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Imprint
Quality of fruits of the Cucurbitaceae in climate change (QCuK)
Project
Project code: 2821OE037
Contract period: 01.03.2023
- 28.02.2026
Budget: 247,421 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: abiotic stress, fruit vegetables, horticulture, vegetable production, ingredients, nutrients, crop production, regional value addition, resistance, organic farming
In QCuK, cucurbit varieties are characterized with regard to their yield performance, abiotic stress tolerance, product quality and food safety under drought stress conditions. Suitable methods for non-invasive phenotyping of growth, morphology and physiology of the plants as well as methods for the determination of quality influencing factors for breeding processes will be developed. The aim is to identify quality changes in plant compounds, such as valuable vitamins and flavonoids or non-desirable bitter cucurbitacins, in fruits. In QCuK, the aim is to support the breeding of seed-proof varieties in organic horticulture, to ensure yield as well as tasty, healthy and bitter-free fruits in future climate scenarios, and to assess quality changes under predicted weather conditions in time. On-farm breeding methods will also be used for and compared with further results of the project. Non-invasive phenotyping techniques for an early selection of resistant cultivars under artificial drought stress conditions will be established and applied in early plant developmental stage. Selected cultivars and lines will be investigated in protected cultivation, under production-like as well as real conditions and in the breeding process for drought stress tolerance, yield capacity and product quality at five locations to detect stress-induced changes in compounds. The underlying molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance and induction of plant biosynthetic pathways will be investigated in transcriptome analyses. The results of QCuK will help to support the breeding of climate-adapted and high-performing crops in organic horticulture, to strengthen product quality and food safety, and to assess quality-altering losses as consequences of climate change.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Climate Change
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
