BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT97-3585 - Transformation of chicory into a high value non-food crop

FAIR-CT97-3585
Transformation of chicory into a high value non-food crop

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Biological Conversion : Biotechnology : Bulk Chemicals : Chemical Conversion : Crops for Bulk Chemicals : Crops for Fine Chemicals : FAIR Area 1.2 - Green Chemicals and Polymers Chain : Fine Chemicals : Plant Genetics : Sugar

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT97-3585
	Total Cost
	EC Contribution
	Start Date
	Duration	48 Months

Transformation of chicory into a high value non-food crop

Objectives

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a biennial crop native in Europe, which is traditionally grown for use as a coffee substitute or chicory drink or for use in the sugar industry. The current area under production for "sugar chicory" is 15,000 ha concentrated in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. The tap roots contain inulin (a fructose polymer) that is used for food products, including use as the starting material for fructose syrup. Inulin also has a high potential for use in non-food applications. The non-food industry is in need of new ingredients such as inulin that has a great market potential. Of the various inulin-producing crops known, chicory has the best potential for agricultural and industrial exploitation. However, the current properties of the inulin in the native chicory crop do not yet meet the requirements related to processing and chemical modification, necessary for successful application in non-food industry. The main obstacle is the low degree of polymerisation (DP) of the native chicory inulin. This project aims to upgrade the quality and volume of chicory inulin through genotype improvement focusing on the increase of the mean degree of polymerisation from the current value of 10 (low DP) to a value between 20 and 100 (High DP).

Technical Approach

By introducing into native chicory a set of three genes originating from the same Asteraceae plant family, inulin metabolism will be induced to produce the targeted high DP inulin. Research activities concentrate on the selection of appropriate (wild) Asteraceae species; the isolation of genes or a combination of genes followed by the actual transformation of the native chicory into transgenic chicory. The transformation will be done along two lines of which the first one will result in agronomically tested transgenic chicory seed during the third year of this project. The second line will be released for agronomic testing by the end of the fourth year.

In addition to the transformation activities the project will assess the functional properties of high DP inulin from both sub-fractioned HDP inulin as well as the transgenic chicory inulin for use in several markets in the non-food industry.

Expected Results

From an agronomic point of view, chicory is a welcome addition to crop rotation schemes. It does not require much nitrogen, is more drought resistant than sugar beet and grows well on a large variety of soil types ranging from clay to sand. It is a familiar crop to sugar beet growers because cultivation as well as the related mechanisation is similar to that of sugar beet. Processing facilities for roots are similar to that of the sugar industry. A major economic benefit connected to the introduction of chicory as a high value non-food crop is the fact that the product of non-food chicory inulin is not limited by the sugar or fructose related quota agreements. This, therefore, opens new possibilities for (sugar beet) farmers to diversify as well as to expand their farming activities. Development of rural communities in traditional chicory growing areas, as well as in new European countries, is foreseen. Furthermore employment opportunities in the chicory seed and processing industries will increase.

The participants in the research consortium represent the European chicory seed industry (processing industry and growers as well as research institutes specialised in chicory, fructan and inulin research). By upgrading chicory from a currently marginal food crop to a multi-functional high value crop, this project will give a new impulse to both European agriculture and agro-industry. These experiments will result from the third year onwards in the decision by the chicory processing industry to make major investments in this new crop and the processing facilities.

Results To Date

Genes involved in inulin metabolism were isolated from several members of the Asteracea. A few of them appeared to be suitable for transformation into chicory. Effort has been put into optimising the transformation of chicory. New constructs harbouring quality genes involved in inulin metabolism were prepared and the first transformations with these quality genes have already been performed. Other efforts are focussing on subfractionating of inulin with a high degree of polymerisation from chicory roots. This material will be used for further chemical modification.

Contacts

Coordinator

Plant Research International NETHERLANDS

EC Scientific Officer

Adelmo MOREALE / European Commission DG VI Agriculture BELGIUM

Participant