Objective
Our primary objective is to prepare transgenic plants, using potato as a model crop, with modified composition or structure of pectic polysaccharides of the cell wall. These transgenic plants will allow us to investigate the relationship between synthesis and turn-over of pectins, and cell growth and development. Also, the project aims to control functional properties (gelling ability and water binding capacity) of cell wall derived material, e.g. pectin obtained from pulp, and to control functional properties of the intact plant product such as shelf life or processing characteristics.
Focussing on the model plant, potato, genes encoding enzymes involved in turn-over of galactans, arabinans and rhamnogalacturonans will be utilized for preparing the transgenic plants. Genes from potato will be used in an antisense approach for suppressing activities in potato tubers as they grow and mature. Fungal genes (from Aspergillus), already cloned by one of the partners, will be expressed in potato to modify wall structure at specific stages of tuber development. Attempts will be made to identify genes involved in rhamnogalacturonan side chain biosynthesis. Success in this area will bring full control of pectin structure within reach and will mark a major breakthrough in plant biology and biotechnology as no such genes have been cloned from plants so far.
The technologies to be developed in the project will bring the following technical benefits within reach: To be able to tailor pectic polymers to meet specific quality characteristics defined by the food industry, and to valorize low-value by-products such as pulp from starch processing.
Whilst potato serves as a model to obtain new insight in the effect of imposed changes in pectin metabolism and the role of endogenous pectin-related enzymes in plant development, other pectin dependent properties such as texture, shelf life and processing characteristics are all of interest to a broad selection of fruits, vegetables and other plant products.
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.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture fruit growing
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture vegetable growing root crops
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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.
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.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
2800 Lyngby
Denmark
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.