ADAPTEX – Crops adapted to change

The ADAPTEX project focuses on several lines of action:

Hazelnut

• Search for solutions to the phenomenon of the decoupling of male and female flowers.
• Improving the fruit filling phase due to heat stress problems.
• To advance in the knowledge of the biology of H. halys and P. prasina in different combinations of temperature and humidity.
• To adjust control methods to the new biological conditions according to the changes in climate expected in Catalonia.
• To characterise the water demand of hazelnut trees and different irrigation systems to minimise the sensitivity of this crop to environmental water deficit.
• Characterise the sensitivity of hazelnut to the quality of water from other sources (saline stresses)
• Characterise different hazelnut varieties in relation to water and saline stresses, and the combination of both.

Vineyard

• Characterise adaptation strategies of varieties/clones and combinations with grapevine rootstocks.
• Establish and design vine phenology forecasting models by variety and by area.
• Study the impact of agronomic mitigation practices such as pruning or soil management.
• Determine the characteristics of new vine plant material in the face of abiotic stresses typical of climate change.
• To study the determinant factors in the diapause of L. botrana and its affectation in the context of climate change in order to improve the population model.
• Determine the geographical and temporal distribution of powdery mildew, the prediction of infection periods, the population increase and its capacity to cause crop damage in different climate change scenarios.
• To study the geographical distribution and life cycle of Empoasca vitis, Jacobiasca lybica, Scaphoideus titanus and Philaenus spumarius, the feasibility of predictive models of their development and the application of the models for the design of control strategies in different climate scenarios.
• To evaluate the effect of different FFMA on the response of grapevine rootstocks under different irrigation regimes and/or A. mellea pathogen pressure.
• Characterise the effects of FFMA, A. mellea and water deficit on microbial activity related to carbon and phosphorus cycles.
• Produce grapevine rootstocks mycorrhized with native fungi effective in promoting resilience to drought and/or pathogens in the field.

Extensives crops

• Study the adaptation of alternative crops to those with higher water requirements, mainly maize, that allow acceptable yields and qualities to be obtained in situations with low irrigation water availability.
• Determine the plant material within the main species (varieties, hybrids, etc.) that is best adapted to scenarios with greater frequency and intensity of thermal and hydric stresses in the main Catalan production areas
• Establish strategies for controlling diseases that can increase the frequency and severity of their infections with the increase in temperatures and episodes of hydric stress.
• Adapt the cultural practices of some of the main extensive crops to increase their resilience to the effects of climate change.

To ensure the smooth implementation of the project, more than 50 experts in a wide range of fields are involved, making it a cross-cutting project.

Funded by the Climate Fund of the Government of Catalonia.