Project description
Bioinformatic method for extracting plant genomic information
Genetic variation in resistance genes is essential for crop yield, but studying these complex genomic regions and disease-resistance genes poses challenges. Current methods have limitations that hinder a comprehensive understanding of genetic variation for crop improvement. In this context, the ERC-funded AdaptiveTarget project aims to develop a bioinformatic method using targeted long-read sequencing for complex plant genomic regions. This will enable researchers and breeders to obtain population-level haplotype information quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively. The project will initially validate the method by testing it on complex loci of agronomic importance and then explore options for patenting and licensing it. This method could foster innovation by facilitating precision breeding methods, especially for enhancing disease and pest resistance.
Objective
Genetic variation at resistance loci is crucial for sustained crop yield, given the challenges and increased pest and pathogen pressures resulting from a warming climate. Despite recent advances in massively parallel sequencing, disease resistance loci and other complex genomic regions of great practical, economical and scientific importance remain challenging to study. The severe limitations of current methods pose a major problem for fully understanding and harnessing genetic variation for crop improvement. We will develop AdaptiveTarget as a bioinformatic method based on targeted long-read sequencing, that will allow researchers and breeders to quickly, efficiently and inexpensively obtain population-level haplotype information for complex genomic regions such as resistance genes and self-incompatibility loci in plants. To explore the innovation potential of our ERC-funded research we will first undertake research to test and validate the project idea. Validation will benefit from known haplotype data for the complex S-locus supergene, produced in the ERC-funded project SuperGenE. To demonstrate the general utility of the method we will apply it to real-world examples consisting of complex loci of agronomic importance. Once the method is validated, we will investigate options for patenting and licensing the method. Our AdaptiveTarget method for fast and efficient targeted sequencing of complex genomic regions could greatly facilitate assessment of genetic variation at complex genomic regions of outstanding scientific, practical and economic interest. Therefore, our method could help drive innovation in several ways, by allowing the development of more efficient methods to conduct precision breeding for disease and pest resistance.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
10691 Stockholm
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.