Estonian University of Life Sciences (EULS) is the only university in Estonia whose priorities in academic and research activities provide the sustainable development of natural resources necessary for the existence of human as well as the preservation of heritage and habitat. The university belongs to the top 1% most cited research facilities in the world in the category of plant and animal sciences. The work within GAIN4CROPS will be carried out by the Chair of Crop Science and Plant Biology led by Professor Ülo Niinemets. In the last 10 years, the team has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in leading specialized journals as well as broad spectrum journals Nature, Science and PNAS and has been involved in more than 20 national and international research projects, including an ERC advanced grant awarded to Prof. Niinemets.
- Prof. Ülo Niinemets
- Dr. Tiina Tosens
- Dr. Eero Talts
EULS will quantify photosynthesis with subset of plants selected based on the first phase of phenotyping. Target landraces and inbred lines necessary for mapping to genomic variances will characterized by maximum quantum yield, non-photochemical quenching, electron transport rate, CO2 assimilation capacity. Furthermore, intraspecific variability will be evaluated using on- line stable carbon isotope discrimination at multiple CO2 and O2 concentrations to aim quantify efficiency of photosynthetic capacity and photorespiration.
Relevant Expertise
The team led by Prof. Ülo Niinemets is highly experienced in experimental and simulation studies in field crops and wild plants with special emphasize on tolerance of abiotic stresses under climate change relevant for parameterization of ecophysiological models. His team using a broad range of experimental tools for biochemical and diffusion limitation of photosynthesis determination including CO2 diffusion conductance from sub-stomatal cavities to the carboxylation enzyme in the chloroplasts.
