Centres of Excellence/ Other Projects

Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute's PROFILE FORM

Main research activities:

• Research in breeding and seed production of major field crops.
• Theoretical principles and research methodologies related to germplasm conservation, enhancement and utilization in breeding of field crops.
• Identification of genetic sources of the important agronomic traits, and studies on their genetic control and methods of utilization.
• Research on the mechanisms controlling crop resistance to diseases, pests and environmental stresses.
• Application of biotechnological methods in plant breeding and gene transformation.
• R&D activities are conducted in the Research Center at Radzików and divisions/departments in: Bonin, Bydgoszcz, Jadwisin, Kraków, Młochów and Poznań. There are also seven Experimental Stations belonging to the Institute and three affiliated Plant Breeding Companies Ltd. operating in different regions of Poland.

Detailed research programme/scientific activity is described on PBAI’s web page: http://www.ihar.edu.pl/en/research_programme.php
Full Expression of Interest is situated on Seventh Framework Programme of European Union web page (see Additional document: GENCROPIMP-2.doc):
http://eoi.cordis.lu/dsp_details.cfm?ID=28574

Expertise offered

• Characterization of bacteria Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum occurrent on domestic seed production plantations (application of PCR, ELISA, IFAS technics, biochemical, physiological and pathogenic tests), estimation of potato varieties susceptibility on above bacteria and Synchytrium endobioticum, Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida,
• Estimation of nutritional/technological values of cereal, legume and oil seeds rape breeding materials, evaluation of factors affecting these values, identification of health promoting and antinutritive substances in plant products,
• Application of PCR techniques for definition/assessment genetic diversity of breeding materials,
• Identification/estimation GMO content in plant material by quality and quantity RealTime PCR,
• Laboratory evaluation of seed sowing value including germination , vigor, moisture content, purity, identity and health status.
• Evaluation of efficacy of new chemical plant products, using in potato production for registration procedure in Poland (field, glasshouse and storage trials), - authorization for conducting studies on efficiency of plant protection products for registration procedure, issued by the Institute of Plant Protection, February 27, 2003, concern various groups of plant protection products: herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, seed dressers, adiuvants, desiccants, acaricides, growth regulators,
• Risk assessment of pathogen/pest resistance development to pesticides,
• Studies on susceptibility of potato varieties to herbicides,
• Advisory and training activities on potato pests and diseases and protection methods.

Target partner (expertise)

An integration of multidisciplinary research groups are required within:

• cytogenetics, genetics and genetic diversity,
• biotechnology and molecular biology,
• resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses,
• breeding and production technology,
• seed science and seed production,
• transfer of information on biotechnological methods to European society.

International cooperation and partnership (SME's, universities, research institutes)

Full list of international partners is situated on Sixth Framework Programme of European Union web page (see last page of the Additional document: GENCROPIMP.doc): http://eoi.cordis.lu/dsp_details.cfm?ID=28574

United Nations Environment Programme

• GEF – Global Environment Facility. Support for the implementation of the national biosafety Framework for Poland, project no: GFL/2716-02-4531 (PMS:3010-02-05), duration: 2002 – 2006.

EU Fifth Framework Programme projects:

• FertOrgaNic, Improved organic fertilizer management for high nitrogen and water use efficiency and reduced pollution in crop systems, contract no: QLK 5-CT-2002-01799, duration: 2003 – 2006, partner, the consortium of 12 groups from 6 countries,
• EUCABLIGHT, Potato Late Blight Network for Europe, contract no: QLK5 – CT – 2002 - 00971, duration: 2003 – 2006, partner/contractor, the consortium of 24 groups from 14 countries,
• CICSA, Crop Improvement Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, (Centre of Excellence) contract no: QLK5 – CT - 2001- 00377, duration: 2003-2006, “Accompanying measures”,
• DECOP, Development of a new continous fully automatic potato sorter system, contract no: G1RT-CT-2002-50276, duration: 2002-2005, 12 partners/contractors
• EPGRIS, European plant genetic information infra-structure, contract no: QLRT-CT-2000-01568, duration: 2000-2003,
• Gene Silencing, Improvement of transgene expression and gene silencing in transgenic oplants, contract no: QLRT-2001-02790, duration: 2002- 2004, 11 partners from 5 countries,
• GMP-Network, Genetically Modified Plant Network, RPTN-1999-00011, duration: 2000-2003, 4 partners from 4 countries.

EU Sixth Framework Programme projects:

• SIGMEA, Sustainable introduction of GMO’s into European Agriculture, contract no: FOOD-CT-2004-501986, duration: 2004 – 2007, partner, the consortium is composed of 42 teams from 12 countries,
• GRAIN LEGUMES, New strategies to improve grain legumes for food and feed, contract no: FOOD-CT-2004-506223, duration: 2004 – 2007, partner, the consortium of 53 working groups from 18 countries,
• HEALTH GRAIN, Exploiting bioactivity of European cereal grains for improved nutrition and health benefits, contract no: 2003-Food-2A-514008, duration: 2005 – 2010, the consortium of 44 groups from 15 countries,
• RESISTVIR, Co-ordination of research on genetic resistance to control plant pathogenic viruses and their vectors in European crops, contract no: FOOD-CT-2005-006961, duration: 2005 – 2008, partner, the consortium of 47 working groups from 21 countries,
• SAFE FOODS, Promoting food safety through a new integrated risk analysis approach for foods, contract no: FOOD-CT-2004-506446, duration: 2004 - 2008, partner, the consortium of 33 groups from 17 countries,
• BIOEXPLOIT, Exploitation of natural plant biodiversity for the pesticide-free production of food, contract no: FOOD-CT-2004-2005-513959, duration: 2005 – 2010, partner, the consortium of 41 groups from 15 countries.
• ENDURE, European network for the durable exploitation of crop protection strategies, contract no: 031499, duration: 2007 - 2010, parntner, the consortium of 16 partner organization from 10 european countries,
• AVEQ - AGRI GEN - RES, Arena genetic resources for quality in human consumption, contact no: AGRI - 2006 - 0397, duration: 2007-2010, partner, the consortium of 14 partner organization from 9 countries,

Multilateral Co-operation programs:

• CIP - IHAR/International Potato Center (CIP) Collaborative Project, Late Blight resistance and search on new sources of tuber resistance to Phytophthora infestans, duration: 2001 – 2003,
• CEEM, Part I, IHAR/The Cornell University - Eastern Europe - Mexico. International collaborative project on Potato Late Blight control, duration: 2002 – 2003,
• CEEM, Part II, IHAR/The Cornell University - Eastern Europe - Mexico. International collaborative project on Potato Late Blight control, duration: 2003 – 2004.
• MOP-TOP, IHAR/University of Helsinki - Finland. Enhanced control of Potato mop-top virus in the Nordic and Baltic Sea region, duration: 2005-2008
• EOG, IHAR/Norwegian Institut for Agriculture and Enviromental Research - Norway. Modeling of biomass utilization for energy purpose, duration: 2007 - 2010

Bilateral co-operation programs in 2007:

PBAI participates in 12 bilateral international co-op programs.

Main researchers and expertise:

Contact details:

Professor Edward Arseniuk, D.Sc.
Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute
Research Centre at Radzików
PL 05-870 Błonie, POLAND

Phone:+4822 725 4536
Fax:+4822 731 9617