Record #343491 - GSI Repository

HybridSeed

Sex determination genes as a toolbox for F1 hybrid seed production and yield increase

Grant period	2024-01-01 - 2025-06-30
Funding body	European Union
Call number	ERC-2022-POC1
Grant number	101062521
Identifier	G:(EU-Grant)101062521

Note: The food security on the planet is still a challenge. Experts predict that we will need to double food production in order to feed a population projected to reach 9,2 billion by 2050. Crop improvement should not only focus on species such as maize, wheat and soybean. Many other crops contribute to food security. The Cucurbitaceae family is positioned in front list of plant families for the number of species used as human food and for cultural, medicinal, and botanical significance. According to FAO estimate, despite a large growing area improving yield of many Cucurbitaceae crops could significantly add to food security. F1 hybrid cultivars have made a significant contribution to the world's food supply. Yet, one of the continuing challenges of plant breeding is still to master production of F1 hybrid seeds in many crops. The production of F1 hybrid seeds requires controlled pollination to ensure that the seed descent is indeed resulting from a crossing and not from a self-fertilization. Most of cultivated Cucurbitaceae species are monoecious or andromonoecious. The use of these two sexual morphs for F1 hybrid production requires hand emasculation and hand pollination of the female parental line. Furthermore, monoecious and andromonoecious sexual morphs are usually hurdles for yield improvement and yield stability. HybridSeed project aims to engineer plant prototypes with the goal to (i) reduce the cost of F1 hybrid seed production, (ii) improve yields of F1 hybrid plants, and (iii) simplify the itinerary of the crops, from the seed companies to the producers. HybridSeed technology is built on the knowledge of the genes controlling the development of unisexual and hermaphrodite flowers and their use to engineer sexual types that do not exist in nature, or more stable than those currently existing. The produced plant prototypes will be grown in conditions approaching seed companies and producer conditions and evaluated for yield and yield stability.

Recent Publications

There are no publications

Record created 2023-08-27, last modified 2023-08-27

Similar records

Add to personal basket
Export as Author List with IDs BibTeX (UTF-8), EndNote XML, EndNote Text, RIS, MARC, Print MARC, MARCXML, DC,
Request correction
Submit fulltext

GSI Homepage \| GSI Library \| English Deutsch \| guest :: login GSI Repository
Search	Submit	Personalize Your alerts Your baskets Your searches	Help