This project has received funding from the European
Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under
grant agreement no [289365].
Societal Challenge 2 Dissemination event
Sustainable Food Security
Brussels, 27 June 2016
www.rootopower.eu
Empowering root-targeted strategies to minimize
abiotic stress impacts on horticultural crops
Francisco Pérez-Alfocea (CEBAS-CSIC)
Project Coordinator
Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura - Murcia
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Spain
Project outline
THEME [KBBE.2011.1.-05]
[Root signalling, growth and development under abiotic stress conditions]
The ROOTOPOWER project aims to develop new tools, targeted to the root system,
to enhance agronomical stability and sustainability of dicotyledonous crops under
multiple and combined stress conditions.
Challenge
• Crop yield stability vs abiotic stress
• Resource Use Efficiency
Objective
Understanding the power of root traits
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Approaches of ROOTOPOWER:
• A multidisciplinary approach that will analyse the relationships
between root genotype and shoot performance
• Analysis of multi-stress abiotic factors (salinity and water stress,
soil compaction and low fertilizer (N, P, K) input, and indirectly
extreme temperatures)
• Analysis of rhizosphere biotic interactions: AMF and PGPR.
• Understanding the genetic controls of root-to-shoot signalling
(hydraulic, ionomic and hormonal)
• Use of tomato as a model species (easily grafted) allowing precise
assessment of the effect of altering root traits on crop
performance independently of shoot traits
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Project outline
Solanum lycopersicum
S. pimpinellifolium
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Consortium overview
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Consortium overview
Management
Signalling -1,2,3,4,12
Physiology
1,2,4,6,7, 13
2,13
Genetics/Genomics
1,3,5,9,12, 13
Modelling
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, 13
Rhizosphere Biota-1,2,4,11
ROOTOPOWER: understanding the power of root traits
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Project results
What did your project deliver?
• New physiological and genetic data on rootstockmediated crop performance under abiotic stresses.
• Selected plant materials: lines used as rootstocks with
contrasting response.
• New plant materials: near isogenic lines for selected
QTLs.
• New biota-based formulations.
• New conceptual models on root-shoot signalling.
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Project results
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250.000 datapoints
187 QTLs detected
100 QTLs on scion biomass-related
20 QTLs on rootstock biomass-related
24 QTLs on xylem sap nutrient-related
22 QTLs on xylem sap hormone-related
3 QTLs on xylem sap volume-related
17 QTLs on root system architecture
1 QTL on AMF/PGPR colonisation capacity
Candidate genes for some selected QTLs
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Project results
How did you or do you plan to exploit? your results
internally (intellectual property rights policy, open
access issues, publications, project outputs, etc)
• IPR on foreground protected according to CA and
MTA rules.
• Publications priority on open access (Open Aire).
• Exploitation activities need IPR Committee
approval.
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Impact
What are the main impacts or potential benefits
achieved/foreseen by your project? (scientific, societal,
economic, etc)
• Scientific: understanding the phsyiological and genetic
determinants of rootstock-mediated crop improvement under
abtioc stresses.
• Socio-economic: contributing to development of new
especialised jobs (vegetable grafting and rootstock breeding).
Specially for women in rural areas (better skilled). Increased
incomes due to higher productivities. New products based on
AMF/PGPR formulations.
• Environmental: improved efficiency of natural resources
(water, soil) and fertilizers. Use of marginal resources and
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alleviation of contaminants.
Impact
How did/will you measure this impact?
• Number and impact of publications.
• Contacts and contracts with industry (nurseries, breeding
companies).
• Contacts by scientists from emerging countries.
• Interest in technical workshops by final users (farmers,
breeders).
• Invitations to workshops and conferences worlwide.
• Invitations to write review papers and special issues.
• Invitation to participate in new projects (specially in
underdeveloped countries).
• Development of professional groups (ISHS, Linkedin).
• Media/press releases and Interviews.
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Impact
How did you disseminate your results?
The target groups of the ROOTOPOWER communication and dissemination plan
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Measures used in ROOTOPOWER to reach each target group
GENERAL
PUBLIC
BROCHURES,
POSTERS
EVENT
SPECIFIC
MATERIAL
TEMPLATES
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EXTERNAL EVENT
PARTICIPATIONS
PROJECT
INTERNATIONAL
WORKSHOPS
ROOTOPOWER
TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFER EVENTS
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ROOTOPOWER
MAILING LIST
COMMUNICATIONS
NETWORK
NEWSLETTER
PRESS RELEASE
ROOTOPWER
WEBSITE
ROOTOPWER
SOCIAL
NETWORKS
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POTENTIAL
BENEFICIARIES
PROJECT
PARTNERS
MEDIA
OTHER
INTEREST
GROUPS
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● Group targeted directly with respective measure
○ Group targeted indirectly with respective measure
Beyond dissemination….: project website and COST FA1204 platforms; technical
workshops with nurseries, growers and breeders; bilateral dialogue.
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Lessons learnt
What are the main success factors that contributed to your project's
outcomes?
• Interest and communication between partners.
• Highly communicative and committed key partners and WP leaders.
• Special interest of SMEs in developing high quality tasks and in
obtaining positive results.
• Technical setup from the begining.
• Quick implementation of contingency plans.
• Quality of deliverables.
• Continuous project management and supervision of task
development and partners’s obligations.
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Lessons learnt
How did you benefit from the participation in a EU-funded project/
international consortium?
• International visibility and networking.
• Consolidated expertise and new skills.
What are the knoweldge gaps or further research needs you may
have identified in your area?
• Potential of vegetable grafting: just scratching the surface.
• Analysis of Rootstock x Scion x Enviroment : new phenotypes of
interest for productivity and quality.
• New germplam with interesting traits for biotic and abiotic
stresses: almost unexplored.
• Identification and analysis of physiological and genetic
determinants of vigour vs specific resistances for root breeding.
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THANKS!
KBBE.2011.1.2-05: Root signalling, growth and development
under abiotic stress conditions
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