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The Minister of Universities and Research Company, Salvador Marín, presented this morning at the Centre for Soil and Applied Biology Segura (CEBAS) the project 'Melonomic' research of the melon genome, which will produce new varieties of gourds.

The Ministry, through the Seneca Foundation of Science and Technology Agency of the Region of Murcia, co this commitment to research, development and innovation that will improve the international competitiveness of companies that produce melons from Murcia.

Marin said that "this research project leading biotechnology is a clear example of knowledge transfer to companies to improve their competitiveness and will have varieties of melon and other cucurbit plants specially adapted to the region, prepared for drought and infection pathogens.

Since the regional government consider joint effort between the business world, universities and research centers to achieve sustainable growth. "

The 'Melonomic' for sequencing the genome of melon, aims to create tools to facilitate faster delivery of melon varieties are well adapted to growing conditions and produce the best quality fruit for consumption.

Also, the results of the project 'Melonomic' may apply to other cultivated species of the family Cucurbitaceae.

This family, along with melon, including cucumber, watermelon, zucchini and pumpkin.

"Since the regional government are placing special emphasis on creating the conditions for innovative activity and reduce barriers to university-business relationship, working to promote innovation as a key ingredient in business management.

'Melonomic' is a clear example of public-private partnership that generates research of economic importance in areas important to the region "said Minister of Universities, Business and Research.

The melon crop has great economic significance in the Region of Murcia, where four years has increased 37 percent expansion of acreage and productivity.

In fact, the Region is the largest exporter of melons from Spain in 2006 and, after citrus and leaf products (such as lettuce or cabbage), cucurbits are the most important production at regional level.

More than four million euro budget

The 'Melonomic' has a combined budget of 4,142,000 euros, of which more than half a million will be implemented in the Region of Murcia, through the CEBAS-CSIC, in three years.

The initiative of biotechnology research, CEBAS-CSIC addition, there are other Spanish research groups.

This initiative is funded by the public sector, represented by the Genome Spain Foundation and five autonomous regions (Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Madrid and Murcia) and the private sector, with three large agricultural companies and two biotech companies .

The consortium led by the main cucurbit genomics initiative worldwide.

In the presentation, the Minister of Universities, Research Enterprise and was accompanied by the general director of the Genome Spain Foundation, José Luis Jorcano.

Also, the Minister took the opportunity to visit the CEBAS-CSIC with his director, Carlos Garcia Izquierdo, and the Seneca Foundation director, Antonio González, check the projects they develop, and praise the work of investigators.

'Melonomic' is the third project of its kind in the Seneca Foundation involved in representing the region.

Before the project have been developed Grapegen on table grape genomics, and the project ESP-SOIL, tomato genomics.

Source: CARM