Scientific team

Dr. J.D. van Elsas, coordinator/projectleader - Email: dick.vanelsas@wur.nl. Tel: 31.317.476210. FAX 31.317.423110
Dr. L.S. van Overbeek, scientist - Email: leo.vanoverbeek@wur.nl. Tel: 31.317.476041.
H. Velvis, technician - Email: h.velvis@plant.wag-ur.nl. Tel: 31.317.476257

Address: Bornsesteeg 65, P.O.Box 16, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.

 

Objectives

Testing of the microbiota from the potato rhizosphere versus two important potato pathogens.

Acting as the coordinator of the project, we will be responsible for the following tasks:

Set up of field experimentation with genetically modified plants and microorganisms. Organization of sampling schemes and analyses. Assessment of pathogen fate, as well as overall microbial diversity, as affected by the control strategies. Overall coordination.

1.  Studying the microflora in the rhizospheres of the potato plants used for control, with the objective to assess the optimal strategy. The structure of microbial communities selected by the three strategies, as well as pathogen fate and plant symptoms, will be unraveled by direct molecular means coupled to traditional cultivation-based and other methods.
2. Coordinating the exchange of sample material, sequences for probes/primers and other molecular tools among the relevant participating laboratories
3. Assessment of pathogen fate in all ecological field experiments in NL
4. Organization of group meetings
5. Communication to the scientific and layman community

Subcontractors:

RZ Research BV (Dr. J.J. van de Haar) – RZ Research is involved in potato breeding and trading in NL, in which they have a large market share. They also make part of a breeder/trader network extending to several western European countries. RZ Research will be involved in propagation of disease-free potato lines, indispensable for all experimental phases of the project. They will further perform the promulgation of research findings in their network.

Beratungskantor KNUST GmbH, Jenastr. 2, D-53757 Sankt Augustin, D. - Dr. Knust is an experienced adviser in issues related to research data coming from EU sponsored transnational projects. She will be involved mainly in the promulgation of the data obtained to, eg. the Food and Agrochemical Industry, Local Authorities, Breeders, Industrial Platforms (Biotechnology for Biodiversity Platform (BBP), Plant Industrial Platform (PIP)), Non-governm. organisations, SMEs, media, European Commission and policy makers.

MPB - The breeding company MPB (Molecular Plant and Protein Biotechnology GmbH), Cologne, D, led by Dr. K. Duering, will be a subcontractor. Their role will be to provide the T4 lysozyme transgenic plants (several lines), as well as accompanying expertise and information. They will collaborate with partners 3 and 1 for propagation of the transgenic material.

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