BIO-MEMORY

The project is organized in 3 main activities:

1) Implementation and updating of the BioGenRes network of biobanks, with a focus on nationally/internationally recognized collections of animal, plant or microorganism species samples (animal and plant germplasm banks, microbial strain libraries of pathogenic/toxigenic organisms, nematodes, soil and water microflora and microorganisms used in agro-industry and food (e.g. microbial starters for fermentations)).

2) Replication (rejuvenation) and expansion of material stored in collections. For plant and microbial collections: multiplication of accessions for which a small amount of material is available and rejuvenation of accessions whose seed viability data are below the expected standards (> 85%). For animal collections of zootechnical interest: collection and freezing of genetic material of local breeds to complete sampling carried out in previous projects or expansion of the number of species and breeds stored in cryobanks.

3) Biochemical, molecular, metabolic, functional and phenotypic characterization of the material conserved in the biobanks of the BioGenRes network, also in order to carry out association studies and to identify markers associated with traits linked to production and/or adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress factors.

SMART-BREED - Innovative molecular technologies for the adaptation of horticultural species to climate change through precision breeding

The project aims to develop innovative molecular technologies to study the effects of genetic variability and use this information to accelerate the breeding of new resilient varieties that maintain their productive and typical characteristics in variable and extreme environmental conditions. Since genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) are the main targets on which the processes of adaptation of the genotype to the environment naturally act, the project will focus, as a “proof of concept”, on transcription factors with a proven role in the response of shade avoidance and in the flowering induction response.

Aims. To innovate the traditional agricultural sector through the use of advanced technologies that allow the preservation and valorization of the agricultural biodiversity.

Results. Development of innovative molecular tools for the genetic improvement and adaptation of vegetable species belonging to the Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and Solanaceae families through precision breeding and biotechnology.

Partnership: CNR, Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari (CNR-IBPM);  CREA, Centro di Ricerca Genomica e Bioinformatica (CREA-GB), Unit of Rome.

SANINDOOR

The project is aimed at creating a demonstration prototype at the pre-industrialization level (TLR = 8) of an advanced system for the removal of contaminants present in indoor environments, such as VOC and particulates, and for the reduction of pathogens (such as bacteria, fungi and mold), in order to implement people’s well-being and reduce the possibility of contracting pathologies. The abatement will be carried out through the combination of a series of technologies that will be individually tested and optimized to make the environment healthy for man by reducing the VOC and particulate matter content, the bacterial load and the fungal proliferation. Since this effect is also extensible to the walls of the environment and to the surfaces of objects, the system can also contribute to limit the transmission of bacteria and fungi through food improving its conservation.