Root type contribution to phosphate nutrition of rice during asymbiosis and interaction with symbiotic fungi.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Plant Sciences
Abstract
Phosphate (Pi) is an essential plant macronutrient and occurs in scarce amounts in most soils, which frequently limits plant growth. Plant fitness and crop productivity is directly influenced by the plant root system's efficiency in exploring soil nutrient resources. Plant root systems are composed of distinct root types (RTs), and their ratio and spatial arrangement define root system architecture and nutrient foraging efficiency. RTs may individually respond to their abiotic and biotic soil microenvironment, thereby asymmetrically contributing to plant nutrient acquisition. Consistently, there is a growing interest of scientist and breeders in classifying and quantifying root system architectural traits (reviewed in Rogers and Benfey, 2015) towards 'designer crops with optimal root system architecture for nutrient acquisition' (Kong et al., 2014). Surprisingly however, RTs are 'under-investigated' in particular in adult crops where RT-focused research is missing. The Paszkowski group has addressed this gap in knowledge by studying the RTs of adult rice plants at V8 stage (before flowering). The root system of adult rice is composed of three RTs, the crown, large and fine lateral roots (CR, LLR, FLR, respectively) with distinct developmental and anatomical characteristics. Unique transcriptional signatures for each rice RT were revealed, which suggested distinct roles in nutrient acquisition (Gutjahr et al., 2015). Plants acquire Pi either directly or in association with naturally prevalent arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In rice, the different RTs exhibit variable extent of colonization with LLR fully and CR partially colonized, whereas FLRs remain non-colonized (Gutjahr et al., 2009). Exposing rice roots to a beneficial AM fungus led to the profound modulation of each RT transcriptome, indicative of a switch in their functional relationship. The contribution of individual RTs to rice Pi nutrition in asymbiosis or during interaction with AM fungi remains at present unclear and represents the main objective of this proposal. In addition, the Paszkowski group has recently discovered that exclusively vacuoles of fungus-containing plant cells accumulated structures resembling polyphosphate-storage bodies (Roth & Paszkowski, unpublished), previously not described for higher plants. Colonized and non-colonized RTs thus appear to differ in the spatial distribution and speciation of tissue phosphorus, which may impact on the nutritional physiology of the plant. The proposed work aims at quantitatively and spatially determining Pi uptake and partitioning into tissue and cellular pools across the RTs of adult rice root systems. The application of a unique combination of interdisciplinary techniques in analytics, imaging and molecular genetics will deliver an insight into in situ phosphorus fluxes at unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. As a staple food for more than half of the human population, rice is central for food security. The study will inform about RT functioning, important for rational breeding approaches towards improved plant stress tolerance and crop productivity.
Technical Summary
This project uses state of the art instrumentation and techniques to provide a high resolution map of phosphate uptake and tissue distribution across individual root-types of the rice root system. This project is unique due to (a) its focus on rice root-types, the building units of the root system, and (b) due to an unparalleled combination of techniques. Compartmentalized plant growth containers enable the root-type specific measurement of radiolabeled phosphate uptake rates (I Jakobsen, Denmark). In parallel, the involvement of either the direct or the symbiotic phosphate uptake pathway, and tissue phosphorus fluxes will be documented by live imaging of fluorescent rice marker lines using the latest generation multiphoton confocal microscope (J Skepper), which enables deeper tissue imaging.
The above described methodologies will be linked with measuring tissue phosphorus concentrations from PPM to hundreds of mmol/L and across overlapping scales of spatial resolution from millimetres to sub-micrometre. The global phosphorus tissue content of each root-type is determined by ICP-MS to the scale of PPM (D Salt). 31P-NMR (M Duer, D Reid) and XRF/ XANES (K Ignatyev) will provide detailed information of the distribution and concentrations of inorganic and organic phosphorus. Energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis of cryo-immobilised cross or longitudinally cryo-planed roots provides sub nanometre resolution and quantification of phosphorus in the range of 1 - 200 mmol/L in volumes of < 0.5 micron3 (J Skepper).
All techniques selected for this approach have previously been individually established on plant material. Therefore, the technical feasibility of the projected work is high. A novel, more profound and comprehensive understanding is generated by the combination of these overlapping and carefully selected techniques, which will give a superlative description of phosphorus dynamics and quantities by in vivo and ex vivo method of imaging and quantitative analyses.
The above described methodologies will be linked with measuring tissue phosphorus concentrations from PPM to hundreds of mmol/L and across overlapping scales of spatial resolution from millimetres to sub-micrometre. The global phosphorus tissue content of each root-type is determined by ICP-MS to the scale of PPM (D Salt). 31P-NMR (M Duer, D Reid) and XRF/ XANES (K Ignatyev) will provide detailed information of the distribution and concentrations of inorganic and organic phosphorus. Energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis of cryo-immobilised cross or longitudinally cryo-planed roots provides sub nanometre resolution and quantification of phosphorus in the range of 1 - 200 mmol/L in volumes of < 0.5 micron3 (J Skepper).
All techniques selected for this approach have previously been individually established on plant material. Therefore, the technical feasibility of the projected work is high. A novel, more profound and comprehensive understanding is generated by the combination of these overlapping and carefully selected techniques, which will give a superlative description of phosphorus dynamics and quantities by in vivo and ex vivo method of imaging and quantitative analyses.
Planned Impact
The project will achieve academic, economic and social impacts.
Academic impact will be realized in diverse areas of plant biology: (a) In nutritional plant physiology as our approach focuses on the macronutrient phosphate and its spatio-temporal acquisition by the modules of the rice root system, the root-types, in asymbiosis and during interaction with beneficial fungi. (b) The attention of cell biologists is attracted by integrating cell biology with whole plant physiology via providing an insight into sub-cellular phosphorus concentrations and speciation across decreasing magnification scales to whole root-type tissue. (c) The functional dissection of phosphate uptake pathways will be of importance to molecular biologists and geneticists interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of nutrient acquisition. (d) Root developmental biology is an intense research field, typically concentrating on roots of plants at seedling stage. The root types of the adult rice root system have distinct developmental characteristics with functional implications for nutrient uptake that have molecularly been rarely investigated.
The application of comprehensive and interdisciplinary methodologies including imaging, chemical analytics as well as genetics and physiology to a biological question as addressed here is unique. Therefore academic impact will in addition be achieved through pioneering an innovative way of working that will provide insights into nutrient fluxes in the cereal crop rice. It will furthermore impact on the experimental routines towards the combined utilization of otherwise independent methodologies.
The importance of root system architectural traits for crop productivity has long been recognized and breeding programs have been designed accordingly. As this project will provide information on the root-type specific contribution to rice phosphate nutrition, economic impact will be achieved through the implementation of the generated knowledge in breeding programs, leading to increased crop productivity. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the human population and is therefore central for food security plus a target for the design of sustainable strategies to increase crop yield. Findings made in rice can immediately be translated from fundamental to applied research without the need to transfer knowledge across phylogenetically distant plant species. Moreover, rice represents the primary model organism for cereal crops, frequently permitting the extrapolation of discoveries to other cereals such as wheat, barley and maize.
Societal impact of the proposed work will be achieved through stimulating the public's attention to research and issues related to plant biology, in particular to crop science. Our project can serve as an example case to illustrate in a public-friendly fashion the power of linking fundamental biological questions with modern technologies and food security. We intend to initiate public demonstrations of the project to publicise our work via engaging in presentations within schools and at events such as the annual Cambridge Science Festival.
Academic impact will be realized in diverse areas of plant biology: (a) In nutritional plant physiology as our approach focuses on the macronutrient phosphate and its spatio-temporal acquisition by the modules of the rice root system, the root-types, in asymbiosis and during interaction with beneficial fungi. (b) The attention of cell biologists is attracted by integrating cell biology with whole plant physiology via providing an insight into sub-cellular phosphorus concentrations and speciation across decreasing magnification scales to whole root-type tissue. (c) The functional dissection of phosphate uptake pathways will be of importance to molecular biologists and geneticists interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of nutrient acquisition. (d) Root developmental biology is an intense research field, typically concentrating on roots of plants at seedling stage. The root types of the adult rice root system have distinct developmental characteristics with functional implications for nutrient uptake that have molecularly been rarely investigated.
The application of comprehensive and interdisciplinary methodologies including imaging, chemical analytics as well as genetics and physiology to a biological question as addressed here is unique. Therefore academic impact will in addition be achieved through pioneering an innovative way of working that will provide insights into nutrient fluxes in the cereal crop rice. It will furthermore impact on the experimental routines towards the combined utilization of otherwise independent methodologies.
The importance of root system architectural traits for crop productivity has long been recognized and breeding programs have been designed accordingly. As this project will provide information on the root-type specific contribution to rice phosphate nutrition, economic impact will be achieved through the implementation of the generated knowledge in breeding programs, leading to increased crop productivity. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the human population and is therefore central for food security plus a target for the design of sustainable strategies to increase crop yield. Findings made in rice can immediately be translated from fundamental to applied research without the need to transfer knowledge across phylogenetically distant plant species. Moreover, rice represents the primary model organism for cereal crops, frequently permitting the extrapolation of discoveries to other cereals such as wheat, barley and maize.
Societal impact of the proposed work will be achieved through stimulating the public's attention to research and issues related to plant biology, in particular to crop science. Our project can serve as an example case to illustrate in a public-friendly fashion the power of linking fundamental biological questions with modern technologies and food security. We intend to initiate public demonstrations of the project to publicise our work via engaging in presentations within schools and at events such as the annual Cambridge Science Festival.
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Copenhagen (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Heidelberg University (Collaboration)
- ETH Zurich (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Agronomy and Botany (NIAB) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Wang M
(2018)
Blumenols as shoot markers of root symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
in eLife
Sugimoto K
(2018)
Multifaceted Cellular Reprogramming at the Crossroads Between Plant Development and Biotic Interactions.
in Plant & cell physiology
Sawers RJH
(2018)
The impact of domestication and crop improvement on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in cereals: insights from genetics and genomics.
in The New phytologist
Roth R
(2018)
A rice Serine/Threonine receptor-like kinase regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis at the peri-arbuscular membrane.
in Nature communications
Title | Co-existence - performing arts |
Description | Essi Kausalainen was an Artist in Residence for October - December 2015 at Wysing Cambridge. We first met and discussed our common interest in co-existence then. The conversations continued and let Essi to (a) compose a music piece for clarinet and female voice describing co-existence in the context of plant symbioses with beneficial fungi and (b) to an installation type of work that was exhibited in Helsinki, Brussels, Paris, Stockholm and London Sommerset House. At the Festival of Ideas in Cambridge Essi exhibited her installation and we had a public debate on the reciprocal advancement through interdisciplnarity as in this case evidenced by art-plant biology. This activity received coverage by a journal from the Nature Publishing Group (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-017-0058-9). |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Impact | An editorial in a globally visible scientific journal disseminated the thoughts exchanged. |
Description | Phosphorus is key to cellular function as part of the genetic material, membranes and other essential molecules. Phosphorus enters the biosphere predominantly via plant root uptake. The majority of plants are assisted in the uptake of phosphorus by beneficial fungi that produce a mycelial pipeline from within the soil to the inner parts of the root. In the root the fungi grow into the plant cell to deliver the soil-acquired nutrient. We have been studying this so called symbiotic phosphate uptake for many years. We observed that rice plants change their root system architecture upon establishing the symbiosis interaction (Gutjahr et al., New Phytologist 2009) and within the frame of this award examine the contribution each of the plant's different root type has to the engagement with the beneficial fungus and to phosphate uptake (Gutjahr et al., PNAS 2015). In the course of these activities we determined which plant receptor protein is required to mediate the symbiosis-induced developmental response (Chiu et al., New Phytologist 2018). To study the intimate interface inside the plant cell where nutrient exchange occurs at an ultrastructural and three-dimensional level, we turned to electron microscopy tomography as a cutting-edge methodology. We found that an unexpected complexity of membrane structures in produced by both partners as the fungus penetrates into the host tissue which could serve the absorption and delivery of nutrients and signals (Roth et al., Nature Plants 2019). Turning to the dynamics of the interaction and asking which plant proteins are necessary for the maintenance of the symbiosis, we identified a plant receptor-type protein, which is specifically produced during that intimate stage of the interaction and which conditions fungal fitness during the interaction (Roth et al., Nature Communications 2018). The findings made in this study revealed that this plant protein is required for the fungus to complete its life-cycle. During the remaining phase of this award wish to provide an insight into the spatio-temporal dynamics of direct and symbiotic phosphate uptake, following the activity of each of the root types in the presence and absence of the symbiosis. |
Exploitation Route | At this stage our findings are of immediate relevance to academics. The longer term perspective is that here, we generate understanding about mechanistic underpinnings of cereal phosphate uptake and partitioning that might facilitate the design of alternative routes to sustainable crop phosphate nutrition. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
Description | We collaborated with a Finish performance artist to illustrate nutrient exchange in mutualistic plant-fungal symbioses. During the Cambridge Festival of Ideas (October 2017) a podium discussion was held on 'Art and Science' between the PI Uta Paszkowski and the artist Essi Kausalainen. The event received coverage in the November 2017 editorial of Nature Plants. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Title | Transformed rice plants transferred to project lead Dr. Uta Paszkowski at University of Cambridge |
Description | Transformed rice plants (>400) generated using a number of reporter and gene editing constructs to characterise the role played by rice root type in the association with AM fungi and route(s) which are utilised for uptake of phosphate by the plant under AM verses non-AM associations. |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Characterisation of the transgenic rice material within the project is ongoing, so no notable impact as yet |
Description | Access to ionomics |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | we grew the plant material that the team at the University Nottingham analysed via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |
Collaborator Contribution | Ran our samples on the ICP-MS machine and provided analysed data. |
Impact | as part of BBSRC grant BB/N008723 full data set integrated into manuscript currently in preparation |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Electron microscopy and tomography |
Organisation | Heidelberg University |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Access to high pressure freeze, freeze substitution device. Expertise on electron microscopy tomography. |
Collaborator Contribution | Application of established protocols to rice and maize infected with beneficial and pathogenic fungi. |
Impact | Roth et al., Nature Communications 2018 Roth et al., Nature Plants 2019 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Quantitative membrane proteomics |
Organisation | ETH Zurich |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Equipment and expertise for quantitative membrane proteomics. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to cutting edge mass spectrometry equipment. Expertise in quantitative membrane proteomics and data analysis. |
Impact | Roth et al., Nature Communications 2018 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Radiotracer experiments |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | we provided the genetic rice material for the radiotracer experiments |
Collaborator Contribution | grew symbiosis experiment and quantitatively analysed radioactive isotop accumulation in plant tissue |
Impact | part of the BBSRC grant BB/N008723; manuscript in preparation Sawers et al., New Phytologist 2017 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | access to microtoms and electron microscopes |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Cambridge Advanced Imaging Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | we grew the material for standard electron microscopy |
Collaborator Contribution | provided access to microtoms and electron microscopes |
Impact | Roth et al., Nature Communications 2018 Roth et al., Nature Plants 2019 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | rice transformation |
Organisation | National Institute of Agronomy and Botany (NIAB) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | we produced the constructs for rice transformation and analysed the transgenic lines |
Collaborator Contribution | rice transformation |
Impact | Roth et al., Nature Communications 2018 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Cambridge Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | For two years 2017 and 2019 we hosted a booth at the Cambridge Science Festival. We inform the broader audience about the relevance and fascination of the beneficial interaction with nutrient-delivering soil fungi and about the research question we are currently addressing in the lab. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2019 |
Description | Cambridge Summer School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | The Cambridge Summer School is attended by people from allover the world who seek additional academic education. It is attended by ~ 100 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Cambridge University DTP student cohort visit 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Overview of crop transformation projects at NIAB. Discussion with visitors on how and why we make GM wheat crop plants using Takeall disease as an example of a project which could not be achieved without GM, plus our implementation of new technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Cereal Engineering Consortium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The CEC brings together a community of the world's top scientist using their skill and understanding to create solutions predominantly for small holder famers in sub-Saharan Africa. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.ensa.ac.uk/cec/ |
Description | Chief Scientific Adviser & Chief Plant Health Officer visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Emma Wallington gave an overview of our GM projects with wheat, rice and OSR transformation. Particular focus on disease resistance targets within the Community Resource for Wheat Transformation and the Engineering Resistance to Takeall projects |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Cross institute Interdisciplinary Workshop - Predictive Breeding & Genomic Approaches Roslin Institute, Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Indian Female Leaders in Crop and Ag Science workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Emma Wallington gave a presentation of our GM projects with wheat, rice and OSR plus new developments in the technology such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and examples of how we are using this technology in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited seminars |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Over the years of the award, I was invited to a number of different Universities and Research Institutions to present our research. These include the Universities of Edinburgh (UK), Leeds (UK), York (UK), Aberdeen (UK), Sheffield (UK), Munich (GER), Tuebingen (GER), Duesseldorf (GER), Bremen (GER), Halle (GER), Zurich (CH), Fribourg (CH) and Aarhus (DK), and research institutions John Innes Centre (UK), Max Planck Institutes Cologne and Marburg (GER), Gregor Mendel Institute Vienna (AUT). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
Description | NIAB Directors Day display |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Exhibit in the NIAB marquee covering a number of BBSRC funded projects using crop transformation. Demonstrations of wheat tissue culture and the effect of takeall fungus infection on wheat roots provided an excellent visual demonstration of a project which uses genetic modification to tackle a disease in wheat for which there is no resistance which can be bred in traditionally. Other exhibits demonstrated our implementation of gene editing techniques and its use in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | NIAB Directors Day displays 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Practical demonstrations of crop tissue culture plus an overview of our GM projects focused on wheat, rice and OSR. We also included explanations of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and examples of how we are using this in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | NIAB Open Day 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Practical demonstrations of crop tissue culture plus an overview of our GM projects focused on wheat, rice and OSR. We also included explanations of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and examples of how we are using this in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | NIAB Open Day display |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Exhibit in the NIAB marquee covering a number of BBSRC funded projects using crop transformation. Demonstrations of wheat tissue culture and the effect of takeall fungus infection on wheat roots provided an excellent visual demonstration of a project which uses genetic modification to tackle a disease in wheat for which there is no resistance which can be bred in traditionally. Other exhibits demonstrated our implementation of gene editing techniques and its use in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | NIAB Poster Day 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Practical demonstration of tissue culture using a number of contrasting crop species plus an overview of crop transformation projects at NIAB. Discussion with wider NIAB staff and visitors on how and why we make GM wheat crop plants using Takeall disease as an example of a project which could not be achieved without GM, plus our implementation of new technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in a number of wheat and rice projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Science on Sundays at the Botanic Garden Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Science on Sundays informs the audience of the Botanic Garden Cambridge about plant-related research ongoing at Cambridge University. The audience is hugely diverse and the interaction has been engaging and enthusiastic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | UEA/JIC MSc student visit (2016) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Practical demonstration and overview of our wheat, OSR and rice GM projects including the implementation and use of new developments such as gene editing in wheat and rice in relevant projects |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | University of Cambridge, Dept. of Plant Sciences student visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Oral presentation with exhibits of some of our wheat and rice GM projects for two groups of undergraduate plant science students from University of Cambridge. The students were able to see all of the tissue culture stages in the wheat transformation process from immature embryo to transgenic wheat plants. The takeall project was presented as an example of a project which uses genetic modification to tackle a disease in wheat for which there is no resistance which can be bred in traditionally. New developments such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing were discussed, and the rationale for its implementation in a number of wheat and rice projects. The students were interested and engaged with our team to discuss the technologies, the practical applications and the regulatory landscape. We subsequently received applications for summer placements. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |