Progetto ECOBREED

“Increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of organic crop breeding”

ABSTRACT
ECOBREED will improve the availability of seed and varieties suitable for organic and low- input production.
Activities will focus on four crop species, selected for their potential contribution to increase competitiveness of the organic sector, i.e. common wheat, potato, soybean and common buckwheat. The project will develop methods, strategies and infrastructures for organic breeding, (b) varieties with improved stress resistance, resource use efficiency and quality and (c) improved methods for the production of high quality organic seed. The ECOBREED research unit of the University of Tuscia, coordinated by Prof. Pagnotta, together with the laboratory of Prof. Ceoloni, deals with the evaluation and genetic improvement of durum wheat in order to obtain lines suitable for organic cultivation. The objectives are:

•  To increase the availability of seeds and varieties for the organic and low-input sector
• To identify traits and combinations of traits suited to organic and low-input production environment including high nutrient use efficiency and weed competitiveness/allelopathy
•  To increase breeding activities for organic and low-input crop production.

ECOBREED will increase the competitiveness of the organic and low-input breeding and farming sectors by:

• Identifying genetic and phenotypic variation in morphological, abiotic/biotic tolerance/resistance and nutritional
  quality traits that can be used in organic breeding
•  Evaluation of the potential of genetic variation for enhanced nutrient acquisition
• Evaluation of the potential for increased weed competitiveness and control
• Optimization of seed production/multiplication via improved agronomic and seed treatment protocols
• Developing efficient, ready-to-use farmer participatory breeding systems
• Pre-breeding of elite varieties for improved agronomic performance, biotic/abiotic stress resistance/tolerance and nutritional quality
• Development of training programs in (a) genomic tools/techniques, (b) PPB and (c) use and application of improved phenotyping capabilities.
• Ensuring optimum and rapid utilisation and exploitation of project deliverables and innovations by relevant industry and other user/stakeholder groups.

PROGRAM
H2020
CALL
H2020-SFS-2017-2
TYPE OF ACTION
RIA
FUNDING
5.815.708,4 euro
START DATE
01/05/2018
LENGTH
60 months

PARTNER
Università degli Studi della Tuscia
SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR
Mario. A. Pagnotta
DEPARTMENT OF UNIVERSITY
DAFNE-department of agricultural and forestry sciences