With the support of TÜBİTAK Center of Excellence Support Program, the Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Platform (S-ATP) Compatible with Global Climate Change in Türkiye's Agricultural Production was created in 2023.
In the platform where various universities and agricultural and technology companies took part, Çukurova University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Horticulture Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Ebru Yaşa Kafkas prepared the project "Development of New Varieties with New Generation Breeding Strategies Against Biotic and Abiotic Stress Factors in Different Plant Species for the Çukurova Region".
Within the scope of the project carried out in partnership with Kilis University, Adana Biological Control Research Institute and Alata Horticulture Research Institute in Mersin, strawberries, citrus fruits, wheat and pepper were determined as the study subjects, taking into account production, consumption and export potential.
Approximately 18 million liras were supported by TUBITAK for the project, which included faculty members and master's and doctoral students from Uzbekistan, Egypt, Republic of South Africa, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Spain and Morocco.
Within the scope of the project, in addition to purchasing a new device for the laboratory, a greenhouse was also established on the terrace of the CU Horticulture Department building.
The aim is to determine the species that are most resistant to disease and drought by making trial plantings in the greenhouse of strawberry, citrus, wheat and pepper varieties developed in the laboratory environment.
The aim is to develop drought-resistant varieties
Project leader Prof. Dr. Kafkas told the AA correspondent that global climate change has also negatively affected agricultural production in recent years.
Explaining that excessive irrigation is carried out due to high temperature and drought, Kafkas stated that this situation causes negativities such as salinity in the soil, as well as changes in disease types and pest populations in plants.
Kafkas pointed out that the increase in the number and effects of disease types in plants directly negatively affects human and environmental health, especially due to the use of pesticides, and continued as follows:
"For this purpose, we have attempted such a project. As you know, citrus fruits, pepper and wheat, which are important for our country and from which the Çukurova region provides a large part of them commercially, are strategic products, we have started research on hot stuffed peppers and strawberries, which are indispensable. Our aim here is to develop disease-resistant or highly tolerant strawberry varieties with new breeding methods. To introduce new varieties of peppers and hot stuffed peppers that are resistant to drought, salt and diseases to our country. Especially in wheat. "The aim is to develop new drought-resistant varieties suitable for summer and winter production, pasta and semolina sectors."
Kafkas stated that the project aims to obtain new citrus rootstocks with high drought tolerance and resistance.
"We need to test the varieties under producer conditions."
Stating that they achieved good results in the development stages of their work, Kafkas said, "We need to try and demonstrate these varieties under producer conditions. We hope to introduce new varieties with high disease tolerance to our country against the drought stress caused by global climate change in 1-2 years." he said.
New breeding technologies are also being researched
Kafkas stated that the project, on which they have been working for 3 years, will end in August next year.
Emphasizing that new variety development technologies were also researched with the project, Kafkas said:
"It takes many years to develop new varieties. Our goal here is to develop new technologies that will shorten the breeding period. For example, let's say we have identified a candidate gene related to drought in a variety. All researchers in the world working on a similar subject will be able to test their genetic resources by using this gene and will know whether the varieties they have are resistant to drought. In addition, they will not have to wait long when they start creating a new breeding program. They will immediately learn the drought resistance by testing the variety with the candidate gene. Thus, before moving on to the seed planting and germination stages, the existing variety will be able to test its genetic resources. "This is a huge gain. The most important thing here is saving time. Consequently, there is economic gain. Shortening the time in breeding is of great importance for both us and the researchers who will conduct these researches in the next generations."
