The SMART Plant Biotechnology Project for Sustainable Agriculture
The SMART Plant Biotechnology Project for Sustainable Agriculture
Number
CZ.02.01.01/00/23_020/0008497
Project team
Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences – coordinator
Agritec Plant Research, Ltd.
Agrotest fyto, Ltd.
CHEMAP AGRO, Ltd.
Symbiom, Ltd.
Agricultural Research, Ltd.
Local project team
RNDr. Jan Nedělník, Ph. D.
Ing. Oldřich Trněný, Ph. D.
Mgr. Jana Staveníková
Supported by:
Ministry of Education Youth and Sports
Co-financed by the European Union
Project duration:
09/2024 – 12/2028 (Agricultural Research will join the project starting 01/ 2025)
Summary
The project focuses on research in the field of plant biotechnology applicable to sustainable agriculture. The project emphasizes linking current knowledge in the field of plant biotechnology for sustainable agriculture with industry partners.
The aim of the project is to connect leading research teams that utilize unique biotechnological approaches meeting demanding criteria within targeted research and have great potential for application in agricultural practice.
These innovative approaches, particularly their integration and the ability to evaluate the obtained data through high-throughput data analysis, hold great potential for practical application. In agricultural practice, they can significantly contribute to the development of new biostimulants and breeding methods, as well as to the targeted improvement and increase of crop production.
Planned results of the project
Research Project 1: SMART biostimulants that improve the agronomic and physiological characteristics of crops
Aims to:
1) the development of new plant growth inhibitors based on gibberellic acid (GA) substrates for 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases involved in GA biosynthesis,
2) anti-stress and anti-senescence cytokinins for sustainable agriculture,
3) phytohormones for plant biotechnology applications,
4) natural substances and their derivatives that enhance the efficiency of mycorrhizal inoculum production or positively influence the natural development and functions of mycorrhizal symbiosis through the plant,
5) auxin and cytokinin biostimulants for atmospheric nitrogen fixation in legumes,
6) plant resistance inducers against diseases and pests as an alternative to pesticides.
Research Project 2: New breeding biotechnologies for sustainable agriculture
Aimed at:
1) Application of whole-genome genotyping knowledge in the alfalfa breeding program,
2) Use of association mapping for breeding spring barley with improved agronomic traits,
3) Decoding the apple pan-genome: integration of genomic insights to improve apple breeding.
The implementation of the proposed research will significantly strengthen cooperation between project partners and the optimization of new unique methodological procedures for biotechnological applications. It has the potential to transfer R&D results into practice and establish cooperation with the application sphere.
