Our university in an international NCBR-funded project on grapevine viral diseases

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Urszula Gawlik, PhD, DSc – Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry at the Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology – will be leading a project team from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin as part of the international research project entitled “Grapevine viruses in Polish vineyards – diagnostics and the use of resistance inducers to enhance immunity and health-promoting properties of grapes.”

The University of Life Sciences in Lublin is a partner in this project, which received funding under the INNOGLOBO program implemented by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).

The project consortium is led by the Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute, and also includes LOEWE® Biochemica GmbH from Bavaria, Germany. The project will begin in September of this year and will last for 36 months. The total budget of the partners amounts to nearly 500,000 euros.

The project focuses on the diagnostics and control of grapevine viruses, whose occurrence in Poland is rapidly increasing alongside the development of the national wine industry and climate change. The project concentrates on four main objectives:monitoring the presence of key viruses (including GPGV, GLRaV, GRSPaV, GFLV),

1. developing rapid diagnostic tests,
2. evaluating the effectiveness of resistance inducers (RIs) under temperate climate conditions,
3. analyzing the impact of RIs on the health and fruit quality of grapevine cultivars grown in Poland.

At the University, biochemical and molecular analyses will be conducted, including enzyme activity related to plant defense, levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the fruit. The sensory quality of the fruit will also be assessed. These pioneering studies in Poland will provide practical knowledge for vineyard managers and plant propagators and may lead to recommendations for the biological protection of grapevines under temperate climate conditions.

The INNOGLOBO program enables Polish entities to establish research and development cooperation across various thematic areas with international partners from countries with which Poland maintains diplomatic relations. Under this call, applicants have the opportunity to receive funding for international projects with diverse budgets and topics, including highly niche areas.

Eligible applications must include at least one foreign partner and align with the current National Smart Specialisation areas.

Those interested in applying for the next edition of the program are encouraged to contact the Office for International Projects at bpm@up.lublin.pl.