Working Groups

The Action will be organized in 5 Working Groups (WG) related to the main objectives and technical areas (see D2):

WG1. Genetics, Genomics & Transcriptomics (coordinated research on these fields).

WG2. Phytochemistry & Metabolomics (coordinated research on these fields).

WG3. Molecular and Phytochemical fingerprinting for breeding, traceability, and authenticity (development of technological tools).

WG4. Dissemination, Project Management & Coordination.

 

The Action will encourage the exchange of scientists between the participating partners through short-term scientific missions. The outcome of the STSMs will be presented at the annual seminars. The Action will be carried out in cooperation with existing national and international research programs related to OMICS technologies or/and Saffron. Scientists from related fields are promoted to take part in the Action to provide input of new ideas and an exchange of information. A website for the Action will be created and maintained to enhance the communication within the Action and to inform the external scientific community and disseminate the results.

 

Liaison and interaction with other research programmes

The European projects focused on Saffron research are mentioned in SEction B4. Amonst them, the EU AGRI GEN RES 018 action “Genetic Resources of Saffron and Allies (Crocus spp): CROCUSBANK”, 2007-2011, Odeals with the creation, characterisation, and exploitation of a germplasm collection (bank) in Crocus species, including saffron crocus (C. sativus Linn.). This useful collection is an urgent need for saffron breeders and farmers. The collection has two main goals: First, to collect and reproduce saffron bulbs, coming from all the countries that cultivate saffron, for direct use of this plant material in selection programmes all over the world; and second, to create a collection of saffron allies for conservation, since they are endangered and threatened taxa and populations in Crocus, and for research in taxonomy and evolution, genetics, physiology, ecology and agronomy. These Crocus species are exploitable sources of resistances and other agronomical interesting traits to be transferred to saffron, through appropriate breeding programmes and technological tools.

The current COST action addresses coordinated research on Saffron -OMICS which are very useful in germplasm characterisation. Consequently, data about Genetic characterisation, estimation of biodiversity and development of molecular and chemical descriptors will be shared with the CROCUSBANK project WP05 (www.crocusbank.org). If there is overlap of dates between projects (CROCUSBANK extends to December 2011), there will be a coordination meeting amongst the CROCUSBANK Descriptors Group (WP03: List of Descriptors) plus the Chemical and Molecular Characterisation Group (WP05: Characterisation and Evaluation), and the COST participants. This meeting could take place in coincidence with the Final CROCUSBANK meeting in the 2011 (Valencia, Spain).

Although the other projects have finished, whenever possible, joint meetings and workshops will be arranged with groups involved in these projects, some of them also participants in the present Action, to further allow the exchange of research experiences and methods and to deepen the contact between researchers from related areas. Furthermore, representatives from the SAFFRON and SAFFIC projects will be encouraged to participate in the Action seminars and workshops.

 

Gender balance and involvement of early-stage researchers

This COST Action will respect an appropriate gender balance in all its activities and the Management Committee will place this as a standard item on all its MC agendas. The Action will also be committed to considerably involve early-stage researchers. This item will also be placed as a standard item on all MC agendas.

This COST Action will respect an appropriate gender balance in all its activities and the Management Committee will place this as a standard item on all its MC agendas. The Action will also be committed to considerably involve early-stage researchers. This item will also be placed as a standard item on all MC agendas.