Partner Search for PRIMA: Abiotic Stress, Medicinal Plants and Sustainable Crop Production – TARM, Türkiye
Ankara Central Research Institute for Field Crops – TARM (Türkiye)
The Central Research Institute for Field Crops (TARM) is a leading public research institute located in Ankara, Türkiye, operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The institute plays a central role in national research programs on field crops, plant genetic resources, and sustainable agricultural production systems.
TARM manages extensive experimental fields, greenhouses, and controlled growth facilities, enabling multi-location field trials, long-term breeding programs, and real-scale validation studies. Research activities primarily focus on strategic field crops including cereals, legumes, industrial crops, forage crops, and medicinal and aromatic plants.
Core expertise and infrastructure include:
i. Field crop breeding and genetic improvement (cereals, legumes, industrial and forage crops, medicinal and aromatic plants)
ii. Design and execution of multi-environment field trials for yield, quality, and stress tolerance evaluation
iii. Abiotic stress research, particularly drought, salinity, and climate change–related stress factors affecting field crops
iv. Crop physiology and agronomy studies focusing on water use efficiency, nutrient management, and sustainable production practices
v. Seed science and technology, including seed quality assessment, germination, vigor, and storage studies
vi. Management and utilization of plant genetic resources, including collection, conservation, characterization, and pre-breeding activities
vii. Research on medicinal and aromatic plants, including cultivation techniques, agronomic optimization, intercropping techniques to contol pest/disease and increase biodiversity and value-added utilization
viii. Laboratory and molecular infrastructure supporting:Morphological, physiological, and biochemical analyses
a. Molecular marker–based characterization and diversity analysis
b. Trait validation under controlled and field conditions
ix. Development of sustainable agricultural practices aimed at increasing productivity while reducing environmental impacts
The institute provides a robust and reliable research environment for projects targeting climate-resilient crop production, sustainable agriculture, and food security under changing environmental conditions.
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), Climate-Resilient Crops, Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Salinity Stress, Drought Stress, Plant Genetic Resources, Secondary Metabolite Production, Sustainable Cultivation, Mediterranean Agroecosystems, Multi-Environment Field Trials, Crop Physiology, Metabolomics, Transcriptomics (RNA-seq), Plant Breeding, Biodiversity Conservation
We are seeking to join a PRIMA consortium focusing on medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) under climate change conditions, particularly within Mediterranean agroecosystems.
The Central Research Institute for Field Crops (TARM, Türkiye) offers strong expertise in field-based experimentation, plant genetic resources, and abiotic stress physiology, and is well-positioned to contribute to multidisciplinary projects integrating agronomy, molecular biology, and sustainable production systems.
Within a consortium, we aim to actively contribute to:
i. Evaluation of medicinal and aromatic plant species and genotypes under abiotic stress conditions (drought, salinity, heat) through multi-location field trials and controlled environment experiments
ii. Investigation of secondary metabolite responses (e.g., phenolics, essential oils, bioactive compounds) under stress conditions
iii. Establishment and management of field experiments and validation trials to assess yield, quality, and stress tolerance
iv. Integration of physiological, biochemical, and molecular analyses to better understand plant responses to environmental stress
v. Development of sustainable cultivation strategies for MAPs, including agronomic optimization and resource-efficient practices
vi. Contribution to the collection, conservation, and characterization of plant genetic resources, particularly for underutilized and endemic medicinal species
We are particularly interested in joining consortia that include partners working on:
Advanced analytical platforms (e.g., metabolomics, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS)
Functional genomics and transcriptomics
Biotechnological applications and product development
Value chain analysis and sustainable utilization of MAPs
Through this collaboration, we aim to support the development of climate-resilient and high-value medicinal plant production systems, contributing to sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic development in PRIMA countries.
