BrainMap

Mihaela Cioloca

- INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV

Researcher

Expertise & keywords

The use of true potato seed lines in order to identify perspective genotypes in the context of global climate change Call name:
PN19-32-01-03 2019 - 2022

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV ()

Project website: https://www.research.gov.ro/ro/articol/3768/programe-na-ionale-programe-nucleu

Abstract:

The potato is one of the most important crops and a basic element for food security worldwide. A pressing problem of the contemporary world, determined by the demographic explosion of the last decades, is the provision of food for the constantly growing population. The potato, like many other plants, manifests a specific duality in terms of reproduction, being able to multiply by two distinct methods: sexually (through botanical seed) or vegetatively (through tubers). TPS (True Potato Seed) technology is especially dedicated to those with limited financial resources. Many countries in less developed regions of the world have successfully applied technology based on the use of potato botanical seed as a method of alleviating the problems associated with the procurement of seed tubers.

The project aims to identify in populations derived from botanical seed, characterized by a high degree of uniformity of individuals (isogenic lines), one or more genotypes of perspective in terms of productivity, tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors as well as their culinary features. The technology consists in completing the following stages: inoculation of potato seeds on artificial medium, which will induce water stress in in vitro conditions; seed germination, obtaining potato rooted seedlings and their virotic testing; planting healthy material in protected areas in order to obtain potato minitubers; planting minitubers in field conditions and evaluation of genotypes. In the last stage (cultivation in field conditions) the performance of genotypes from botanical seed will be compared with those of a potato variety (control).

The theme addressed in this project has as main purpose the evaluation of the possibility of producing an alternative planting material to complete the potato needs, starting from botanical seeds.

Development of sweet potato cultivation technologies in the context of climate change and development of measures to promote culture in Romania Call name:
ADER 2.2.2. 2015 - 2018

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: STATIUNEA DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CULTURA PLANTELOR PE NISIPURI

Project partners: STATIUNEA DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CULTURA PLANTELOR PE NISIPURI (); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (); INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU PROTECTIA PLANTELOR (); INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PT. INDUSTRIALIZAREA SI MARKETINGUL PRODUSELOR HORTICOLE"HORTING" ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV ()

Project website: https://www.madr.ro/ader-2015-2018/ader-2/ader-2-2-2.html

Abstract:

In vitro cultivation of plant tissues is a rapid method of clonal multiplication, which allows obtaining a large number of seedlings in a short period of time, as well as maintaining germplasm under controlled conditions. The main objective of the project was the introduction in vitro conditions, micropropagation and obtaining a healthy planting material through tissue cultures for sweet potato.

In vitro cultivation of plant tissues is a rapid method of clonal multiplication, which allows obtaining a large number of seedlings in a short period of time, as well as maintaining germplasm under controlled conditions. Sweet potato is vulnerable to diseases caused by viruses. Clonal multiplication favors plant exposure to viral infections.

The use of in vitro cultivation techniques of plant tissues allows to obtain in a short time a healthy starting material, available at any time for micromultiplication, in vitro preservation or for acclimatization and planting in vivo. This is the first step in an appropriate strategy to control viral diseases in vegetatively propagated crops. Thus, a rapid distribution of healthy material can be achieved, both within the same country and between different countries, provided that it is certified and has a uniform growth in order to be marketed.

Traditional methods of propagating sweet potatoes, through stem cuttings, require a lot of time and intense work. If the mother plant is infected, through this way of planting material propagation, the disease is transmitted to future generations. In vitro cultivation of plant tissues has many advantages, including the production of a large number of disease-free plants, which will then be used as starting material.

Innovative technology for improving the control system efficiency of necrotic, emergent strains of potato virus Y, pathogen with high spatial incidence related to the climatic changes in Romania Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0452 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO); STATIUNEA DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF (RO); "SOLFARM" S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (RO)

Project website: http://potato.ro/ro/tinpvy/index.php?opt=despre

Abstract:

Infections with potato virus Y could reduce yield with 50-90%. An imposed priority is to identify healthy initial material and to use resistant varieties against this virus attack. On last three decades new aggressive viral strains (necrotic strains) appeared. These strains broke some varieties resistance, some of them causes tubers symptoms. Damages are quantitative (yield decreasing), qualitative (tubers marketable depreciation), financials (ware potato is un-saleable, seed potato is rejected from certification). The researches of this project will contribute to find solutions, new methodological concepts to reduce these damages through identification and implementation of new methodological solutions. The main project objectives are: elaboration of an innovative solutions to improve control system efficiency of necrotic, emergent strains of potato virus Y, pathogen with high spatial incidence, elaboration of a study regarding evolution of Y virus strains spectrum in Romania, correlated with imports level and climatic conditions from the last 20 years, identification of native and foreign varieties, resistant breeding lines to PVY necrotic strains.

To achieve the proposed objectives, the main activities of the project are oriented in three directions, pursuing assessment of the following aspects: 1) the pathogen biology (PVY viral strains identification- establishment of spatial spread of PVY strains at different genotypes collected from 4 geographical areas of potato: Brasov, Cluj, Harghita, Covasna ); 2) the host biology (identification of some potato genotypes with high resistance/tolerance to necrotic strains); 3) environmental aspects (climate, edaphic data collecting; correlations between the frequency of necrotic PVY strains viral infections and climatic conditions from areas where potato tested material was cultivated; identifying areas with high frequency of PVY necrotic strains infection to achieve the risk maps).

The results of the researches will be used for:

- elaboration an innovative technologies for improving the control system efficiency over the new PVY necrotic strains, especially those that produce necrotic staining ring on tubers (use of recommended varieties, strict control of these viral strains on potato certification, using of PCR technique for samples indexing, avoiding areas with epidemiological risk, new techniques of identifying-spectral analysis, precision agriculture-of pathogens and rapid information transmission to all actors on potato pathway, thereby avoiding the virus expansion).

- formulation virtual models regarding potato future situation in our country, if necessary measures will not be taken in order to stop viral diseases caused by these pathogens, measures that are specified in the innovative technology.

The project promotes original researches, development of knowledge on domain (new viral strains affects world potato crops).

Gaining new information upon evolution of the new viral strains in our country, establishing correlations with different factors, original concepts will be formulated (these will contribute to increasing visibility of Romanian researches). The project will elaborate a new strategy for potato crop protection against PVY new necrotic strains to get health, clean seed material. From these results will benefits potato producers, decisional organisms of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Federation of Potato from Romania, which will establish adequate policy for potato producing, varieties structure, orientation of potato production in our country.

Design, Implementation and Testing of a Mechatronic System for Multispectral Monitoring of Crops Vegetation Status – MoniCult Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1629 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA TRANSILVANIA BRASOV

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA TRANSILVANIA BRASOV (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (RO); UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA DIN CLUJ - NAPOCA (RO); HIBRIDUL S.A. (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (RO)

Project website: http://www.unitbv.ro/dpm/CercetareStiintifica/C04Sistememecatroniceavansate/ProiectParteneriate-MoniCult.aspx

Abstract:

Climate, economic and anthropic changes (pressure exerted by human activities on agrosystems - biodiversity loss and environmental pollution) led to alterations in the stability of agricultural systems, increasing their vulnerability and therefore reducing food safety and security.

Crop management, under new conditions created in the last period, increasingly requires monitoring of the soil resources and dynamics of crop vegetation status, for real time interventions regarding the precise allocation (localized and economic) of technological inputs (fertilizers, pesticides etc.).

In this context, the project proposal entitled "Design, Implementation and Testing of a Mechatronic System for Multispectral Monitoring of Crops Vegetation Status – MoniCult" it constitutes an efficient and effective tool for implementing the concept of precision agriculture as part of the sustainable agriculture.

Precision agriculture management considers, among other things, also the monitoring of the crops vegetation status. This is done by calculating and interpreting vegetation indices based on spectral data collected by specialized acquisition systems.

Vegetation indices are correlated with the degree of plant health and development. Information about thermal and water stress, pests and so on, of the utmost importance for timely intervention in all that means the need for water, pesticide and fertilizer to be supplied at the proper time, in the necessary quantity and in the adequate place, leading to a major economic and environmental protection impact.

Products developed under this project are the result of complementarities and synergies of the research and implementation teams that form the consortium: Acquisition, Processing, Storage and Transmission System for Multispectral Information (APSTSMI), an innovative system that provides the basic tool for field data collection, Multispectral Terrestrial Mobile Mechatronic System (MTMMS), and Multispectral Autonomous Aerial Mobile Mechatronic System (MAAMMS) – consisting of mechanical components, electronics and software, starting from simple elements, providing a solution for farmers with limited financial possibilities, and reaching at a “jewel” of the art technology that is the drone, for monitoring the vegetation state of the crops. To these products, the Innovative Technology for Multispectral Monitoring of the Vegetation Status of Crops (ITMMVSC) is added, based on artificial intelligence techniques, containing GIS elements on which agricultural information is overlapped, offering through a friendly user graphical interface, a valuable decisional tool in what means today precision crop management.

Such a complex project could not be addressed individually by any of the partners. The skills and the expertise of a National Agricultural Research Institute (P1) regarding multispectral information for the precision management are valorised by designing and implementing by the other two partners (CO and P2) of some mechatronic system models (terestrial and aerial) which allow the dynamic data aquisition and their interpretation using a Decision Support System. The role of testing and validation of results is the responsibility of partner P3 (SME), which assures the implementing of management at the farm level, organizing and conducting of demonstration crops, monitoring of the crop vegetation status, ensuring so the most significant pole of dissemination of the innovative solutions offered by the project.

The impact of precision agriculture management implementation is focused on obtaining large productions and quality, on optimizing the economical profits, achieving of an integrated environmental protection and increasing of the sustainability of agricultural systems. All of these lead to a significant improvement of our life quality.

Optimization of the processes of virus elimination in horticultural crops by in vitro chemotherapy and electrotherapy to placement in EU requirements on environmental quality and food products Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 1
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.1-0295 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA PITESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA PITESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU BIOTEHNOLOGII IN HORTICULTURA STEFANESTI-ARGES (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU CARTOF SI SFECLA DE ZAHAR-BRASOV (RO)

Project website: http://sanoplant.org.ro/

Abstract:

The project purposes the establishing of a new technologies for grapevine and potato sanitation by in vitro chemotherapy and electrotherapy, applicable for many types of viruses at a time. That supposes the in vitro use of viricides and the explants culture after virus infected mother plant exposure, respectively. The realization of the project implies the establishing the influence of the viricides on the plant in controlled medium and the effect of electric current on grapevine and potato virus elimination. Also, the project had in view the development of a combined method of virus elimination in horticultural plants, including electrotherapy followed by in vitro chemotherapy. The achievement of the project implies to settle precisely the virus/viruses contaminating the biological material, testing the sanitation variants and to follow through the obtained plants after acclimatization, and also the estimation of phytotoxicity effects of viricides on the regenerated plants. The FTIR spectral study on viricides at different temperatures, the investigation of membrane passive transport in the presence of electric current and the studies of the interaction viricide- RNA by UV-VIS absorbtion spectroscopy will complete the range of research targeting the modeling of the effect of high voltage electric field on the plant physiological processes. The project has in view the most dangerous grapevine and potato viruses and their presence in the native varieties/clones important in the Romanian economy. The setting up of new plantation with healthy material would lead to a rise in the technical-economic competitiveness by the efficacionesness of all obtaining and exploitation steps, preserving their genetic potential and biodiversity. The project will be finished with the spreading on a large scale of results and the obtaining the patents of the grapevine and potato virus elimination technology by in vitro chemotherapy, electrotherapy and their combination.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects