Project: Crop protection against bacterial pathogens in tomato
Bacterial pathogens are one of the most serious problems in tomato production all around the world, COly because of 2 major diseases: the bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, X. perforans, and X. gardnerii, and (2) the bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum._x000D_
For Crop Protection, recent experiments have rendered interesting results with potential applications in the agricultural field, which could be applied to avoid bacterial infections in the tomato production. These results are under the patents for which the participating companies have the exclusive License rights. A part of their efficiency, these natural compounds offer the additional interest of acting as Biocontrol agents: OMDFs (Other Means Of Defense in Germany, Spain) or SDNs (Stimulateur des Défenses Naturelles in France) for organic agriculture._x000D_
For the Genetic & Breeding approach, the impact of the selected candidate genes will be checked by suppression/silencing and over-expression in transgenic tomato (proof of concept) infected with bacteria. These results will allow us to look for SNP mutations altering the expression of the previously tested genes in different EMS tomato mutant and wild collections (FITO). The resistant phenotypes of interest will be detected and selected by TILLING and ECOTILLING (FITO) for a non-GMO approach. The resistant lines will be crossed with suceptible breeding lines of interest provided by the Semillas Fitó. A classical SNP-assisted gene introgression program will be tackled to transfer the bacterial resistances into the private breeding germplasm with the aim of obtaining new resistant tomato varieties (FITO)._x000D_
The participating companies (PRB, FITO, AGX ) are interested in commercializing such results, patents and licenses, however further implementation and applied research are necessary in order to bring the products to the market. Consequently, at the end of NOBACTOM, two kind of pre-commercial products will be available: on the one hand biocontrol agents, to be used for treating tomato plants in order to prevent and/or control bacterial infections; and on the other hand, new tomato resistant lines identified to be used as parental lines for plant breeding and new resistant tomato varieties commercialization for the additional indirect benefit of 2 EU Seed companies: Gautier semences (French SME) and Semillas Fitó (Spanish Large Company)._x000D_
Furthermore this applied research project has an impact in agriculture’s sustainability since a novel combined strategy will be developed at the end with the aim to control bacterial infections with a unique synergistic approach combining breeding for biological control and natural biocontrol products. Additionally it gives an opportunity to valorize tomato production sub-products by using plant extracts as natural Plant Innate Immunity inductors. _x000D_
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The project has the specific Objectives_x000D_
Objectives_x000D_
1. To identify the CO genes involved in the tomato’s defense in response to bacteria (Ralstonia spp., Xanthomonas spp., Pseudomonas spp.)_x000D_
2. To detect new alleles conferring the bacteria resistance in mutated and wild Solanum germplasm through TILLING and ECO-TILLING_x000D_
3. To introgress such genes/alleles of interest in susceptible tomato cultivars COtaining the level of resistance_x000D_
4. To identify new extracts (from tomato or microorganism), and micro-organisms as crop protectors and register them as Biological control products._x000D_
5. To extract, purify or produce the Biological control products_x000D_
6. To validate the germplasm and products in greenhouse conditions_x000D_
7. A high scale level and economically sustainable mode to combine the new germplasm, extracts, and micro-organisms to promote a synergic resistant activity_x000D_
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Acronym
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NoBacTom
(Reference Number: 7888)
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Duration
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01/07/2013 - 31/12/2016
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Project Topic
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Bacterial pathogens are one of the most serious problems in tomato production. Recent patented results have rendered interesting results with potential applications in the agricultural field, this applied research project aims to avoid bacterial infections in the tomato production.
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Network
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Eurostars
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Call
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Eurostars Cut-Off 9
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Project partner
