3rd Annual Meeting of the BELIS Project (2023-2028)
The annual meeting of the BELIS (Breeding European Legumes for Increased Sustainability) project took place from 15 to 17 September in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Around fifty participants were welcomed by the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB), one of the project partners.
Progress made across the various research activities and the first dissemination of project results were discussed. Key topics addressed included:
- the development of screening protocols and the provision of phenotyping and genotyping tools;
- the collection, management, and sharing of project data.
As part of WP6, GEVES presented its achievements at a workshop dedicated to the registration of varieties, particularly of peas and alfalfa varieties. Progress made in genotyping collections of peas, chickpeas, lentils, field beans and alfalfa was presented in order to assess the potential use of molecular markers in DUS studies and the management of reference collections. Furthermore, a preliminary analysis of the results from European protein pea trials was discussed to examine the value of agrizones in optimising VSCU trials.
The annual meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange with the various stakeholders involved in the project and to visit the “K. Malkov” Institute of Plant Genetic Resources in Sadovo.
