Media
TomGEM Kick-off Meeting 2016
The TomGEM Kick-off meeting was organised from 11th-13th May 2016 together with the G2P-SOL consortium in Valencia (Spain) to foster networking and discuss potential interaction between the two initiatives. Both projects examine the genetic diversity of solanaceous crops with the aim of identifying and breeding varieties with more suitable traits.
Latest Video Statements 2019
The main outcomes of the project are the superior genotypes in terms of tolerance to heat stress and yield stability, but also new genes and new markers that will help the tomato breeders to create new tomato varieties and cultivars that are better suited to high temperature conditions.
Prof. Mondher Bouzayen, TomGEM coordinator
As a young scientist within TomGEM, I had the opportunity to collaborate with lead scientists in the field and to have early access to the new technologies. I extended my academic skills and was able to build on my previous experience. Working in a H2020 project gave me the opportunity to work at different stages of translational research: to work on fundamental, basic research but also at the end of the process, where we are evaluating products that are very close to go to the market.
Dr Juliana Almeida
As a breeding company within the consortium, ENZA ZADEN can provide a very practical point of view as we are in regular contact with the tomato growers and consumers. TomGEM already identified genomic regions that are associated with heat tolerance. Now, we can include those genomic regions into our breeding programme, trying to develop tomato varieties tolerant to heat stress. In the frame of climate change, having varieties that are adapted to high temperature will be a benefit for the tomato growers as production can be maintained and the final consumer will be able to find tomato in a normal situation.
Dr David Gil
As a postdoctoral scientist at the John Innes Centre, I’m working on tomato fruit quality. I tested different tomato genotypes in different fields over three years in order to identify the best ones. After my analysis, I found a particular genotype that has a higher vitamin C content and a good shelf life as well, which made me very happy. For younger scientists, European projects are very beneficial. It is not only possible to meet lead scientists from all over the world and to collaborate with them, but also to grow professionally and personally.
Dr Antonietta Aliberti
Within TomGEM, Alma Seges looked for agronomical practices that could best express the potential of heat tolerant tomato genotypes. We used the “whitening” technique, antiperspirants, bio stimulants and mycorrhizae. The advantage for the producers is that our results rely on real scientific research, unaffected by the promotion and marketing of certain products or tomato varieties. As small agricultural producers, it makes us proud to be part of such an international environment with scientists from all over the world.
Dr Carlo Schettini