15AGRITECHCAT4: Novel low viscosity wheats for distilling
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Plant Sciences
Abstract
We have identified novel wheat alleles that are predicted to confer low viscosity to grain extracts. This is a very desirable trait for the grain distilling industry which would result in decreased process down time. Introduction of these alleles into breeding streams to make a new variety is a long process but has been already initiated. In this project we will carry out the next steps in the development of a commercial variety to facilitate the right decisions at the earliest point. Crucially we will also gain early evidence on the success of this novel technology which will be used to convince the distilling industry so that they provide the "pull" for the development of a new commercial wheat variety beyond the project end. This is a resubmission but the project plan is completely reformulated; we also emphasise (1) the large financial commitment made by the wheat breeder Limagrain to this project and (2) the critical importance of Agritech funding for development of the new variety to succeed.
Technical Summary
We have identified novel wheat alleles that are predicted to confer low viscosity to grain extracts. This is a very desirable trait for the grain distilling industry which would result in decreased process down time. Introduction of these alleles into breeding streams to make a new variety is a long process but has been already initiated. In this project we will carry out the next steps in the development of a commercial variety to facilitate the right decisions at the earliest point. Crucially we will also gain early evidence on the success of this novel technology which will be used to convince the distilling industry so that they provide the "pull" for the development of a new commercial wheat variety beyond the project end. This is a resubmission but the project plan is completely reformulated; we also emphasise (1) the large financial commitment made by the wheat breeder Limagrain to this project and (2) the critical importance of Agritech funding for development of the new variety to succeed.
Planned Impact
A successful outcome will allow development of a commercial low viscosity UK wheat variety. Impacts:
1. This will benefit UK agriculture by helping UK wheat to be more competitive with imported maize as an alternative feedstock for the Scotch whisky industry.
2. This will benefit the scotch whisky industry by making processing of wheat grain more efficient and thereby enhancing tax revenue to the UK government potentially by £ 10s of millions per year.
3. A high value wheat variety which is intended specifically for distilling would encourage low N fertiliser use (since high protein is undesirable) with possible environmental benefits.
1. This will benefit UK agriculture by helping UK wheat to be more competitive with imported maize as an alternative feedstock for the Scotch whisky industry.
2. This will benefit the scotch whisky industry by making processing of wheat grain more efficient and thereby enhancing tax revenue to the UK government potentially by £ 10s of millions per year.
3. A high value wheat variety which is intended specifically for distilling would encourage low N fertiliser use (since high protein is undesirable) with possible environmental benefits.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Rowan Mitchell (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Pellny TK
(2020)
Loss of TaIRX9b gene function in wheat decreases chain length and amount of arabinoxylan in grain but increases cross-linking.
in Plant biotechnology journal
| Description | We have shown that by combining non-functional variants of three copies of a gene called TaIRX9b in a novel wheat, we can abolish the residue viscosity caused by long-chain water-extractable arabinoxylan. As a result, this wheat line has greatly decreased total extract viscosity from grain (decreased by>60%)- the target detrimental trait that we set out to decrease to make a new wheat more suitable for distilling. The approach used is a reverse genetics approach (i.e. starting with knowledge of gene function) but uses conventional breeding and is non-GM so is suitable for a new commercial wheat. We have therefore achieved our key objective. Ongoing tasks are to combine these with other required traits in Limagrain lines, measure the benefits and check for any side effects. |
| Exploitation Route | The same gene variants are being incorporated into breeding streams by our industrial partner Limagrain to make a new wheat variety with the low viscosity trait. Provided there are no negative pleiotropic effects or negative effects of closely linked alleles, there is a good chance of achieving this. The resultant variety could be worth millions of pounds per year to distilling and animal feed industries. Furthermore the new wheat variety will help UK wheat better compete with imported grain maize for use in distilling. A pilot scale test (0.25 tonnes wheat grain) of this novel wheat line and a control line is planned at Diageo distillery early in 2022. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | Wheat lines carrying three knockout homoeoalleles have much decreased (decrease to 40% of normal value) viscosity of extracts from grain. The alleles identified have been taken forward into breeding for new wheat variety by our industrial partner Limagrain. Pilot trials at a Diageo distillery were carried out in 2021 and successfully demonstrated the new lines had decreased viscosity compared to the control lines. These wheat lines were in breadmaking wheat background unsuitable for distlling but Limagrain are well advanced to introducing novel alleles into a soft wheat background. These new lines will be available for testing at SWRI 2023 and at pilot distillery plant in 2025. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Collaboration with Limagrain |
| Organisation | Limagrain |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | we have had several meetings with Limagrain as our industrial partners and are strengthening the collaboration to try to achieve a new commercial wheat variety |
| Collaborator Contribution | they are actively introducing our alleles into their breeding lines. They have also supplied markers for us to genotype our own lines. |
| Impact | We have some very promising results from this collaboration and Limagrain are on course to develop a new wheat variety using our alleles, possible release date of 2024. This will be one of the first wheat varieties in the world developed using reverse genetics. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Till Pellny presentation 'Development of wheat with low-viscosity grain extracts using novel alleles of IRX9 orthologue TaGT43_2' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Monogram 2018 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |