Proposed Research for Innovative Solutions for Chickpeas and Beans in a Climate Change Scenario: The Mediterranean Basin

Federico Martinelli, Francisco Javier Ollero, Antonio Giovino, Anna Perrone, Abdelkader Bekki, Sanja Sikora, Rania El Nabbout, Mariem Bouhadida, Derya Yucel, Marco Bazzicalupo, Alessio Mengoni and Francisco Pérez-Montaño
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Federico Martinelli: Department of Biology, University of Florence, 90128 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Francisco Javier Ollero: Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Antonio Giovino: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), 90011 Bagheria, Italy
Anna Perrone: Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Abdelkader Bekki: Laboratory of Rhizobia Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, University of Oran, Es Senia 31000, Algeria
Sanja Sikora: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Rania El Nabbout: Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, Tal Amara PO Box: 287, Lebanon
Mariem Bouhadida: National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia (INRAT), Ariana 2080, Tunisia
Derya Yucel: Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (EMARI), Karatas Yolu 17 km, P.K: 45 Yuregir-Adana, Turkey
Marco Bazzicalupo: Department of Biology, University of Florence, 90128 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Alessio Mengoni: Department of Biology, University of Florence, 90128 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Francisco Pérez-Montaño: Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: In order to gain insight into the complex molecular networks driving legume adaptation caused by climate change, it is necessary to deeply characterize the existing germplasm in response to the environmental constraint predicted to worsen in the near future: drought. In this study, we propose to perform a three-year deep agronomic characterization of local genotypes of selected legumes in abiotic stressing conditions through controlled and field experiments conducted in several countries of the Mediterranean basin (Italy, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Croatia). These phenotypic analyses will be integrated with a multi-omic approach aiming at identifying the key players involved in the modulation of the analyzed traits that includes the analysis of the plant methylome, transcriptome, and proteome. Following this approach, we propose to deliver epigenomic markers linked with rapid adaptation mechanisms in response to drought. Besides, new genetic variability by breeding could be created in stressing conditions and produce the basis for the obtainment of more productive cultivars in worsening environments. The epigenetic marks identified in “omic” activities will be validated in molecular marker-assisted selection in F2–F4 populations. Finally, specific rhizobia strains for the best evaluated genotypes will be identified in order to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation in drought stress conditions with selected cultivars.

Keywords: adaptation; climate change; drought; epigenomic; epigenetic markers; legumes; Mediterranean basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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