BioMatNet Item: AIR3-CT94-2472 - Introduction of Promising Native Ornamental Species to the European Market, Adapted to Low Water Availability and Saline Conditions

AIR3-CT94-2472
Introduction of Promising Native Ornamental Species to the European Market, Adapted to Low Water Availability and Saline Conditions

Contacts

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AIR Cluster V - Speciality Chemicals

	Contract No	AIR3-CT94-2472
	Total Cost	1 367 308
	EC Contribution	805 000
	Start Date	01/01/1995
	Duration	48 months

OBJECTIVE

This project aims at developing new ornamental species originally native of the Mediterranean region with the specific objectives :

To offer a new range of ornamental species better adapted to arid or saline conditions for the professional industry with a contribution to the EC policy of saving natural resources, with well adapted species, also less sensible to pests and diseases, requiring less fertilisers and useful to recover degraded areas.
Also, the project integrates the natural environment in a production system that is helpful for rural areas of low resources, by means of encouraging the change towards market productions which are not in surplus in the EC. The proposed programme includes exchange of plant material and methodologies.

Task 1 deals with investigation of efficient propagation methodology.

In task 2 the growing techniques for nursery conditions will be examined as follows :

a) Study of the morphological, phenological and horticultural responses of the selected species under various growing conditions.
b) Determination of climatic requirements for growth and development.
c) Techniques for building the appropriate plant structure.

Task 3 deals with the evaluation of the species under study to adapting capacities to :

a) Low water availability and supply
b) Soil and water salinity
c) Selection for salt tolerance in vitro.

In task 4 the quality standards, the marketing and cost benefit analysis will be examined.

Finally in task 5 an experimental network will be organised.

Ten participants from 4 countries will cooperate in the realisation of this project. Professional industries of all countries will participate in the application and are expected to contribute to the fast dissemination of the results. The participants will exchange plant material and information. Two workshops are scheduled to take place and experimental an network will be organised. The programme is expected to last four years.

Contacts

Coordinator

Dr D. GERASOPOULUS / Mediterranean Agron Inst of Chania GREECE

EC Scientific Officer

Adelmo MOREALE / European Commission DG VI Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant