Co Leads:
- Daniel Arend (
- Manuel Feser (
The accessibility and publication of high-quality research data are challenging for advancing plant science. The e!DAL-PGP repository, which is developed and hosted by the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) and a part of the service portfolio of the GCBN node, serves as an important resource for sharing comprehensive plant research data. It is registered at FAIRsharing.org, re3data.org, bio.tools and OpenAIRE as a valid data archive. These accomplishments underline its importance within the scientific community. The repository addresses a significant gap by enabling the publication of cross-domain datasets that are often excluded from central repositories due to their large volume or unique data types. This includes extensive image collections from plant phenotyping and microscopy, incomplete genome assemblies, genotyping data, visualizations of morphological models, mass spectrometry outputs and training materials. The embedded review process supports FAIR compliance and high data quality. The value of e!DAL-PGP within the domain of plant science is demonstrated by its consistently growing user base and increasing data volumes per submission. However, to further streamline deployment and maintenance, enhance the user submission experience, and foster interoperability with emerging infrastructures, an update and harmonization of its user interfaces are required. This project aims to address these needs.
The first objective is the development of a modern web-based submission tool for e!DAL-PGP. It will provide a user-friendly interface, facilitates secure access through the ELIXIR Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure (AAI) - Life Science Login (LS Login) - and guides users through the required metadata and the data upload process. The potential integration of the ISA Wizard will be explored to further assist users in standardized metadata annotation. The second objective focuses on the integration with the PLANTdataHUB and the exploration of advanced implementation concepts within the DataPLANT consortium. We aim to develop a proof-of-concept workflow enabling automated data submissions upon successful validation of established metadata standards by developing a dedicated validation package for e!DAL-PGP submissions. The third objective addresses user empowerment through the development of guidelines and improved usability. This encompasses contributions to the design of the user experience and interface, the creation of comprehensive user guides for the developed tools for RDMkit and FAIR Cookbook, and the preparation of a self-service training course. These efforts aim to facilitate user onboarding, promote best practices, and ensure sustainable usage of the new tools and integrations.
This project directly supports the main goals of de.NBI by providing advanced, user-friendly bioinformatics tools and services for plant science and the broader life sciences community. Through the development of comprehensive submission workflows, robust training materials, and enhanced interoperability, the project contributes to high-quality research data management and publication. Collaboration with NFDI consortia - including NFDI4Biodiversity, DataPLANT, and FAIRagro - fosters synergy across national initiatives. The involvement of partners from IPK, RPTU, FZJ, and HHU ensures that the project benefits from a broad range of expertise and strengthens collaboration across leading research institutions in plant science and bioinformatics.