R&D Projects
Prospection, conservation and characterization of the genetic variability of autochthonous grapevine varieties in the regions of Alentejo and Algarve
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Antero Martins
Funded by: PRODER Nº 020000018999
Duration: 2011-2014
Prospection and conservation of
genetic variability between and within all authoctonous
Portuguese varieties in Alentejo e Algarve regions
will be carried out (collection of 6000 genotypes in Alentejo
and 4000 genotypes in Algarve) and a generalized prospection of wild vines (V. vinifera spp. sylvestris) in several
hydrographic basins of Portugal will be performed.
Prospection and conservation of the intravarietal genetic variability of autochthonous grapevine
varieties in the regions of Lisboa, Tejo and Península de Setúbal
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal
Investigator: Antero Martins
Funded
by: PRODER Nº 020000018572
Duration: 2011-2014
Prospection and conservation of
genetic variability between and within all authoctonous
Portuguese varieties in the regions of Lisboa, Tejo e Península de Setúbal will be carried out (collection of 5000 genotypes
in Tejo, 4500 genotypes in Lisbon region genotypes
and 2500 genotypes in Península de Setúbal) and all of that prospected variability will be
preserved in the new Experimental Pole for Grapevine Conservation in pots and
in the field according to adequate experimental designs.
Functional genomic analysis
of the Portuguese grapevine germplasm: Development of
molecular tools for agro-economical applications and conservation of genetic
variability
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Sofia Pereira
Funded by: PTDC/AGR-GPL/100552/2008
Duration: 2010-2013
Identification and characterization
of genomic sequences involved in the phenotypic differences between and within grapevine
varieties. These will be utilized for the development of practical applications
contributing for the maintenance of ever-eroding genetic variability in
grapevine.
SIAMVITI – Scenarios, impacts and adaptation measures in Viticulture
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Pedro Aguiar Pinto
Funded by:
PTDC/AAC-AMB/105024/2008
Duration: 2010-2013
The main goals of this
project are:
(1)
Calibrate
and validate a process based crop model for grapevine
(2)
Describe
and quantify the impacts of future climate (2070-2100) in Portuguese
viticulture;
(3)
Investigate
possible adaptation measures at the crop management level.
VITIMULTISTRESS - Gene expression in grapevine (Vitis
vinifera L) under multiple abiotic stresses
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Sara Amâncio
Funded by: PTDC/AGR-GPL
099624/2008
Duration: 2010-2012
(1) microarray expression of genes of leaf
grapevine plants under field multiple stresses (MSs) or in controlled
individual stresses (ISs): water,
temperature, light;
(2) validation by real-time (qrt) RT-PCR;
(3) prediction of promoter sequences of
responsive genes;
(4) design
of a highly specific (qrt) RT-PCR gene array to test
MSs response of ´castas`.
TOM.ESCA: Closing Down on ESCA
with Tomography
CBAA Responsible: Ricardo Boavida Ferreira
Funded by: QREN/ 5580 (I&DT Co-Promoção
with EXACTRONIC company)
Duration: 2009-2012
Section of a Vitis vinifera
plant infected with esca fungi
Esca is a disease caused by
various fungi that is affecting vines all over the world in an irreversible
way. Since the imperceptiveness of the
early stages of the disease, there is the need to develop a new non-destructive
method to evaluate the infection degree of a vine. Our team is testing
different non-destructive technologies to identify the presence of black goo in
the vine trunks, a substance secreted by the vine that indicates the presence
of esca fungi in the plant. At the same time the team is extracting black
goo from infected vines to study its composition and its action mechanism
with/against esca fungi.
AQUAVITIS - Understanding water transport in Vitis
vinifera: biochemical characterization of aquaporins
upon their heterologous expression in yeast
Proponent
Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal
Investigator: MC Loureiro Dias
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-AAM/099154/2008
Duration: 2010-2013
Our aim is to use yeast as a
simple and well-characterized heterologous expression
system to express aquaporin genes from a portuguese cultivar of Vitis vinifera (Touriga
Nacional). Yeasts cells are suitable to study
inhibitory or stimulatory effects of cations, pH and
stress agents as ROS, on volume changes induced by osmotic shocks. The role of
some key residues involved in aquaporin gating will
also be evaluated.
Improving Debaryomyces hansenii biotechnological potential by understanding the
impact of CUG mistranslation in stress tolerance
Proponent Institution: FC/UP
CBAA Responsible: Catarina Prista
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-AAM/099154/2008
Duration: 2010-13
Debaromyces hansenii
is an osmo-, halo-, and xerotolerant
yeast. We expect to confirm that, similarly to what happens in C. albicans,
CUG mistranslation plays a functional role in D. hansennii stress tolerance
capabilities, evolving as a modulator towards environmental adaptation or to
exploration of new ecological niches. Halo and osmo-tolerance
molecular mechanisms will be glimpsed under a novel perspective.
WINE YEAST GENES - In search of genes behind the
amazing performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the late stages of wine fermentation
Proponent
Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal
Investigator: Catarina Prista
Funded by: PTDC/AGR-ALI/112795/2009
Duration: 2011-2014
The aim of this work is to investigate how some regulatory pathways and
some physiological mechanisms intervene in yeast cell behavior conferring high
stress resistance and the ability to ferment hexoses
up to exhaustion during the late stages of wine fermentation. We expect this
approach will contribute for improved wine and for reduced sluggish and stuck
fermentation problems.
Improvement of fructose fermentation by industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains
Proponent Institution: FCT/UNL
CBAA Responsible: M José Leandro
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-ALI/112802/2009
Duration: 2011-2014
The best performing transporters to be isolated will be transferred to
industrial strains and their ability to improve fructose metabolism in grape
must and in carob pulp syrup will be tested. We expect the resulting strains to
be useful to diminish the glucose/fructose utilization discrepancy, to improve
ethanol yield and/or productivity, to help avoid the persistence of residual
fructose in alcoholic beverages.
BIOPEPTIDES- Biopreservation
of Ethanolic Fermentations: antimicrobial activity,
biochemical properties and molecular characterization of yeast peptides
Proponent
Institution: LNEG
CBAA
Responsible: M Malfeito Ferreira
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-ALI/113565/2009
Duration: 2011-2013
The main goal of the present project is to
identify, purify and characterise the bioactive
peptides produced by S. cerevisiae strains and to
evaluate their potential to be used as biopreservatives
in industrial alcoholic fermentations. During the course of the project the
bioactive peptides will be tested against the most dangerous contaminants of
wine and fuel-ethanol production processes. We expect this approach will
contribute for improved wine and for reduced sluggish and stuck fermentation
problems
Ligand-binding stereospecificity
of grapevine dirigent proteins: chiral
induction for a new generation of fungicides
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Sara Monteiro
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-PRO/112340/2009
Duration: 2011-2014
Main objectives:
- Selection of DIR assisted
related products as potential antifungal agents.
- Production of novel bioactive
compounds based on chiral synthesis.
- New methods for asymmetric
synthesis that would lead to the development of new and exciting chiral auxiliaries.
Genomic and epigenomic
variability mediated by polyploidization and high temperature stress:
biodiversity dynamics in an evolutionary perspective
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Manuela Gomes da Silva
Funded by:
PTDC/BIA-BEC/101964/2008
Duration: 2010-2012
Genomic rearrangements in triticale
The project main goal is to
recognize and characterize environmental stress influence in polyploid speciation through an integrative assessment of
genomic and epigenomic adaptation after high
temperature stress. Understanding environmental changes impact in labile polyploid genomes will certainly contribute to preserve
genetic resources and conserve biodiversity with enhanced adjustment capability.
Genetic and epigenetic changes associated with cork quality
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Leonor
Morais
Funded by: PTDC/AGR-CFL/104197/2008
Duration: 2010-2013
Genetic and epigenetic
changes associated with cork quality to identify genic and structural sequences
from cork oak genome that could be associated with cork quality and with
potential to be used as genetic and/or epigenetic markers for early selection
of trees with good cork quality.
Genetic variation, reproductive diversity and ecology characterization
for conservation of endemic and rare Limonium species
from the Portuguese coastline
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Ana Cristina Delaunay Caperta
Funded by: Protocols with Cascais Natura Environmental
Agency and Parque Natural Sintra-Cascais
Duration: 2009-2014
This current project focuses on the
taxonomy, ecology, demography and reproductive biology of species from the
genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae)
with particular emphasis in the Western shorelines of mainland Portugal. This
involves work that ranges from the application of taxonomic, cytogenetic, and cytometric methods. These studies allow for establishing
principles for conservation of wild species in their natural habitats.
Consequences of past and present climatic changes on
biodiversity patterns of peat-rich environments: from genes to communities
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Carlos Neto
Funded by: PTDC/AAC-AMB/111349/2009
Duration: 2011-2014
The present research project aims
to study the paleobiogeographic and paleoclimatic historic significance of isolated peatland communities in the Iberian Peninsula, and their
relative role in contribution to the reestablishment of post-glacial
communities in Central Europe.
The wild relatives of Beta: genetic diversity
assessment and biochemical studies
Proponent
Institution: INRB/EAN
CBAA Responsible: Dalila Espirito-Santo
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-AAM/73144/2006
Duration:
2007-2011
Study of wild relatives of Beta in Portugal and in the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores,
Madeira and Cape Verde using parameters of taxonomy, molecular biology,
physiology and biochemistry. Identification of populations of
greater genetic variability and those that should be preserved.
C. elegans as a model to evaluate epigenetic effects
of EDCs
Proponent Institution: CBAA/ISA
Principal Investigator: Margarida Delgado
Funded by:
PTDC/AAC-AMB/103968/2008
Duration: 2010-2013
This project aims to uncover
toxicological effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) associated with
epigenetic modifications. It uses as whole organism model Caenorhabditis
elegans as well as distinct human cell lines maintained in culture. The results
obtained with both biological systems will contribute for risk access
evaluation associated with EDCs and the methodology established can further be
used for other chemicals.
New edible bioactive coatings for the improvement of
food products quality
Proponent Institution: CEER/ISA
CBAA Responsible: Margarida
Delgado
Funded by:
PTDC/AGR-ALI/114706/2009
Duration: 2011-2013
In collaboration with Centro de Estudos de Engenharia Rural
(CEER/ISA/UTL) trough in a project aiming the design of innovative bioactive
edible coating for fruits and cheese products toxicological tests will be
carried out in the model organism C. elegans as well in human cell cultures to
guaranty their safety for consumers
MICROPHYTE - Metabolic engIneering
of Chlamydomonas and enviRonmental OPtimization for HYdrogen producTion and
release
Proponent Institution: ITQB/UNL
CBAA Responsible: Glória Esquível
Funded by: PTDC/EBB-EBI/102728/2008
Duration: 2010-2013
Taking advantage of
recent knowledge about the multiple facets of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii metabolism and the existence of a pyrenoid, rich in rubisco, that
helps carbon assimilation, it is
intended to improve the capacity to produce hydrogen and sequester CO2.
By inducing certain culture conditions and using our collection of rubisco mutants, we are developing strategies to achieve
our objectives.
