Award details

Understanding and Exploiting Biological Nitrogen Fixation for Improvement of Brazilian Agriculture

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA646
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Raymond Alan Dixon
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	17,878
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/02/2016
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	13 months

Abstract

The major aim of this Virtual Joint Centre (VJC) is to develop innovative technologies to increase crop productivity in Brazil, utilising nitrogen-fixing bacteria as a sustainable source of fixed nitrogen, in order to reduce the input of chemical fertilisers in agriculture and mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of reactive nitrogen pollution. We will target major crops essential for human and animal consumption in Brazil. To support the sustainability of bioenergy and livestock production in Brazil, the Centre will also investigate the contribution that biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) makes to the N requirements of C4 perennial grasses such as Pennisetum and Miscanthus. The core research objectives of the VJC are: 1. Engineer ammonium excretion in diazotrophic epiphytes and endophytes 2. Isolate efficient growth-promoting, diazotrophic plant associative bacteria 3. Characterise plant-microbe interactions and identify genetic components required for efficient crop-microbe associations. 4. Evaluate the effectiveness of inoculants in field trials This core research programme will be augmented by a wider network of Brazilian scientists comprising the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) for BNF, funded by the Brazilian national research council, CNPq. This will provide additional expertise in related areas including soil microbiology, agronomy and inoculant technologies. The VJC will also engage in a range of partnering activities including annual scientific meetings, workshops for young career scientists and extensive laboratory exchanges between the partner countries.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Crop Science, Microbiology, Plant Science, Soil Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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