Improving the effectiveness of UK cropgenetic science for wheat and oilseed rapethrough novel, integrated networks ofresearch

Kim Hammond-KosackRothamsted Research

AAB 11th March 2004

The Defra Crop Genetic Improvement Networks

Dr Donal Murphy-Bokern

Arable Crop Sciences & Pesticide Safety Unit

Science Directorate

Defra

Announced July 2002

Overall Objectives

• Each Crop Genetic Improvement Network =

Virtual Plant Breeding Institute

• To connect public sector science to the private sector

Why this need ?

• To use crop breeding for the sustainabledevelopment of the arable sector

A brief history of UK public and private sectoractivities in crop genetics

1960s – Plant Breeders Rights established- competition till mid-1980s

Transfer of information only, not breeding material

1960s-1970s excellent public sector activity incrop genetics and breeding – PBI, Cambridge

In mid-1980s, privatisation – sale of PBI and NSDO

Public Research Institute’s to generate revenue from non-government sources and from own IP

Where was Defra coming from?

• Public research - £43 m pa

> £16 m on named crop species> £5 m on targeted research> Little use of LINK> Project based> Pre-competitive

• Public R&D is only effective in supporting Defra if it results in better varieties

The Defra Crop Genetic Improvement Networks

To deploy existing research resources in networks of projects that bring public resources together to bear on the improvement of key crops

Strategic alliances between the public research base and the breeding industry

To recreate the best of the past

Networks established* / under development

•Wheat *

•Oilseed rape *

•Short rotation coppice*

•Pulse crops

•Miscanthus

also later

•Oats

The Defra Crop Genetic Improvement NetworksSatellite Projects (Defra/BBSRC)

To all breeders

LINK 1

LINK 3

Trait specificprojects

Technology development

Core project:

TechnologiesGenetic resources

Expertise

Industry drivenprojectsScoping

studies

LINK 2

Defra fundingDefra/BBSRC fundingDefra/Industry funding

Industrysignal

Science signal

The longer-term vision

• A strong crop breeding sector deploying the best technologies science can offer

• A strong strategic and applied research base competing effectively for resources

• A strong base for international partnerships

• More resource efficient and productive crops

The Defra Genetic Improvement Network Comprises Several Parts

LINK projects £300K

Satellite Projects £300K

Core Project £300K £220K

WGIN

5 years 3 yearsUK-based breeding companies

9 for wheat and 6 for oilseed rape

OREGIN

The Defra WGIN

Grain Producers and Utilisers

WGIN

BBSRC

EU INTERNATIONAL

OTHERCEREALS

MODEL SPECIES

9 UK WHEAT BREEDINGCOMPANIES

The Defra WGIN Core ProjectAims:To Underpin Wheat Improvement by Plant

BreedersApproaches:1. Characterisation and provision of genetic resources2. Genetic mapping and marker development3. Trait identification 4. Identification and generation of novel variation in

key traits : using non-GM approaches5. Central storage of grain from field trials6. Liaison and communication

Funded research partners:Rothamsted Research and John Innes Centre

Genetic mapping and marker development

Avalon x Cadenza -

204 double haploid lines

• Establish a reference UK mapping population

• Switch to ‘within the gene’ molecular markers

> 500,000 wheat ESTs available

Avalon Cadenza

Trait identification 1. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

2. Plant architecture traits to low disease pressure

3. Grain quality • Field trial at RRes, 0,100, 200, 350 kg Nitrogen,31 cultivars, UK(20), Fra (5), DE (5), Poland (1)

• Desk-top study NUE (U of Nottingham, RRes and ADAS)

Septoria leaf blotch Fusarium ear blight

PCR TILLING technique on - EMS mutagenised populations- Diverse germplasm collections

Diploid and Hexaploid wheat

Identification and generation of novel variationin key traits

The VavilovInstitute,St. PetersburgRussia

PCR TILLING Technique to identify gene variants

PCR product lines 1- 99

PCR product line 100

Single bp mis-matches cut in heteroduplex DNA by Cel1 enzyme

denaturingelectrophoresis

Pool of PCRproducts(500 bp)

Wild-type allele

Variant allele

Assess lines carrying variant allele for novel phenotypes

Gene of interestP1 P2

Demonstration PCR TILLING project No 1

Rht3 gene variants - wild-type phenotype extreme dwarf

rht Rht1 Rht2 Rht1Rht2

Rht3 Rht2Rht3

EMS mutagenised - Mercia Rht3 line

Global plant defence signalling regulatorsin both cereal and non-cereal species

Demonstration PCR TILLING project No 2

PATHOGEN RECOGNITION

Plant cell signalling

A MULTI-COMPONENTRESISTANCE RESPONSE

3 COMPONENTS TO INDUCIBLE PLANT DEFENCE

Management of the Defra WGIN: The Management Team

DefraFunded partners.

Rothamsted ResearchJohn Innes Centre

Other Partners *ADASUniversity of Nottingham NIABUniversity of Bristol

BBSRC*UK Wheat breeders*HGCA* ( *Ex-Officio Members)

Management of the Defra WGIN: The Stakeholders

Millers and BakersBrewers and Distillers

CCFRALivestock Feed Producers

Food processorsAgrochemical/Biotech Companies

Wheat ResearchersField Trials Contractors

The Defra WGIN:Dissemination, Liaison and Communication

Annual “Stakeholders’ Forum” (Nov)Annual “Cereal Genetics and Genomics

Workshop” (Dec)Annual “ Traits Workshop ” (April)Workshops with overseas partner

organisations:CIMMYT, INRA etc.Web Site (www.WIGN.org.UK )Six Monthly Electronic Newsletter

The Defra OREGIN Core ProjectAims:To Underpin Oilseed Rape Improvement by

Plant BreedersApproaches:

1. Molecular characterisation and provision of genetic resources

2. Trait identification – Focus plant disease 3. Liaison and communication

Funded research partners:Rothamsted Research Horticultural Research International

Spring OSR/Canola

Winter OSR

Hannover salad

Fodder/forage rape

Swede

Resynthesised B. napus

+ Others?

Schematic representation of the diversity available in B. napus

Generation of the B. napus Diversity Fixed Foundation Set

Aim to generate and maintain188 DFFS genotypes

New Defra funded HRI Genomics Resource Centre Seed Archive extension

Basal cankerAutumn leaf lesion

Stem and seed podinfections

Traits – Disease resistance1. Phoma stem canker – Leptosphaeria maculans

Autumn leaf lesion

2. Light leaf spot – Pyrenopeziza brassicae

Leptosphaeria maculans - isolate collection

110

38

9

6

?66

?

Pyrenopeziza brassicae – isolate collection

65

28

?

78/9378/93P. brassicae

Mycelialcultures initiated

126/229L. maculans

DNA extractedSingle-spored

Archiving fungal diversity

OREGIN website - http://www.oregin.info

LINK PROPOSAL SA 219

Components of Resistance to Diseases in Winter Oilseed Rape Cultivars

NIABADASRothamstedSAC

HGCASaaten UnionCPB TwyfordNickersonElsomsSyngenta SeedsMonsanto

Concluding remarks

• The Crop Genetic Improvement Networks are a Defra initiative focused on sustainable agriculture through lowering inputs

• New initiative re-connecting public investmentwith Industry

• Outcome of the BBSRC Crop Science Researchreview due in 2004

• Delivery through plant breeding– ‘conventional’, ‘genomic’ and GM

And finally DefraDonal Murphy-BokernBruno Viegas

WGINRRes - Peter Shewry,

Andy PhillipsKim Hammond-KosackKostya KanyukaKatie Tearall

JIC – John SnapeRobert KoebnerChristian RogersLeodie Alibert

The Plant BreedersThe Management team

OREGINRRes – Ian Crute

Bruce FittNeal EvansOlu Latunde-Dada

HRI - Graham KingGraham Teakle

JIC - Ian BancroftColin Morgan

Peter Werner

www.WGIN.org.UK www.oregin.info

The Defra WGIN: Wider Activities

1. Liaison with other Defra programmes on wheat2. Liaison with other UK bodies supporting research on

wheat:BBSRC,HGCA,FSA

3. Liaison with overseas organisations:CIMMYT/ICARDA (International)USDA/Agriculture Canada (N.America)CSIRO/Adelaide (Australia)DSIR Crop and Food (New Zealand)CSIR (South Africa)EU (FP6)