Project description
Investigating the role of Callose in tomato ripening
The tomato is considered one of the most important crops due to its nutrient properties. As a soft fruit, it is characterised by a rapid and high loss of firm texture. More resistant varieties could prove instrumental for optimising production, processes and transports. Research has implicated the beta 1.3 glucan component (callose) in the degradation of fruit texture. The EU-funded CallMechanics project intends to investigate the role callose plays in fruit softening to determine the impact changes in callose accumulation have on the latest stages of fruit production. The result will lead to new molecular instruments to apply in the selection and cultivation of more resistant varieties.
Objective
Tomato, SolanTomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. is one of the most important crops and an important source of nutrients in the world. However, around 25-42% of the yield are lost during postharvest. Rapid softening is one of the main causes reducing the shelf-life of the fruit. Therefore, delaying this process is one of the major targets in fruit breeding programmes.
Evidence show that stimulating callose in tomatoes via bruising or heating induce changes in fruit texture. In this project, the impact on fruit softening of cell wall modifications targeting the synthesis/degradation of the beta 1,3 glucan component (named callose) will be investigated. The aim is to determine how changes in callose accumulation at the latest stages of fruit development modify the texture, the structural and mechanical properties of tomato fruit. Introgression and transgenic lines with modified callose metabolism will be generated and cell wall biochemistry and mechanical properties will be characterized combining cross-disciplinary approaches such as immunolocalization, Fourier-transformed infrared, nano and macro indentation and Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the impact of callose modifications on plant/fruit development and on other processes related to softening (such as water content or pathogen susceptibility) will be determined.
The results of our project will provide novel molecular tools to use in the selection and breeding of fruit varieties. As a direct outcome, we expect to obtain plants producing fruits that maintain their firmness for a longer period of time, thus with reduce susceptibility to mechanical damage and pathogen attack during the postharvest period. This achievement will have a positive impact on the European Union economy by optimizing processes such as the frequency of harvesting, the handling and the transport procedures. It will also impact on human health and food security by reducing losses and the spreading of pathogens that thrive in mature soft fruits.
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 biological sciences biochemistry
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture fruit growing
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2018
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
LS2 9JT Leeds
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.