Final Report Summary - EVOCODE (Evolutionary Conservation of Regulatory Network Controlling Flower Development)
The EVOCODE Exchange Project had three main Objectives: i) Reinforce the Collaboration among six research groups in 3 different continents, ii) Improve the knowledge about seed and fruit development, taking advantage of genomics and post-genomics tools, iii) Implement and improve the technical and non-technical skills of ER and ERS in an international frame to have impact on their carriers.
i) EVO-CODE has contributed to build a intercontinental exchange platform from which many staff members from European and Centre-South America institutes have benefited. This consortium had allowed boosting technology and know-how exchange in the field of plant reproduction research. In particular the focus of the project was the improvement of the knowledge about flower, seed and fruit development, taking advantage of genomics and post-genomics tools.
ii) The scientific results achieved in the frame of the EVOCODE program can be summarized in four main points: a) we have identified new key components in reproductive regulatory networks through a functional genomics approach; b) By genome wide transcriptome approaches (RNA seq) we have identified target genes regulated by master key transcription factors controlling flower, fruit and seed development; c) we have identified cis-elements that might be useful to study regulatory pathways controlled by selected key regulators and finally d) the scientific achievement were used to study these important developmental processes in crops, such as rice, cotton, bean. The transfer of knowledge had the mining i) to study the evolutionary molecular and genetic network conservation among species ii) to gain knowledge on interesting crop useful for future breeding program.
In particular we have made a selection of key regulators of ovule, seed and fruit development such as SEEDSTICK (STK), SHATTERPROOF1 (SHP1), SHATTERPROOF 2 (SHP2), FRUITFULL (FUL), NAGATHA (NGA), SVP (SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE), NTT (NO TRANSMITTING TRACT), SPT (SPATULA) and we have studied the network controlled by these transcription factors to elucidate the molecular and genetic regulation of ovule, seed and fruit development as central aspect of plant reproduction. Furthermore we have identified regulators of these key transcription factors elucidating in details the networks controlling these developmental processes
To reach the results (main of them have been published –see list of publications) we have used integrated approached available or developed in the partner laboratories.
Publications
• Marsch-Martinez et al., (2014) Plant Journal 80:69-81.
• Irene Martínez-Fernández, et al., (2014). Frontiers in Plant Science 5:210. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00210.
• Cristina Ferrándiz, Chloe Fourquin (2014) Journal of Experimental Botany doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert479
• Chloé Fourquin, et al., . (2013). Plant Physiology 192:907-917.
• Sotelo-Silveira, et al.,. (2013). Plant Physiology, 162:779-799.
• Herrera-Ubaldo, et al., (2014). Plant Biosystems, 148:169-175.
• Sotelo-Silveira, et al., (2013) Plant Signaling & Behaviour, 8 (8): e25160.
• Mantegazza, et al., (2014). Annals of Botany, v.114 p.doi: 10.1093/ao.
• Patricia Ballester, et al., (2015). Physiologia Plantarum doi:10.1111/ppl.12329
• Railson Schreinert dos Santos (2015) Plant Omics (accepted).
see also web page: cgfufpel.org
The great scientific success of the EVO code project is given by a) several high impact publications based on the results achieved (list of publications is provided), b) several bilateral and multi- partner projects submitted, some of which were granted c) the training of young scientists that had improved their skills and their CVs thank to the frame-work and the possibilities to spend short/long period in the partner laboratories (short-long term secondments).
iii) The program had provided optimal training opportunities for starting (ERS) and more experienced scientists (ER). The ER and ERS fellows involved had great benefit to be involved in the EVO-CODE project. All of them improved their CV for technical and non-technical skills and they build or improved their international connections.
In conclusion, the EVO-CODE project has important and significant short, medium and long-term advantages for the participating institutes, as well as the obvious benefits to the individual staff members. In the short-term it has ensured a productive collaboration between the groups (see publications records).. In the medium to long-term this project will lay the foundations for translating discoveries made in this consortium to economically important crops.
Outreach Activities
In the Botanical garden “Città Studi” Milan (Italy) we have in May 2013 and 2014 organised in the frame of the ‘Fascination of Plants Day’ (an worldwide initiative promoted by the European Plant Science Organisation). During these events we communicate the importance of plants and plant research to the general public (school classes, families etc.) (Figure a). The exchange of scientists in the EVOCODE project was presented as an example how the EU stimulates worldwide collaborations to find solution for a more sustainable agriculture that meets the challenges that the world population in facing.
i) EVO-CODE has contributed to build a intercontinental exchange platform from which many staff members from European and Centre-South America institutes have benefited. This consortium had allowed boosting technology and know-how exchange in the field of plant reproduction research. In particular the focus of the project was the improvement of the knowledge about flower, seed and fruit development, taking advantage of genomics and post-genomics tools.
ii) The scientific results achieved in the frame of the EVOCODE program can be summarized in four main points: a) we have identified new key components in reproductive regulatory networks through a functional genomics approach; b) By genome wide transcriptome approaches (RNA seq) we have identified target genes regulated by master key transcription factors controlling flower, fruit and seed development; c) we have identified cis-elements that might be useful to study regulatory pathways controlled by selected key regulators and finally d) the scientific achievement were used to study these important developmental processes in crops, such as rice, cotton, bean. The transfer of knowledge had the mining i) to study the evolutionary molecular and genetic network conservation among species ii) to gain knowledge on interesting crop useful for future breeding program.
In particular we have made a selection of key regulators of ovule, seed and fruit development such as SEEDSTICK (STK), SHATTERPROOF1 (SHP1), SHATTERPROOF 2 (SHP2), FRUITFULL (FUL), NAGATHA (NGA), SVP (SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE), NTT (NO TRANSMITTING TRACT), SPT (SPATULA) and we have studied the network controlled by these transcription factors to elucidate the molecular and genetic regulation of ovule, seed and fruit development as central aspect of plant reproduction. Furthermore we have identified regulators of these key transcription factors elucidating in details the networks controlling these developmental processes
To reach the results (main of them have been published –see list of publications) we have used integrated approached available or developed in the partner laboratories.
Publications
• Marsch-Martinez et al., (2014) Plant Journal 80:69-81.
• Irene Martínez-Fernández, et al., (2014). Frontiers in Plant Science 5:210. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00210.
• Cristina Ferrándiz, Chloe Fourquin (2014) Journal of Experimental Botany doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert479
• Chloé Fourquin, et al., . (2013). Plant Physiology 192:907-917.
• Sotelo-Silveira, et al.,. (2013). Plant Physiology, 162:779-799.
• Herrera-Ubaldo, et al., (2014). Plant Biosystems, 148:169-175.
• Sotelo-Silveira, et al., (2013) Plant Signaling & Behaviour, 8 (8): e25160.
• Mantegazza, et al., (2014). Annals of Botany, v.114 p.doi: 10.1093/ao.
• Patricia Ballester, et al., (2015). Physiologia Plantarum doi:10.1111/ppl.12329
• Railson Schreinert dos Santos (2015) Plant Omics (accepted).
see also web page: cgfufpel.org
The great scientific success of the EVO code project is given by a) several high impact publications based on the results achieved (list of publications is provided), b) several bilateral and multi- partner projects submitted, some of which were granted c) the training of young scientists that had improved their skills and their CVs thank to the frame-work and the possibilities to spend short/long period in the partner laboratories (short-long term secondments).
iii) The program had provided optimal training opportunities for starting (ERS) and more experienced scientists (ER). The ER and ERS fellows involved had great benefit to be involved in the EVO-CODE project. All of them improved their CV for technical and non-technical skills and they build or improved their international connections.
In conclusion, the EVO-CODE project has important and significant short, medium and long-term advantages for the participating institutes, as well as the obvious benefits to the individual staff members. In the short-term it has ensured a productive collaboration between the groups (see publications records).. In the medium to long-term this project will lay the foundations for translating discoveries made in this consortium to economically important crops.
Outreach Activities
In the Botanical garden “Città Studi” Milan (Italy) we have in May 2013 and 2014 organised in the frame of the ‘Fascination of Plants Day’ (an worldwide initiative promoted by the European Plant Science Organisation). During these events we communicate the importance of plants and plant research to the general public (school classes, families etc.) (Figure a). The exchange of scientists in the EVOCODE project was presented as an example how the EU stimulates worldwide collaborations to find solution for a more sustainable agriculture that meets the challenges that the world population in facing.