Partners and International Organizations
(English)
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A, B, CZ, DK, FIN, F, D, H, IRL, I, NL, N, PL, P, RO, E, S, CH, GB (F. Mauch, Université de Fribourg; E. Martinoia, Université de Neuchâtel; J.-P. Ryser and D. Pellet, RAC Changins; E. Staedler, Forschungsanstalt Wädenswil; A. Keiser, SHL Zollikofen), M. Kertesz (University of Manchester, UK), C. Koncz (MPI Köln, Germany), L. Szabados (BRC, Szeged, Hungary).
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Abstract
(English)
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S deficiency symptoms are increasing in northern Europe agriculture. This is mainly due to a significant reduction of atmospheric S deposition to agricultural ecosystems during the last decade. In agricultural systems with low S inputs, soil organic matter is a major source of S and the transformations between organic and inorganic S pools are important for the supply of S to plants. S deficiency symptoms are prominent in crop plants exhibiting a high demand for S, such as oilseed rape (Brassica napus). In oilseed rape, these symptoms include reduced production of biomass, white flowering and, as an ecological consequence, reduced fertilization by honey bees, pod deformation and reduction of the number of seeds.The research and knowledge on the molecular/biochemical, physiological and agronomical aspects of sulfur uptake and utilization by plants, in relation to plant resistance to pests and environmental stress, are integrated in COST action 829 through a close co-operation between different working groups, providing expertise from different disciplines in plant research. The major goal of our project is to increase our understanding in the molecular and biochemical mechanisms in Brassica napus, and in plants in general, involved in S uptake. We are especially interested in mechanisms allowing the use of soil born organic S compounds as a source for plant nutrition. To this end, we have transferred a gene encoding bacterial arylsulfatase to Arabidopsis, which is used as a model plant species. Wildtype and transgenic plants are presently being investigated for their capacity to secrete either arylsulfatase and/or compounds promoting bacterial arylsulfatase activity.
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