PROPOSAL:	ICA4-2001-10057	ACRONYM	SOYBEAN BNF + MYC
AREA:	FP5 - INCO2, 5/ Research for development	Call number / date:	-
PROJECT TYPE:	Shared Cost	EU CONTRIBUTION:	700000
STARTING DATE:	2001-09-01	DURATION:	36 months

Coordinator: Prof.dr. D. Werner, Philipps University Marburg, Dept. Cell Biology, Applied Botany, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, DE -35032, Marburg, Germany, Email: werner@mailer.uni-marburg.de

Project Description:
The molecular genetical and biochemical understanding of biological nitrogen fixation and mycorrhization of legumes has significantly increased during the last years. This knowledge has been mainly gained with a few model legumes and legume-microbe-interactions. A large deficit is the use of this knowledge for the production of major crop legumes such as soybeans (in Europe: soyabean) and peanuts. This deficit is especially obvious for soybeans in India and Nepal. The people of these South Asian countries are mostly vegeterians. The soybean production area in India has increased from 526.000 hectars in 1980 to 5.06 million hectars in 1997. The productivity in India and Nepal is only about 0.9 tons per hectar, compared to 1.67 tons per hectar in China and 2.7 to 3.4 tons per hectar in Italy and France. The potential of improving soybean production in South Asia is therefore very large.. Biological nitrogen fixation meets only between 40 and 60 % of the nitrogen nutrition in soybeans, leaving a significant potential for saving nitrogen fertilizers. Arbuscular mycorrhiza strains for improved phosphate mobilization and uptake have also a significant potential for crop improvement. The progress of international research in biological nitrogen fixation and mycorrhisation in legumes shall be used for the production increase for major soybean cultivars in India and Nepal. Soybean is the world numberone legume as a cash crop and also has a high potential as a source of protein for vegetarians, for oil production and for improving soil productivity for other crops in the nitrogen budgets of the soil. New molecular techniques to characterize new isolates of Bradyrhizobium and arbuscular mycorrhiza strains isolated from different soils in Asia with a high potential of improving nitrogen and phosphate supply of the cash crops, saving costs and improving soil quality will be applied. Results from 1999 and 2000 indicate a much larger genetic variability of Bradyrhizomum and Glomus strains than assumed before.

Project URL: 0

Consortium:
Prime Contractor
Organisation: PHILIPPS UNIVERSITY MARBURG
Organisation Type: Research
Department: FACHBEREICH BIOLOGIE
DEPARTMENT OF CELL BIOLOGY AND APPLIED BOTANY
Address: Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse
Postcode: 35032
City: MARBURG
Region: HESSEN
GIEßEN
Marburg-Biedenkopf
Country: GERMANY
Contact Person: Name: WERNER, Dietrich (Professor)
Tel: +49-6421-2821546
Fax: +49-6421-2828997
Email: werner@mailier.uni-marburg.de

Other Contractors
Organisation Name: CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Organisation Type: Research
Contact Person: BAREA NAVARRO, Jose Miguel (Professor)
Department: DEPARTAMENTO DE MICROBIOLOGIA DEL SUELO Y SISTEMAS SIMBIOTICOS
ESTACION EXPERIMENTAL DEL ZAIDIN
Address: 1 Profesor Albareda 1
City: GRANADA
Region: SUR
ANDALUCIA
Granada
Org. Country: SPAIN
Postcode: 18008
Telephone: +34-958-121011
Fax: +34-958-129600
E-mail: jmbarea@eez.csic.es

Organisation Name: MAHARSHI DAYANAND SARASWATI UNIVERSITY
Organisation Type: Research
Contact Person: MAHNA, Suresh, Kumar (Professor)
Department: DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
Address: Gandhi-Nagar K-22, Naka Madar
City: AJMER
Org. Country: INDIA
Postcode: 305001
Telephone: +91-14-5787603
Fax: +91-14-5787704/9
E-mail: mahnask@hotmail.com

Organisation Name: TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY OF KATHMANDU
Organisation Type: Research
Contact Person: PRASAD, Braj Nandan (Professor)
Department: CENTRAL DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
Address: Kirtipur
City: KATHMANDU
Org. Country: NEPAL
Telephone: +977-1-331322
Fax: +977-1-331964
E-mail: prasadbn@tubraj.wlink.com.np

Return to FP5 project title list