Objectives

•  Evaluation of plant performance according to phenological traits, yield components and seed characteristics

•  Leaf and seed sample preparation

•  In parallel, multiplication of seed samples to increase seed batches

Expected result

• Identification and selection of the best genotypes for further development of new varieties.

• Leaf and seed samples for subsequent tasks

Team members: G Pereira, I Duarte, M Menezes

Objectives

•  Characterization of several cowpea landraces in relation to their different phenolic compounds’ profiles

•  Identification of landraces with the highest anti-inflammatory potential

•  Selection and identification ofaccessions with the highest phenolic content for the subsequent study of their drought and heat tolerance

•  Evaluation of the effect of drought and heat stress in the phenolic compounds’ profiles

Expected results

• Identify landraces presenting high amount of phenolic compounds with anti-inflamatory activity.

• Identify landraces with the highest anti-inflamatory activity.

• Quantification of the effect of drought and heat stress in the phenolic compounds’ profiles of landraces.

Team members: CN Santos, MR Bronze, A Matias, E Mecha

Objectives

• Characterization of landraces concerning different antibacterial and anti-biofilms properties
• Identification of landraces with the highest antibacterial and anti-biofilms properties

Expected result

• Identification of landraces with the highest antibacterial and anti-biofilms properties

• Quantification of the extracts concentrations able to eliminate important foodborne pathogens

Team members: L. Brito, A.C. Silva, C Nunes.

Objectives

• Comparative evaluation, under controlled conditions, of stress impact (drought and heat) in the physiological performance, in grain production and composition of cowpea landraces, previously screened for phenolic composition

• Identification of cowpea landraces with the highest resistance to water and heat stress

Expected result

• Characterization of drought and heat stress resistance levels of the cowpea landraces in order to select those accessions to be further used in the phenolic content analysis

• Detailed characterization of cowpea accessions by gas-exchange parameters under water deficit and high temperatures

• Identification of interesting landraces accessions (drought and heat resistance traits), potentially important for developing new varieties with enhanced resistance/tolerance

Team members: P. Scotti-Campos, J. Semedo, I. Pais, C Nunes

Objectives

• Screening germplasm accessions using SSR and DArT markers

Expected result

• SSR and DArT screening of the cowpea accessions

• Characterization of genetic diversity that will be used in the population structure analysis.

Team members: MM Veloso, J Guimarães, C Nunes

Objectives

• Implementation of communication and dissemination of scientific and technical results

• Training activities for young researchers

Expected result

• Project website

• Leaflets, distributed during the Fascination of Plants Day

• Field day that will take place at Lardosa (Castelo Branco) which is the main producing area of cowpea in Portugal, during the annual cowpea market (every year in September/October). The project participants will present the main outcomes of the project.

Team members: This Activity will be coordinated by Maria Manuela Veloso (INIAV), and all team members will be involved.