediterranean Basin on an unprecedented scale. This material will serve as the foundation for seed and live germplasm collections, with a high breeding potential and ensuring the ex-situ conservation of wild Oleas.
This project is expected to directly impact the olive sector, improving the productivity, quality, and tolerance of olive varieties to biotic and abiotic stresses. Indirectly, it will mitigate genetic erosion and boost climate change resilience.
GEN4OLIVE is also applying genomics and transcriptomics to speed up the breeding process by focusing on three main avenues of action: (a) selecting markers linked to critical biotic and abiotic stresses, (b) identifying early selection markers for the short juvenile phase, and (c) improving forced growth conditions for increased effectiveness. New techniques will have a direct economic impact on the sector as they streamline the selection of the best new genotypes.
GEN4OLIVE has also significantly progressed towards digitalization. This includes a comprehensive catalogue of olive cultivars and machine learning-based applications to identify olive cultivars and pests and diseases using image analysis.
Companies from seven countries have also engaged in characterising and valorising genetic resources following an open call. These projects are an excellent incentive for the private sector to undertake research and innovation in olive growing. They will lead to new exploitation techniques involving olive genetic resources, compounded by the opening of new business lines.
GEN4OLIVE has marshalled the efforts of all the participants, creating auspicious synergies among the olive sector stakeholders. GEN4OLIVE has also captured the interest of most of the olive sector seeking to be informed of and interact with the results and partners engaged in this breakthrough project.
Having characterized the phenology, productive traits, abiotic stress tolerance, pest and disease resistance and oil quality for over 500 olive cultivars, GEN4OLIVE will tap into the potential of many cultivars in the germplasm banks that could be crucial for breeding. Similarly, wild Oleas has been sampled throughout the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary and Madeira islands, as this survey work is performed across the Mediterranean Basin on an unprecedented scale. This material will serve as the foundation for seed and live germplasm collections, with a high breeding potential and ensuring the ex-situ conservation of wild Oleas.
This project is expected to directly impact the olive sector, improving the productivity, quality, and tolerance of olive varieties to biotic and abiotic stresses. Indirectly, it will mitigate genetic erosion and boost climate change resilience.
GEN4OLIVE is also applying genomics and transcriptomics to speed up the breeding process by focusing on three main avenues of action: (a) selecting markers linked to critical biotic and abiotic stresses, (b) identifying early selection markers for the short juvenile phase, and (c) improving forced growth conditions for increased effectiveness. New techniques will have a direct economic impact on the sector as they streamline the selection of the best new genotypes.
GEN4OLIVE has also significantly progressed towards digitalization. This includes a comprehensive catalogue of olive cultivars and machine learning-based applications to identify olive cultivars and pests and diseases using image analysis.
Companies from seven countries have also engaged in characterising and valorising genetic resources following an open call. These projects are an excellent incentive for the private sector to undertake research and innovation in olive growing. They will lead to new exploitation techniques involving olive genetic resources, compounded by the opening of new business lines.
GEN4OLIVE has marshalled the efforts of all the participants, creating auspicious synergies among the olive sector stakeholders. GEN4OLIVE has also captured the interest of most of the olive sector seeking to be informed of and interact with the results and partners engaged in this breakthrough project.