Securing Seed Oil Synthesis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biosciences
Abstract
Vegetable oils underpin the global bio-based economy. Securing the supply of quality oils of the required composition is the challenge facing modern Agriculture. Rothamsted Research has a long history of oil seed research and this project brings together a collection of internationally recognised scientists with expertise in all aspects of seed oil synthesis, modification and breakdown. This project aims to deliver an oil seed crop with increased yield to farmers in sub-optimal environments. To do this requires a greater understanding of how oil assembly works in crops subject to extreme environments; addressing the role of lipids in mediating abiotic stress tolerance.
This project will involve moving functionality associated with the lipid profile of the extremophile Eutrema salsugineum, into the crop species Camelina sativa with the aim of creating a high yielding oil seed crop that can tolerate a range of environments. Lipid biochemistry and profiling skills will be gained in conjunction with transcriptomic analysis of the Camelina species.
The project will combine transcriptomic and metabolic analysis utilizing analytical capabilities offered by the "lipidomics platform" (incorporating LC-MS/MS, ESI-MS/MS, and GC-FID), established at Rothamsted. This unique platform will provide a systems level description of the role of lipids in plant stress biology.
This project will involve moving functionality associated with the lipid profile of the extremophile Eutrema salsugineum, into the crop species Camelina sativa with the aim of creating a high yielding oil seed crop that can tolerate a range of environments. Lipid biochemistry and profiling skills will be gained in conjunction with transcriptomic analysis of the Camelina species.
The project will combine transcriptomic and metabolic analysis utilizing analytical capabilities offered by the "lipidomics platform" (incorporating LC-MS/MS, ESI-MS/MS, and GC-FID), established at Rothamsted. This unique platform will provide a systems level description of the role of lipids in plant stress biology.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Zoe Wilson (Primary Supervisor) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1647738 | Studentship | BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/10/2019 |
| Description | Throughout my PhD I developed a high-throughput method to screen for lipid related genes that have an impact on the plant adaptation to cold temperatures, which allows the identification of key genes that might ultimately impact the yield under cold and freezing temperatures. I have also developed a method to genetically modify a plant called Eutrema salsugineum via the genome editing technique CRISPR/Cas9. This plant is extremely valuable as a plant model to study different abiotic stresses such as cold, drought or salt, however due to its resilience to stress the existing protocols were not very reliable, and this will be the first time to be reported the use of CRISPR/Cas9. |
| Exploitation Route | The screening method is highly adaptable and can be applied to other plant species, gene candidates and stress conditions. This can help identify key components of the plants metabolism to be target for increased resistance of crops in the field. Being able to do gene editing in an extremophile such as Eutrema is a valuable resource to understand the mechanisms behind the stress resilience ability of this plant for a better understanding of these mechanisms and develop potential applications to use in the field, being in the form of assessment tools or developing resilient crops. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | Student Travel Grant for the 23rd International Symposium on Plant Lipids |
| Amount | ￥50,000 (JPY) |
| Organisation | Tokyo Institute of Technology |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Japan |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |