Objectif
The goal of WATBIO is to use the power of next generation sequencing to develop an accelerated route for producing new germplasm with enhanced drought tolerance whilst maintaining biomass productivity and quality in water scarce, marginal environments unsuitable for food crops.
This will be achieved for three non-food crops (Populus, Miscanthus and Arundo), suitable for growth on water scarce, marginal lands, through a 5-year translational research project. Populus and Miscanthus germplasm with increased drought tolerance will be produced within WATBIO whilst for Arundo its genetic diversity will be assessed and breeding tools developed.
Twenty-two multidisciplinary partners (14 academics, and 7 SMEs) spanning the whole value chain for crop production will collectively achieve this innovation by 1) identifying key molecular, cellular and physiological traits for the maintenance of biomass production, lignocellulosic quality and water use efficiency in water-scarce environments; 2) linking these traits through modelling to underlying key genes, proteins and metabolite networks; 3) utilising a wide range of germplasm for screening in phenotyping platforms and field measurements at multiple sites to test importance of genotype x environment interactions in determining traits; 4) using sequence based gene expression data, identify 40 genes related to drought tolerance for testing proof of concept using GM approach; and 5) using sequence-based data for genome wide association and genetical genomic approaches, link physiology to traits of high heritability and to underlying genes.
WATBIO will transfer knowledge of commercial significance using its industrial partners and stakeholders enabling the deployment of biotechnology to boost European competitiveness, without the necessity of GM. Through workshops, seminars and exchanges, WATBIO will train the next generation of multi-disciplinary professionals in the area of biomass crop production on marginal lands.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterials
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
Appel à propositions
FP7-KBBE-2012-6-singlestage
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Régime de financement
CP-TP - Collaborative Project targeted to a special group (such as SMEs)Coordinateur
SO17 1BJ Southampton
Royaume-Uni
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Participants (22)
750 07 Uppsala
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33100 Udine
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LA1 4YW Lancaster
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37073 Gottingen
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40126 Bologna
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12038 SAVIGLIANO
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75007 Paris
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01100 Viterbo
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00185 Roma
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80333 Muenchen
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07122 Palma De Mallorca
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75794 Paris
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75013 PARIS
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74100 Rethimno
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904 03 Umea
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SY23 3BF Aberystwyth
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33170 Pordenone
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48249 DULMEN
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6708 PB Wageningen
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24109 Kiel
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6708 PB Wageningen
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