Identification of genes linked to gum quality in the gum producing gum arabic tree - Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. using the association genetics approach

Project Information

ASGEN

Grant agreement ID: 39216

Project closed

Start date 27 August 2007

End date 26 August 2009

Funded under

• Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006

Total cost € 0,00

EU contribution € 229 327,00

Coordinated by

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
United Kingdom

Objective

There is currently a growing demand for reliable high quality gum producing Acacia senegal. This is because the existing natural woodland based systems show considerable variability in gum quality. As well as the established molecular markers (AFLPs and SS Rs), the "ASGEN" study will employ the novel and innovative approach of association genetics in order to identify markers that are linked to gum quality or genes responsible for gum quality. Gum quality is a good example of a complex trait where the genetics of the trait is poorly understood. Sequence based assays will be developed following the creation of cDNA libraries from selected tissues of A. senegal. Single pass sequencing of such libraries will be used to create a catalogue of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) that will be used to develop single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers. In addition candidate genes for gum production will be isolated and haplotype based association genetic tests will be used to identify and validate the association of candidate genes with gum quality.

The availability of SSR, AFLP and SNP markers will be used to understand population structures in the sample population. New tools for the management of genetic resources and new approaches to examining biodiversity in a tropic al tree species will be derived from the study. The researcher will improve and diversify his expertise in plant molecular technologies, as well as a variety of complementary skills. Technology interaction will give new opportunities for European researchers but will also benefit specific problems in Kenya (DC country). The partnership will also enhance visibility to European research and provide tangible opportunities for sustainable deployment of genomics technology. A re-integration phase is also proposed.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › DNA
• social sciences › economics and business › economics › production economics › productivity
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › spectroscopy › absorption spectroscopy
• natural sciences › biological sciences › ecology › ecosystems
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › nucleotides

Keywords

• Association genetics
• Bioinformatics
• Forest biodiversity
• Genomics
• Molecular biology
• Non wood forest products
• Statistics
• Sustainable exploitation

Programme(s)

• FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006

Topic(s)

• MOBILITY-2.3 - Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowships (IIF)

Call for proposal

FP6-2005-MOBILITY-7
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships

Coordinator

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

• EU contribution: No data
• Address: POLARIS HOUSE, NORTH STAR AVENUE ; SWINDON, WILTS ; United Kingdom
• Total cost: No data