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Modulation of trehalose biosynthetic gene expression to improve stress tolerance of tomato (opTOMize)
Project
Project code: 2816DOKI08
Contract period: 01.10.2017
- 30.06.2021
Budget: 118,563 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: plant genetic resources, crop protection, plant health, other industrial plants, abiotic stress, genetic resources, product quality, horticulture, plant breeding, secondary crop ingredients, resistance
In cooperation between the Leibniz Institute for Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Production (IGZ), Germany and the University of Tabriz, Iran, the research project aims to develop an extended understanding of the molecular basis of plant stress response and new approaches for improving the resistance of tomato plants to heat, dryness and salt related stress. Conventional methods of breeding stress-resistant varieties are currently limited by a poor understanding of plant stress physiology. The identification of the underlying mechanisms using modern molecular biological methods can help to provide targeted strategies for the optimisation of crops. A number of different signal and metabolic pathways are involved in the cellular stress response, some of which are intertwined by cross regulation. In recent years it has been shown that trehalose metabolism plays an important role in plant stress response. Trehalose is a disaccharide of glucose whose biosynthetic pathway is essential for plant growth and development. The proteins and genes involved in the biosynthesis of trehalose have hardly been characterized to date. However, it has been observed that their activity is strongly influenced by abiotic stress. Therefore, the project aims to identify and isolate the genes of the tomato involved in trehalose metabolism. Subsequently, the role of the individual gene products in the plant stress response are to be characterised using molecular biological methods. This approach should lead to the identification of new central components of stress adaptation of tomato plants and help to improve growth and yield under stress conditions in the long term. Deliverables of the project will be novel genes and strategies for the improvement of tomato stress tolerance and scientific publications in renowned international journals of plant molecular biology.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Nutrition
- Vegetable Gardening
- Genetic Resources
