AerPotato aims to solve the problem of the low rate of pre-basic seed potato (minituber) production under elevated temperatures by employing a beyond-state-of-the-art approach. Our approach combines the application of modern aeroponic technology and stress-protective nanoparticles (NPs) to promote growth, enhance stress tolerance and productivity of potato plants, which can be applied to other commercially important plant species. Aeroponics is a modern, eco-friendly, soilless technology for potato minituber production with more than ten-fold higher production rates than conventional technology. However, potato is a highly heat-susceptible crop species, and one of the challenges in potato growing is maintaining productivity during hot periods of the year that we will address with adequate NP treatments. Since readily applicable, we expect that the results of AerPotato will have a significant impact on the agroindustry. In addition, the results of AerPotato will significantly influence the scientific community by contributing to the investigation of NPs׳ action mechanisms in plant heat stress.

Period: 2023-2026.

Project coordinator: Dr. Ivana Momčilović, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković" – National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade

Team members from IBISS:
Dr. Danijel Pantelić, Department of Plant Physiology
Dr. Jelena Rudić, Department of Plant Physiology

External advisors:
Dr. Ivana Dragićević, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
Dr. Zoran Broćić, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade
Dr. Jasmina Oljača, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade