Regulation and Metabolic Engineering of Saponins for use as bio-pesticides.

Informazioni relative al progetto

REMES

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 752437

DOI

10.3030/752437

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 14 Marzo 2017

Data di avvio 1 Ottobre 2017

Data di completamento 21 Novembre 2019

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Costo totale

€ 212 194,80

Contributo UE

€ 212 194,80

Coordinato da

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REMES (Regulation and Metabolic Engineering of Saponins for use as bio-pesticides.)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2017-10-01 al 2019-09-30

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

A major problem in agriculture is the damage caused by insect pests and pathogens, and therefore there is a critical need to develop novel and sustainable methods to reduce these losses. Plants produce a vast diversity of specialized chemicals that deter antagonist, but in spite of their potential for pest management, they are still largely unexplored. We need to understand better how such defense compounds are synthesized by plants and what conditions trigger and regulate their production, in order to develop and use them sustainably. The overall objective of the REMES project was to uncover the genetic and molecular basis of the biosynthesis and regulation of triterpenoid saponins, using the insect-resistant wild crucifer Barbarea vulgaris as a model system, and explore their use as bio-pesticides. Altogether, this project aimed to improve our understanding of saponin biosynthesis and regulation, in order to develop them as sustainable solutions for agriculture and the environment.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

In this project, I successfully implemented a tissue culture and transformation protocol for the plant B. vulgaris. In addition, I set up rearing and feeding experiments using the Brassica insect pest Plutella xyllostella (choice and non-choice). The protocol for B. vulgaris transformation will allow to test relevant candidate genes for the biosynthesis and regulation of saponins for their future use as bio-pesticides. As part of my work during the project, I wrote an invited review on evolution of triterpenoids (Cardenas et al., 2019, Frontiers in Plant Science) and participated in the characterization of the saponin biosynthetic gene CYP72A552 (Qing et al., New Phytologist).

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

The knowledge obtained through this project can be used as model platform for the development of future bio-pesticides. The establishment of a tissue culture and transformation protocol of B. vulgaris enable us to engineer tailored production of specialized metabolites in planta. This has the potential to improve the positioning of the EU as a leader in manufacture of future sustainable solutions for agriculture.

Biosynthesis of saponins in B. vulgaris