Understanding adaptation to increase temperature robustness in wheat
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Biology
Abstract
Wheat is the UK's primary arable crop and provides a large proportion of the global calorie, protein and micro-nutrient requirements for both humans and livestock. Current predictions indicate that a 1C increase in global temperature would lead to a 4.1-6.3% decrease in wheat yield, yet yield needs to be increased by an estimated 60% by 2050 to meet the demands of a growing population. To address this challenge and improve the reliability of the wheat yield to changing climates we must understand how plants respond to temperature. I will utilise the naturally existing genetic diversity in wheat and combine this with recently curated mutant populations and the newly annotated wheat genome sequence to identify genes and biological processes involved in temperature adaptation in wheat.
Currently, we do not understand the genetic or molecular basis of how wheat responds to temperatures under standard growing conditions, ~6-24C. My recent research focuses on this temperature range and has challenged the assumption that the response to overwintering (vernalization) only occurs at < 6C. This was identified after I observed heat activation of the same genes that function in low temperature vernalization. This raises the possibility that many of the genes involved in the vernalization response can also be employed to regulate and increase crop robustness and yield at higher ambient temperatures.
I plan to build on this discovery by identifying other genes involved in regulating the key developmental transition from vegetative to reproductive growth under field conditions, and then explore how these genes function (Objective 1). To date the majority of research on temperature responses has been limited to constant controlled temperature conditions, yet my research indicates that the mechanisms by which plants respond to variable temperatures, such as those experienced by crop plants growing in the field, are actually quite different. I will also investigate the molecular function of genes which have been shown to be important in vernalization and identify the proteins they interact with and how they function under different temperature conditions (Objectives 2 and 3). Finally, I will investigate methods to accelerate vernalization under experimental conditions to increase research and wheat breeding capabilities with wheat that requires vernalization (Objective 4). This Fellowship is timely as it combines my recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of temperature responses in wheat with the newly (2018) released wheat genome sequence, curated mutant populations and high-throughput genome sequencing capabilities.
The Fellowship will be conducted at the University of Bristol as this will facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations as well as collaborations within the renowned School of Biological Sciences. In addition, Bristol has established field trial sites and world-leading sequencing resources, both of which are important for this research. The Fellowship will also support collaboration between the Fellow and industry to enable knowledge exchange from this research to influence the performance of wheat under diverse environmental conditions.
This research will advance our knowledge of temperature adaptation in wheat and enable the formation of an integrated understanding of how plants use temperature to regulate key developmental decisions. This will have societal benefit by providing information and resources that can be exploited in the wheat breeding industry, for example, to reduce the duration of breeding cycles and provide methods to increase the robustness of wheat yield to the erratic temperature patterns associated with climate change.
Currently, we do not understand the genetic or molecular basis of how wheat responds to temperatures under standard growing conditions, ~6-24C. My recent research focuses on this temperature range and has challenged the assumption that the response to overwintering (vernalization) only occurs at < 6C. This was identified after I observed heat activation of the same genes that function in low temperature vernalization. This raises the possibility that many of the genes involved in the vernalization response can also be employed to regulate and increase crop robustness and yield at higher ambient temperatures.
I plan to build on this discovery by identifying other genes involved in regulating the key developmental transition from vegetative to reproductive growth under field conditions, and then explore how these genes function (Objective 1). To date the majority of research on temperature responses has been limited to constant controlled temperature conditions, yet my research indicates that the mechanisms by which plants respond to variable temperatures, such as those experienced by crop plants growing in the field, are actually quite different. I will also investigate the molecular function of genes which have been shown to be important in vernalization and identify the proteins they interact with and how they function under different temperature conditions (Objectives 2 and 3). Finally, I will investigate methods to accelerate vernalization under experimental conditions to increase research and wheat breeding capabilities with wheat that requires vernalization (Objective 4). This Fellowship is timely as it combines my recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of temperature responses in wheat with the newly (2018) released wheat genome sequence, curated mutant populations and high-throughput genome sequencing capabilities.
The Fellowship will be conducted at the University of Bristol as this will facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations as well as collaborations within the renowned School of Biological Sciences. In addition, Bristol has established field trial sites and world-leading sequencing resources, both of which are important for this research. The Fellowship will also support collaboration between the Fellow and industry to enable knowledge exchange from this research to influence the performance of wheat under diverse environmental conditions.
This research will advance our knowledge of temperature adaptation in wheat and enable the formation of an integrated understanding of how plants use temperature to regulate key developmental decisions. This will have societal benefit by providing information and resources that can be exploited in the wheat breeding industry, for example, to reduce the duration of breeding cycles and provide methods to increase the robustness of wheat yield to the erratic temperature patterns associated with climate change.
Planned Impact
Wheat is an essential food crop, the yield of which is threatened by temperature changes that are occurring as part of climate change. For the UK economy wheat provides around a £2 bn annual turnover with every 1% increase in productivity leading to a £22 million increase in the UK economy. This FLF aims to stabilize or increase wheat yield through the identification of the genetic and molecular responses which underpin temperature responses. This research will have a series of direct and longer term impacts on a variety of stakeholders.
i) Wheat Breeders. The research will impact the UK and international wheat breeding community through providing new breeding targets, regarding temperature adaptation, and genetic resources including the molecular markers required to efficiently transfer these traits into elite germplasm. It will reduce the generation cycle for winter wheat breeding which will accelerated the production of new varieties. In addition, improved vernalization knowledge will allow more accurate predictions regarding latest drilling date. The impact, regarding markers and speed vernalization, will be realised during the FLF and continue beyond its completion.
ii) Farmers and agriculture. The improved varieties developed by the wheat breeders will benefit farmers through greater potential for yield stability and increased knowledge regarding drilling and flowering date. These factors will improve plant vigour and so enable fewer additives to be applied. This, in combination with more accurate drilling date, will enable a reduction in the number of times heavy machinery is on the field and so lead to improved soil quality. This potential impact will be long-term as the development of new varieties takes around 12 years.
iii) Consumers and society. The FLF aims to increase the reliability and yield of wheat which would have clear societal impact, primarily through price stability being relayed to the consumer. Society will also benefit from agricultural processes which improves the wider environment via reduced machinery on the fields as a consequence of accurate drilling date and more temperature robust wheat plants requiring less chemical assistance due to increased plant vigour. This impact is anticipated following completion of the FLF.
iv) Next generation scientists. The FLF will impact the next generation of scientists through supporting and inspiring a PDRA. In addition, the FLF will support interaction between the Fellow and PDRA with schools to promote and inform regarding careers available and the value of science. This would take place throughout the FLF.
v) Policy makers. The research will impact policy makers who are committed to negating the effects of climate change and in providing food security via changes in wheat breeding and agriculture which would occur from increased temperature robustness in wheat (e.g. BBSRC, DEFRA, FERA). The impacts are anticipated to influence the international community, through improved wheat cultivars, which could impact the UK policy makers relating to exports (e.g Foreign Office and the Department for International Trade). The work would inform policy makers regarding the role and impact of targeted genetic modifications in wheat and if these could benefit agriculture (e.g. DEFRA and parliamentary votes) and through supporting research and innovation in the UK economy (e.g. BBSRC, DEFRA, FERA, Innovate UK). These impacts will occur during and beyond the completion of the Fellowship.
vi) International collaboration. Collaborations will be formed with CIMMYT, which is a non-profit international wheat and maize pre- and breeding institute which specializes in working with areas of the world already facing food insecurity and European Institutes specialising in wheat breeding, INRA and IPK. These will allow bilateral exchange of research, scientific and technological advances and ensure the germplasm developed in this project reaches the most relevant environments.
i) Wheat Breeders. The research will impact the UK and international wheat breeding community through providing new breeding targets, regarding temperature adaptation, and genetic resources including the molecular markers required to efficiently transfer these traits into elite germplasm. It will reduce the generation cycle for winter wheat breeding which will accelerated the production of new varieties. In addition, improved vernalization knowledge will allow more accurate predictions regarding latest drilling date. The impact, regarding markers and speed vernalization, will be realised during the FLF and continue beyond its completion.
ii) Farmers and agriculture. The improved varieties developed by the wheat breeders will benefit farmers through greater potential for yield stability and increased knowledge regarding drilling and flowering date. These factors will improve plant vigour and so enable fewer additives to be applied. This, in combination with more accurate drilling date, will enable a reduction in the number of times heavy machinery is on the field and so lead to improved soil quality. This potential impact will be long-term as the development of new varieties takes around 12 years.
iii) Consumers and society. The FLF aims to increase the reliability and yield of wheat which would have clear societal impact, primarily through price stability being relayed to the consumer. Society will also benefit from agricultural processes which improves the wider environment via reduced machinery on the fields as a consequence of accurate drilling date and more temperature robust wheat plants requiring less chemical assistance due to increased plant vigour. This impact is anticipated following completion of the FLF.
iv) Next generation scientists. The FLF will impact the next generation of scientists through supporting and inspiring a PDRA. In addition, the FLF will support interaction between the Fellow and PDRA with schools to promote and inform regarding careers available and the value of science. This would take place throughout the FLF.
v) Policy makers. The research will impact policy makers who are committed to negating the effects of climate change and in providing food security via changes in wheat breeding and agriculture which would occur from increased temperature robustness in wheat (e.g. BBSRC, DEFRA, FERA). The impacts are anticipated to influence the international community, through improved wheat cultivars, which could impact the UK policy makers relating to exports (e.g Foreign Office and the Department for International Trade). The work would inform policy makers regarding the role and impact of targeted genetic modifications in wheat and if these could benefit agriculture (e.g. DEFRA and parliamentary votes) and through supporting research and innovation in the UK economy (e.g. BBSRC, DEFRA, FERA, Innovate UK). These impacts will occur during and beyond the completion of the Fellowship.
vi) International collaboration. Collaborations will be formed with CIMMYT, which is a non-profit international wheat and maize pre- and breeding institute which specializes in working with areas of the world already facing food insecurity and European Institutes specialising in wheat breeding, INRA and IPK. These will allow bilateral exchange of research, scientific and technological advances and ensure the germplasm developed in this project reaches the most relevant environments.
Organisations
- University of Leeds (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- KWS UK (Collaboration)
- Lancaster University (Collaboration)
- John Innes Centre (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- MTA-ATK (Project Partner)
- Institute of Plant Biology & Biotech (Project Partner)
- Limagrain (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- KWS (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Laura Dixon (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Cha JK
(2022)
Speed vernalization to accelerate generation advance in winter cereal crops.
in Molecular plant
Deva C
(2023)
A new framework for predicting and understanding flowering time for crop breeding
in PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET
Dixon L E
(2022)
Cereal Architecture and Its Manipulation
in Annual Plant Reviews online
Dixon LE
(2021)
A modified intron of VRT2 drives glume and grain elongation in wheat.
in Molecular plant
Hirsz D
(2021)
The Roles of Temperature-Related Post-Transcriptional Regulation in Cereal Floral Development
in Plants
O'Connor K
(2020)
Temperature Control of Plant Development
in Annual Plant Reviews online
Scott MF
(2020)
Multi-parent populations in crops: a toolbox integrating genomics and genetic mapping with breeding.
in Heredity
Description | Development of the speed vernalization protocol, which enables the generation of new winter cereal cultivars to be dramatically accelerated |
Exploitation Route | Used in academic and industry to accelerate the generation time of winter wheat |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Description | Speed vernalization is being tested and used in the wheat breeding industry |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | UK plant Science Research Strategy - A green roadmap for the next ten years |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Women in Crop Science |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
URL | https://womenincropscience.org/ |
Description | FBS PhD Studentship |
Amount | £85,700 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2021 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | Farm2Lab Link Platform |
Amount | £228,002 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/V019775/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 05/2022 |
Description | GENADAPT - Genotypic and Environmental Adaptation through Data Driven Prediction Techniques |
Amount | £157,446 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/X005925/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 07/2024 |
Description | Gosden Studentship |
Amount | £87,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2022 |
End | 09/2026 |
Description | Michael Beverley Innovation Fellowship |
Amount | £8,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2021 |
End | 07/2022 |
Description | REPS DTP summer placement |
Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2021 |
End | 08/2021 |
Description | Rank Prize Fund new Lecturer Award |
Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Rank Prize Funds |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2019 |
Description | Travel Fund |
Amount | £8,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Rank Prize Funds |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 12/2023 |
Title | Speed vernalization |
Description | Developed a method to accelerate the vernalization of cereal plants |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Hard to quantify at the moment |
Description | Argentina-UK partnership meeting |
Organisation | Lancaster University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BBSRC funded meeting to discuss and work on developing links between UK and Argentina wheat research |
Collaborator Contribution | Projects being discussed |
Impact | none yet |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Climate Modelling |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We provide the genetic and physiological understanding of the wheat crop to be incorporated into climate-crop models |
Collaborator Contribution | Andy Challinors group provides the computational modelling expertise |
Impact | Collaboration is multi-disciplinary. One publication under review 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1298998/v1 One publication in preparation One presentation at a European project meeting (Crop-Booster P) One funding application in preparation |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Warming winters |
Organisation | John Innes Centre |
Department | Department of Crop Genetics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Advising and designing a heated field trial. Molecular biology and field phenotyping to support the experiment and RNA-seq analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Designing and running the field trial and sampling throughout the year. |
Impact | Submitted a responsive mode application |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Wheat breeding consortium |
Organisation | KWS UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | India Lacey from my group will conduct an iCASE-style studentship from the Gosden studentship |
Collaborator Contribution | iCASE support for the Gosden Studentship |
Impact | NA |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Advice on flowering regulation - KWS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Multiple video-meetings to explain genes involved in flowering regulation in wheat and the potential for using these for adaptation. Very productive discussion resulting in further collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Advice on vernalization to RAGT |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Providing advice and guidance on vernalization for RAGT. Very interesting discussion which has resulted in a collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Botany One blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Promotion of the Women in Crop Science network |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://botany.one/2022/12/a-coffee-with-the-founding-mothers-of-the-women-in-crop-science-initiativ... |
Description | Designing Future Wheat meeting |
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 | Project meeting for DFW where my group presented their research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Expert comment for Science journal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Expert comment following interview for the News section in the Science journal regarding a publication. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Gatsby Summer School Tutor |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Gatsby Summer School for high achieving undergraduates interested in Plant Science |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.gatsby.org.uk/plant-science/programmes/gatsby-plant-science-summer-school |
Description | Genetics Society Careers talk for Undergraduates |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Genetics Society Summer School workshop aimed at providing insight and engagement for a career in STEM |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://genetics.org.uk/grants/summer-studentships/ |
Description | Global plant council |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Blog on the speed vernalization method |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://globalplantcouncil.org/if-not-winter-how-a-super-charged-speed-vernalization-protocol-accele... |
Description | IPK seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Seminar at IPK, Germany. Collaborative projects are being developed from this |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | JIC Breeders Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | JIC Breeders Day, we presented our field trial to wheat breeding community. This gained a lot of interest and a number of conversations about our research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Lancaster seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Seminar at Lancaster University to develop regional wheat research network |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Limagrain international online seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion with Limagrain (representatives from Canada, Germany, Spain, France, UK) on speed vernalization |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Monogram 2022 |
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 | Monogram is the annual small grains conference held in the UK. It will take place in April 2022 and I have organised it during this year. This has included securing over £5K in sponsorship. The aims of the meeting are to share the most recent research advances, initiate collaborations and discuss current projects. The meeting is attended by academics and industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://monogram.ac.uk/index.php/conference/ |
Description | Online McGill seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Seminar to explain Speed Vernalization. Collaborative potential from this |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Predictive flowering regulation - Limagrain |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Video meeting regarding regulation of flowering and development of speed vernalization. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Presentation to CIMMYT |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation of speed vernalization protocol to CIMMYT, contacted by attendees who are going to use the protocol after the talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Quantum Sauce Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Replacement for a pub talk on floral timing and spring which was prevented due to Covid, so the talk was recorded as a podcast. It had around 150 views when it was released. Very hard to get feedback from a podcast. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://twitter.com/quantum_sauce?lang=en |
Description | Thermomorphogenesis meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Conference, invited speaker |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | WatSeq meeting |
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 | International collaboration meeting developing genotyping and phenotyping resource for cereal biology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |