Biomolecular and eco-physiological insights to breed the two ultimate European nickel phytomining crop

Phytoextraction are a friendly environmental approach to extract metal(loids) from soil either for mining (Phytomining) or farming for metal (Agromining) by using a group of specific plant. Hyperaccumulator species which are used for phytoextraction are still in wild status and do not harbour all the desirable traits also little is known about the genetics mechanism underlying nickel hyperaccumulation. Plant breeding is based on understanding the genetic mechanism of the trait that intended to be improved. Indeed, plant manipulation through pollination, crossing scheme, and selection of progeny can be started only after having deep knowledge on molecular mechanism. ‘Metal crops’ breeding are the promise alternative for efficient Agromining. Until now few studies were focused on its use in this field. This PhD study aim to bring more details on the physiological and molecular mechanism of nickel accumulation and start a breeding program of two ideal European candidate species Bornmuellera emarginata and B. tymphaea for Agromining.

To do so, firstly we will characterize phenotypically 14 accessions from Greece in term of biomass production, nickel uptake and accumulation. Secondly, we will use those genotypes selected after the reduction of heterozygosis by three generation of speed breeding to make the physiology study, pH range, co-cropping with Imperata cylindrica an iron hyperaccumulator.

And finally, we will identify genes which encode metal transporters in root, their loading in the xylem and sequestration in the vacuole by a comparative transcriptomic with closet non-accumulator Alyssoides utrilicata.