BALKAN VEGETABLE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR TRANSFER OF EUROPEAN KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH

AND PRACTICE

Grant agreement no.: Proposal no205941Acronym: « EU-BALKANVEGETABLES»

REGPOT-2007-1-01

SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMMEProgram «Capacities»

Research potential of Convergence Regions

EU-BALKANVEGETABLESREGPOT-2007-1-01

THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE is to revival and to reinforce the Maritsa VCRI to become a leading horticultural research centre in the Balkan region for disseminating the recent achievements of the European Research Area (ERA).

Achieved resultsVisiting lecturers in

MOLECULAR BREEDING

Dr. Mathilde Causse – Head of Research Unit on Genetic s and Breeding of Fruit and Vegetable, INRA (The National Institute for Agronomic Research), Montfavet, France

Lectures on: - molecular markers techniques

- gene and QTL mapping- molecular markers and biotechnology for tomato breeding

Achieved resultsVisiting lecturers in

MOLECULAR BREEDING

Dr. Carole Caranta, INRA, Genetics and Breeding of Fruits and Vegetables, Montfavet, France

Lectures on:- Genetics of plant virus resistance

- Functional aspects/properties of natural virus resistance genes- Breeding and management of virus resistance durability

Achieved resultsVisiting lecturers in

MOLECULAR BREEDING

Dr. Filomena Carriero, Metapontum Agrobios, Metapon to – MT, Italy

Lectures on:- Explanation of the TILLING technology and its application- Report of the Agrobios TILLING experience with tomato and wheat species

- Application of TILLING (EcoTILLING) for discovering natural polymorphisms

Visiting lecturer in: BIOCONTROL AND BIOFERTILIZATION

Dr. Claudio Altomare, Institute of Sciences of Food Production, Bari, Italy

Topics of lectures:

- Biological control of plant diseases with antagonistic microorganisms:

- Fungal secondary metabolites in plant pathology

- Biofertilizers: The microbiological answer for sustainable management of soil fertility

Visiting lecturer in:

COMPOSTING

Dr. Jacques Fuchs, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick Switzerland

Topics of lectures:

Compost: process management, quality insurance and plant health”, including three issues:

- Biological basis of the composting process

- Compost influence on soil fertility and plant health

- Quality insurance to produce good composts

Linze Rijswijk, The Development Agency East Netherlands, Netherlands

Invited lecturer in the field ofDEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL CLUSTERS

Topic of lecture: “The development on regional food clusters: the path towards more cooperation between companies and research institutes”

Dr. Rene Lankhorst, Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands

Invited lecturer in the field ofMANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL

PROJECTS

Topic of lecture: “EU-SOL as an example of a successful integrated project within FP6: Science, Organization and Management of the project”

Training and scientific visits of Maritsa VCRI staf f

Achieved results

Training of junior scientist Gancho Pasev atMisión Biológica De Galicia, Pontevedra,

Spain on: “Molecular characterization of virus

resistance genes in beans”Supervisor : Dr. Marta Santalla and Dr. De Ron

Training and scientific visits of Maritsa VCRI staf f

Achieved results

Training of junior scientist TsvetankaDincheva at Research Institute of Organic

Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland

“ Composting of plant residues and application of compost in organic farming .

Management of the process. Laboratory analysis and tests of compost.”

Supervisor: Dr. Jacques Fuchs

Training and scientific visits of Maritsa VCRI staf f

Achieved results

Sabbatical visit of Dr. Valentina Petkova in Tropical Research Institute (IICT) - Plant

Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Center (Eco-Bio Centre) in

Oeiras, Portugal“Relationships in the system - plant

organism-environmental stress-plant response”

♦ Real-Time PCR system

♦ Enzyme Linked Sorbent Analysis (ELISA) Reader

♦ Single Beam Scanning UV/Visible Spectrophotometer

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- for molecular analysis of plant and pathogens

Achieved results

♦ Freeze Dry System

♦ Sequencer

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- for molecular analysis of plant and pathogens

Achieved results

♦ Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES)

♦ High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

♦ Microwave Digestion System

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- for plant and soil analysis

Achieved results

♦ Digital plant water potential apparatus

♦ Portable leaf area meter

♦ Chlorophyll content meter

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- for physiological analysis

Achieved results

♦ Texture Analyser for quantifiable, repeatable and accurate textural information on the physical properties of food esp. to sensory perception.

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- for fruit quality analysis

Achieved results

An old hall for vegetable panel test performance was reconstructed into a modern

meeting hall with a manager office and comfortable lobby

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- First step to improve the infrastructure of Maritsa Vegetable Crops Technology Transfer Office (Maritsa VCTTO) as a competitive and unique innovative centre in the field of horticulture

Achieved results

Growing chambers and low temperature chambers for seed

preservation

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- Gene bank unit

Achieved results

Renovated and designed according to Good Laboratory

Practices

Improvement of technical infrastructure

- Virus Immunity Lab

Achieved results

Elaboration of short-term strategy

for vegetable science1. Working Group: “Management and assessment of genetic resources”

2. Working group: „Breeding, variety maintenance and seed production of vegetable crops”

3. Working Group: “ Management of soil fertility”

4. Working Group: “Pest risk management”

The aim of Balkan linkage between scientists dealing with vegetable crops:

♦ Cooperation of research programs for more effective exploitation of technical infrastructure/ exchange of know-how and experience

♦ Creation of expertise-diverse groups

♦ Mutual participation in inner and outer project/ dissemination of the knowledge and skills via web etc

♦ Mutual decision making to solve important issues

♦ To protect the rights of scientists in vegetable science

IMPACT OF THE PROJECT

♦ Highly motivated team of young scientists

♦ Inner and Balkan linkages, uniting scientists of vegetable crops

♦ Relationships with European partners who are interested in establishment of spin-off company with Maritsa VCRI

♦ Initiatiative for establishment of regional Food Cluster

http://www.balkanvegetables.eu