News/Events

Predicting plant robustness from respiration traits – novel concepts and tools

Abstract

Respiration traits were identified as highly promising for predicting plant robustness. They are involved in ‘environmental plant plasticity’. In the presentation, the rational of proclaiming ‘plasticity’ per se  as selective criterion will be explained. New concepts and tools, such as calorespirometry, will be presented. Recent results obtained through applying this approach will be shown from diverse species.

Predicting temperature-dependent multi-stress tolerance and robustness in non-explored Triticeae by calorespirometry – a proposal

Abstract

Respiration traits allow calculating temperature-dependent carbon use efficiency and prediction of growth rates and biomass formation. While photosynthesis is responsible for capturing CO₂ , respiration critically manages the destiny of structurally integrated CO₂  by regulating use of energy and substances. The efficient interplay of normal and alternative respiration pathways determines plant performance upon permanently changing and interacting abiotic and biotic environment. Thus, respiration traits are central for yield stability based on multi-stress tolerance. While eudicots present two alternative oxidase gene – subfamilies, AOX1  and AOX2 , that interact efficiently together for growth regulation, monocots were reported to miss the AOX2 gene subfamily. However, we identified now that AOX2  had been present in ancient monocots and got obviously lost during evolution. This opens additional new perspectives for future breeding efforts on increased respiration efficiency in terms of adaptive growth regulation by gene editing in Triticeae.  Calorespirometry is useful as a functional mean for pre-breeding that can discriminate genetic differences in respiration traits. Although it was early suggested that the methodology could be helpful in breeding programs to improve temperature-dependent growth performance the concept had never been applied in global breeding or screening for robustness traits in wild material.

The methodology has been adjusted in our lab to a wide range of crops, among them important cereals and diverse vegetables. However, it is critical that the protocol for measuring respiration traits will be well-adjusted to the plant species by considering deep knowledge on the specific physiology and functional cell biology behind the final target trait for production. Basic concepts for application and modeling will be explained and first results on genotype-screening will be presented for wheat, barley, rye and carrot.

Genomics-based markers for temperature-dependent multi-stress tolerance and yield stability – early prediction by calorespirometry

'No próximo dia 19 de abril, pelas 14h, no anfiteatro 1.01, realiza-se um seminário sobre 'Biotechnology of Plants ' em que a Doutora Birgit Arnholdt-Schmitt, EU Marie Curie Chair, da Universidade de Évora, falará sobre o desenvolvimento de um marcador funcional inovador para a tolerância ao stress  das plantas.'

from the Chair group defended successfully her PhD thesis with the title:  TRANSCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE (AOX) AND PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE (PTOX) DURING STRESS-REGULATED ROOT TISSUE GROWTH IN Daucus carota L. - AN APPROACH TO IDENTIFY FUNCTIONAL MARKER CANDIDATES FOR BREEDING ON CARROT YIELD STABILITY

Our project ‘Predict4Growth’ – Predict the future to create it!

If you wish to attend COHiTEC’s Closing Session, please register at the website  

View the Session's Program

More information about COHiTEC's Closing Session

The correct design of the experiment, the selection of the appropriate statistical analysis of data and the efficient presentation of results are needed to obtain the right conclusions for any scientific study. The Training School is aimed to provide researchers with the basic skills to design, to statistically analyse their data and to interpret the results within the framework of the analysis of variance. Emphasis will be placed in the modelling aspects of the analysis and the concepts behind the formula more that in their mathematical derivations. The modelling approach gives the researcher the freedom and flexibility to allow easy generalisations so that almost any experiment can be analysed without the constraints of the "canned" classical designs.

The School will include four hours of theoretical aspects in the morning and two hours of hands-on practice in the afternoon. It is not intended to be a course on "how to use a computer package" while the focus will be placed on the methods rather than in the computing aspects. The topics that will be covered will range from the review of basic statistical principles like estimation, hypothesis testing and exploratory data analysis using graphs to more advanced areas like modelling, mixed linear models and mean comparison methods. Classical designs will be discussed on the light of the modelling approach.

More informations can be found

Elisete Santos Macedo, from the research group Plant Genetic Resources and Functional Markers, was awarded, with Cum Laude, a PhD in Agrarian Sciences with the thesis: "Studies on the potential of alternative oxidase (AOX) as a functional marker candidate for efficient adventitious rooting in olive (Olea europaea L.)". Congratulations Elisete!

On 14^th and 15^th April took place the first training in the newly acquired Laser Microdissection equipment LMD 6500 from Leica. The equipment allows isolating specific cells of interest from microscopic regions of tissue/cells/organisms. The training was highly participated and counted with the know-how of the Leica expert. A second training will follow in June.

Calorespirometry as an innovative tool to test arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal functionality under temperature stress.

PI Amaia Nogales

According to the evaluation panel, it is “an extremely strong proposal, a well-balanced small team, with advisors/consultants for support, also supported by the industry. Meets all criteria with no significant weaknesses.”