Presentation (in English)

Project Title:

THE COUNTERPOISE OF GENETIC EROSION RISK DUE TO THE NARROW HEREDITARY STOCK IN APPLE AND PEAR CULTIVARS AND THE AVOIDANCE OF THEIR VULNERABILITY TO STRESS AGENTS BY THE INCREASE OF GENETIC DIVERSITY

Project Acronym:

CORISCGEN

Thematic Area:

V - Agriculture, safety and alimentary securities

Project Resume:

Malus and Pyrus genera are highly diverse genetically, though the varieties of cultivated species show a rather limited genetic base, a narrowing genetic found, due to the selection conducted in time. As a consequence, the apple and pear trees may anytime be vulnerable to catastrophe (the occurrence of new pathogenic agents and pests, the increase in attack virulence of the existing agents, due to intensified cultivation system, climatic changes, selection pressure etc.), as the risk is heightened by the limitation of genetic resources employed for breeding. The hereby project envisions the enrichment of the germplasm fund in apple and pear and the preservation methods, as well as the elaboration of a methodology for phenotypic, genotypic and molecular evaluation of the genetic resources towards their efficient future employment by and for man. Furthermore, it envisions the creation and promotion of a biologic material bearing a heterozygous genetic structure, which could represent our country’s contribution to world efforts towards the diversification of the assortment and the avoidance of crises in the cultivation of the two fruit tree species. The artificial variability will be induced through cross breeding and genetic recombinations, while its exploitation will be achieved through selection. Additionally, the project will attain the capitalization of the invaluable biologic material within partner units, consisting in complex-genealogy hybrids, holding a unique hereditary stock, within advanced hybridization, retro crossing and selection generations. Therefore, it can draw the premises for the creation of sustainable varieties, according to the sustainable agriculture concept, varieties that react adequately to disease and pest attack, that show biologic potential and great fruit quality. It will also ensure the promotion and development of implementing mechanisms for the new accomplishments, namely creations in production and technological process.

Project Period (months):

36

Beginning data:

18/09/2007

Termination data:

18/09/2010

Total amount of the project (lei):

2000000

Total amount from the state budget (lei):

2000000

Project Director:

Prof. dr. Sestras Radu Emil

E-mail address of project director:

rsestras@usamvcluj.ro

Coordinating Institution:

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca

Parteneri (denumire institutie) :

1. Partner 1 – Fruit Research Station, Cluj-Napoca; Responsable P1: Drd. Ing. Adriana SESTRAS
2. Partner 2 - Fruit Research Institute, Pitesti; Responsable P2: Dr. Biolog Madalina MILITARU

Pagina web a proiectului :