Kairi Kärblane

MARTA addresses agronomically and economically important traits in plant breeding to support sustainable and self-sufficient food production in Estonia. We will create novel breeding knowledge together with a toolbox of modern breeding tools (including novel genetic markers, genomic selection and genome editing). Target traits for breeding include climate-resilience, disease resistance, product quality, production sustainability and high yield. We have chosen 7 strategically important crop species for Estonia as prime targets for application of modern breeding tools. Wheat, barley and potato are important in ensuring energy and protein supply as food crops. Nitrogen fixing capability and high protein content (29% of seed dry matter) of faba bean make it a strategically important crop in Estonia’s protein self-sufficiency. Apple and blackcurrant are important horticultural crops ensuring a healthy diet and providing a local supply of vitamin- and antioxidant-rich resources for the industry. Bridging the gap between fundamental and applied plant biology will allow faster translation of research results into breeding. The research questions (Q) addressed in the project range from broad phenotypic and genotypic screening to application of precision breeding and creation of novel genetic markers. The establishment of a pipeline for using genomics and transcriptomics results will speed up and create new possibilities for breeding climate-resilient future crops. Q1 aims to create specific scientific knowledge, data and results for input to Q2 and Q3, which serve to develop modern tools for breeding (e.g. novel genetic markers for disease resistance, pre-breeding material from precision breeding). MARTA will generate and validate a modern breeding toolbox for flexible and sustainable plant breeding in Estonia to ensure food security.

The handling of SARS-CoV-2 needs to be carried out in BSL3 (Biosafety level 3) laboratories that is expensive and not always available. This has urged the need for solutions that would allow to work with SARS-CoV-2 material in lower biosafety level laboratories. Therefore a collaboration was established with virologists from Tartu University (Prof. Merits and Dr. Varjak). This project proposes two approaches to provide solutions for this important obstacle. First, we aim to develop a complementation system (trans-replicases) based on SARS-CoV-2. Second, we will create stable cell lines enabling packaging of viral replicase into virion-like particles. The new tools developed during this project will allow the studies assessing the effect of emerging mutations for virus replication. In addition, our systems will offer the possibilities to test neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 as well as other COVID-19 drug candidates. Therefore, the development of novel tools will support the tight collaboration with hospitals to study the effect of antibodies from patients.