Genomics

The aim of applied plant genomics is to identify and characterise genes that contribute significantly to important traits of crops. The challenge is to find relevant candidate genes among the entire set of approximately 25000 genes present in the plant genome. Gene expression is regulated in time and space, e.g. sets of genes are only active at particular developmental stages in specific cells, tissues or organs. In many cases, the environment (light, temperature, water supply, nutrients) affects gene expression. It is well known that unfavourable “abiotic” environmental conditions like low temperature, heat, drought and high salt stress have a negative effect on plant development. Plants react to external pressure by altered gene expression in order to protect themselves from severe damage. However, different plant species exhibit varying degrees of tolerance. Even within plant species, phenotypic variations can be found reflecting variety-dependent genetic differences of stress-associated genes. The allelic variation of one or more stress-associated genes is believed to be the reason for variations in tolerance phenotypes even between closely related plant varieties. The goal is firstly to isolate those genes from tolerant varieties and secondly to investigate the tolerance-conferring properties. Tolerance against different stresses can frequently be found in primordial plant species of low agronomical interest while élite varieties have lost their tolerance-conferring genes during the process of breeding and selection.

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Osmotic stress in grapevine



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