Code
3G001408
Duration
01 January 2008 → 30 December 2013
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Promotor
Research disciplines
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Natural sciences
- Plant biology
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Agricultural and food sciences
- Agricultural plant production
- Horticultural production
Keywords
secondary metabolites
saponins
plant cell cultures
Project description
Natural hybridisation of plant species is a driving force in the evolution and diversification of plant species. The formation of new hybrid species may lead to the production of altered compositions or new types of secondary metabolites that do not occur in the parental plants. By means of protoplast fusion, Maesa species and Nicotiana tabacum > Bright Yellow-2 (BY-2) hybrid cell cultures will be generated. The composition and types of saponin produced by these cultures will be analysed. Finally, interesting cell lines that produce new types of saponin will be stored using cryoperservation.