Objective
With osteoporosis becoming an increasing threat to human health, this project is directed towards finding an inexpensive solution to this problem using crop genetics. Biofortification of human diet with food that are naturally rich in Calcium (Ca) is proposed. Among all cultivated cereals, finger millet (Eleusine coracana), an annual small millet of Africa and Asia, has been found to have the highest concentration of Ca (350mg/100g) in its grains. This proposal aims to investigate the genetic variations of Ca accumulation in finger millet germplasm using chemical phenotyping and genomics, and to use this knowledge in further improving the concentration of this micronutrient in finger millet and other staple crops. Specific objectives of the study are: (1) to explore the extent of genetic diversity for Ca content present in world collection of finger millet germplasms; (2) to identify genomic regions associated with Ca accumulation in finger millet grains using next generation sequencing, chemical phenotyping and GWAS analysis; (3) to identify and validate candidate genes underlying genomic regions found to be associated with Ca accumulation in finger millet; and (4) use comparative genomics to identify similar genes and processes in staple cereals like wheat, rice, barley or oats grown in Europe. The project will identify genes involved in Ca accumulation in crops and the prospects of their breeding into new varieties through plant breeding. Such crop varieties will benefit the smallholder farmers who will grow them (by adding value to their food products) and also provide valuable, superior raw material to industries for developing functional food rich in Calcium. Availabilities of such food and food products will increase Ca consumption and reduce the health and economic impacts of osteoporosis.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- agricultural sciences agricultural biotechnology agricultural genetics
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture agronomy plant breeding
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture grains and oilseeds cereals
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014
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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.
SY23 3BF Aberystwyth
United Kingdom
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.