Studio comparativo dei caratteri fisiologici e biochimici nell'adattamento e produttività di Camelina sativa in differenti regioni biogeografiche.

Responsabili di progetto

Incoronata Galasso, Siddhartha Proteem Saikia

Accordo

INDIA - CSIR-expired - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

Bando

CNR/CSIR 2012-2014

Dipartimento

Agroalimentare

Area tematica

Scienze bio-agroalimentari

Stato del progetto

Nuovo

Proposta di ricerca

The present study primarily aims to understand the physiological processes involved on the ecological adaptation of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz (family Brassicaceae) in two different biogeographic regions, Assam, India and Lombardia, Italy, and consequently on seed quality traits. C. sativa is a non-food emerging plant species for biofuel or other industrial application that is typically grown in temperate climate. In this project, two camelina genotypes will be selected on the basis of reported literatures and on the CNR-IBBA previous research experience. At the CNR-IBBA a camelina seed bank of about 50 different genotypes (accessions of different biogeographic origin, or varieties) is available and maintained. The two camelina genotypes will be grown in each regions viz. Jorhat, Assam, India and Lombardia, Italy. Various physiological parameters will be estimated from the samples grown in each region. To examine the possible differences in adaptation capacity stomatal density, transpiration rate, osmotic potential of leaf, phloem sap analysis, carboxylation efficiency, biomass allocation, etc. in each ecosystem will be measured. Mature seeds will give indication of yield capacity of each genotype in the different ecosystem. In addition several biochemical analyses will be carried out on seeds in order to evaluate the quantity/quality of oil and protein present in camelina seeds.
Identifying different expressed traits of genotypes at different ecological niche will help to understand the underlying mechanism of adaptation in this under-exploited oil seed crop C sativa. in a wider range of biogeographic regions.
The Indian team is ongoing in "New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative" (NMITLI) project of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) entitled "Genetic improvement of Jatropha curcas for adaptability and oil yield". The team is collaborating with half a dozen of Indian Laboratories and with foreigner institutions including the Bilateral S&T Project under the CSIR, India/CNR, Italy.
Camelina sativa is a new crop with worldwide interest for biofuel production and the potential to be introduced in India must be evaluated. The North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR-NEIST) team wants to go for further studies for utilization of C. sativa as biofuel crop in Assam and North East Indian countries. The Italian team, currently collaborating on J. curcas with CSIR-NEIST, have experience on camelina plant with a multi annual project "Non-food plants for biofuel production" under the frame of "Biological resources and innovative technology for sustainable development of agro-food system" program supported by CNR and Lombardia Region. The CNR-IBBA team has coauthored published papers, besides making contribution to books, seminars and conferences.
In the present world scenario bio-diesel has been accepted as a clean alternative fuel. India with its robust economic growth is likely to account for 15% of world's oil demand by 2040. To meet such a huge demand for fuel and to realize self-reliance in energy, India is keen on a National Bio-fuel Policy, which aims to set a target of meeting 20% blending of bio-fuels with petrol and diesel by the year 2017. Thus in India, research on crops with bio-fuel potential other then jatropha is required to be taken up in order to have year-round supply of raw materials for commercial oil extraction from plants as well to achieve the target on time which will be environmentally compatible.
European Union, and Italy, also have ambitious program for renewable energy. The EU program indicated as 20-20-20 to obtain 20% reduction of carbon dioxide emission, rise up to 20% of renewable energy all before the year 2020. In this frame the studies for alternative and renewable biofuel is a focus point for research institutes.
Both partners from several years are engaged in the research for new bio-energy sources and have experience in agronomy plant physiology and biochemistry. In addition, the Italian party has a well established tradition on the manipulation of genomic DNA and molecular markers.
Having a bilateral research program will help determine a realistic relation between inputs and yields in different climatic, environmental and social settings through multifactor trails. It will also help in improving productivity through selection and breeding of plant materials, improvement of cultivation techniques, processing and market knowledge.
Publications
Mapelli S., Pecchia P. (2011) Oli vegetali e biocarburanti. In: Gestione delle Biomasse e dei Processi per la Produzione di Energia. Ed. Maggioli, Milano, in press.
Pecchia, P., Galasso I. (2011) Piante alternative per la produzione di olio. In: Gestione delle Biomasse e dei Processi per la Produzione di Energia. Ed. Maggioli, Milano, in press.
Martinelli T., Galasso I. (2011) Phenological growth stages of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz according to the extended BBCH scale. Ann Appl Biol 158: 87-94.
Galasso I., Manca A., Braglia L., Martinelli T., Morello L., Breviario D. (2010) h-TBP: an ILP-based approach for the rapid isolation and characterization of the multiple members of the b-tubulin gene family in Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz. Mol Breed (doi:10.1007/s11032-010-9515-0).
Manca A., Galasso I. (2010) Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz. Minerva Biotec 22 Suppl. 1, 43-55.
Mapelli S., Martinelli T., Pecchia P., Galasso I. (2010) Agronomic and biochemical evaluation of Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz as an alternative oilseed plant for biofuel production in North Italy, XIth European Society Agronomy Congress, Montpellier (Francia).
Pecchia, P, Brambilla I, Galasso I, Mapelli, S. (2010) Genetic and Environment Interaction on Oil Yield and Quality in Camellina sativa (L.) Crantz in North Italy Euro Fed Lipid Congress Monaco (Germania) (https://va.gdch.de/wwwdata/abstracts/5873/5873_0098.pdf).

Obiettivi della ricerca

The present study will explore the basis of physiological adaptive mechanism in the under-exploited oil seed crop C. sativa (family Brassicaceae) in different ecosystems. Understanding the process of physiological adaptation represents a central challenge in biology, and it has immediate and direct implications to broader societal interests concerning productivity. Study of plant response to change in biogeography and climate will give basic understanding for identifying the expressed phenotypes and the expressed genes. Plant physiology techniques will be applied to validate early parameters for predicting and evaluating the germplasm for its adaptation to extreme environments. The species is under-exploited one either for potential ecological area of cultivation as well as its genotype/phenotype relationship. Identifying physiological and biochemical traits in relation with environment and potentially involved genes from across the genome will play important role and the genetic basis for future breeding program.
The expected outcomes are:
Plant performance analysis of genotypes across different biogeography/ecosystems.
Validation of difference in physiological and biochemical performance in relation to ecological adaptation and breeding.
Research publications and patents of the obtained results will be mutually exploited in reciprocal development of C. sativa research with full exchange and recognition.

Ultimo aggiornamento: 21/05/2024