Deliverable description
WP1 Objectives: To enhance varietal performance in terms of quality and quantity production, and extension of production period through breeding. This will be achieved by taking into account the available genetic resources, through specific links with 2 final stage EU DG AGRI GEN RES projects (GENEBERRY and RIBESCO), as well as the integration of traditional and molecular breeding techniques and functional studies. These activities in toto will focus in particular on the improvement of berry fruit taste, nutraceutical and nutritional quality, while addressing plant adaptation to different climatic conditions and cultivation systems. By incorporating information from the AGRI GENERES projects, specific research activities will be addressed to complete phenotyping of genotypes exhibiting higher fruit quality and plant adaptation to season extension and climate change. Existing national breeding programs and molecular studies will be utilised with the aim of integrating modern genomic tools for improved breeding efficiency, specifically for genes controlling plant adaptation and fresh fruit quality. Specific and well addressed functional studies will be also included to validate, at least in strawberry, the role of genes controlling plant adaptation and fresh fruit quality.
WP1: The work is based on the integration of phenotypic data either already existing or to be collected for the 4 crop genera (Fragaria, Ribes, Rubus, and Vaccinium), leading to the development of linkages between desirable phenotypes for fruit quality and developmental traits, and genotypes that can be selected by breeders at the earliest stages using appropriate genomics approaches. The genomics and molecular approaches are focused on existing and proven technologies that can bring clear and beneficial outcomes through their application by breeders.
Sub-Task 1.1.1 Data mining of existing characterisation data
EUBerry Genotype Characteristcs
This task will be enhanced by two EU-funded DG AGRI GEN RES projects ending in March 2011.
GENBERRY (European Small Berries Genetic Resources GEN RES project no. 036, www.bordeaux.inra.fr/genberry/) promotes the conservation and characterisation of genetic diversity of small berries, particularly strawberry and raspberry. Information on strawberry genotypes from European collections is collected, including structure within the collections resulting in three populations based on geographical and pedigree origins. Various fruit quality and agronomic traits have been examined, including total anthocyanins, disease resistances (Phythophthora cactorum and Verticillium dahliae) and habit of flowering.
GENBERRY DATABASE:
http://www.bordeaux.inra.fr/eustrawberrydb/
RIBESCO - Core collection of Northern European gene pool of Ribes, designed to improve the level of characterisation and conservation of the northern European pool of Ribes (currants and gooseberry) germplasm (GEN RES project 071, www.mtt.fi/ribesco). It brings together phenotypic information of Northern and Central European accessions of Ribes (currants and gooseberries), including fruit quality traits (soluble solids, vitamin content, phenolic content), and agronomic traits such as yield, pathogen resistance and climate adaptation.
RIBESCO DATABASE:
