Description du projet
Des molécules spéciales pourraient aider à rendre les plantes plus résistantes au stress dû au froid
Le stress dû au froid peut sérieusement nuire au rendement des cultures. Les basses températures limitent la croissance et le développement des plantes, tandis que le gel endommage les tissus. Les pertes de rendement sont encore plus graves lorsque le stress dû au froid survient au stade de la reproduction. Le projet BoostCrop, financé par l’UE, vise à accroître la résilience des plantes au stress dû au froid et à stimuler leur croissance dans différentes conditions, grâce à un concept révolutionnaire appelé «réchauffeurs moléculaires». Il s’agit de molécules inspirées de la nature qui absorbent les parties du spectre électromagnétique qui sont soit nuisibles à la plante, soit non utilisées pendant la photosynthèse, puis convertissent ces longueurs d’onde en longueurs d’onde plus importantes (chaleur). La méthode proposée pourrait réduire considérablement les pertes de rendement et prolonger les saisons de croissance.
Objectif
Cold and freezing stress are important constraints for crops and for horticulture. BoostCrop seeks to reduce such stress by an invention called 'molecular heaters'. These are nature-inspired molecules that absorb solar radiation and convert it to heat energy. The invention would reduce yield losses due to cold stress, extend growth seasons and the geographical locations suitable for agriculture, increase crop yield at high crop density and, concomitantly, reduce greenhouse energy costs. BoostCrop strives to increase food production to feed a continuously growing population, thus tackling a major European and Global Challenge in Food Security. The multidisciplinary research programme outlined in BoostCrop will demonstrate how intrinsic molecular processes that underlie energy transfer, and which occur on timescales of tens of trillionths of a second, can be manipulated such that macroscopic properties are impacted. The targets of the research programme include: (1) applying state-of-the-art experiments and theory to track and understand, in unprecedented detail, energy flow in targeted, nature-inspired molecules; (2) manipulating this energy flow through chemical modification; and (3) developing a suite of molecules to suit the needs of crop growth in the field and under protected (greenhouse) conditions. These molecules will then be applied to crops through an aqueous foliar spray. The proposed research programme offers a transdisciplinary and synergistic approach to developing, and understanding the properties of novel photon-to-molecule heaters. The combined expertise of 6 universities (and staff spanning Chemistry, Physics and Biology), one government institute and an SME with an outstanding track record for developing sustainable agro-technologies will ensure that the longterm vision of BoostCrop, to develop molecular heaters for use in a foliar spray, are met, thereby contributing significantly to Europe’s future technological and Food Security.
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RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
B15 2TT Birmingham
Royaume-Uni