SMARTLEG project
SMARTLEG project represents an innovative solution to solve the challenges related with food security, expected to be jeopardized by an increasing number of constraints, such as significant loss of biodiversity and climate changes whose effects are visible in agriculture particularly by water scarcity and accelerated soil degradation.
The main goal of SMARTLEG project is to develop genetic solutions for biotic and abiotic limitations of Phaseolus productivity.
Plant genetic resources with the ability to perform in suboptimal culture conditions aims mainly to ensure food security through availability, access and safe use. Food legumes is a group of plants irreplaceable for now and for the future, as they are an important food source for humans and animals by the high protein content and carbohydrates and also an important source of green manure by the symbiotic activity.
Our interest is mainly on species Ph. vulgaris and Ph. coccineus.
The project, by (1) evaluation and characterization of Phaseouls genetic resources, in different climate condition, (2) detection of resources suitable to ecological system, meets the farmers and consumers demands regarding the need to cultivate varieties, adapted to environmental conditions, early and productive, characterized by strong genetic resistance, able to be cultivated with minimum agricultural inputs and capable to guarantee food and nutritional quality.
