AAFC IWYP Aligned Call Stomata signalling pathways for increasing yield potential in wheat

Lead Research Organisation: University of Essex
Department Name: Life Sciences

Abstract

Cereals feed the world, representing roughly half of the global caloric intake. World grain stocks are the most basic measure of food security. Grain consumption is increasing annually, and end-use for biofuel production is also on the rise, meanwhile the available agricultural land cannot accommodate these growing needs. The increasing demand for grain worldwide necessitates higher production, and higher yield potential. It is anticipated that doubling of grain yields for food production alone will be necessary to meet population demands by the year 2050.Further impacts of climate change confound this challenge by threatening yield stability. Canada is one of the top five global exporters of wheat, which is the largest Canadian cash crop with an annual value exceeding $5 billion, but the impacts of heat and drought have been observed with increasing frequency on the Canadian Prairies,and has also been a serious problem for many wheat exporters around the world, including Australia and the United States. Stomata are attractive targets to improve wheat yield in our changing world. First, they are key determinants of photosynthesis that regulate carbon capture through CO2 uptake, and photosynthesis is a rate limiting step to improving yield potential. Second, stomata are key structural features in transpiration. This means they are major players in WUE, but also in maintaining optimal leaf temperatures through evaporative cooling. Maintenance of leaf temperature is critical for wheat, due to its temperature sensitivity during anthesis and grain filling. Additionally, the cooling effect of transpiration in maintaining canopy temperature has also been implicated in WUE. Stomatal conductance has been directly linked with wheat grain yield,due to both increased CO2 diffusion for photosynthesis and increased evaporative cooling. While often there is a trade off between WUE and yield, optimizing stomatal patterning and increasing stomatal response to environmental cues can lead to improvements on both fronts. In this project, we will generate and screen genetic mutants in wheat with altered stomatal patterning (increased or decreased stomatal index) and altered stomatal behaviour for better yield potential, WUE and leaf/canopy temperature control. Gene-edited/TILLING lines showing the best yield potential in different field settings will be made available for rapid incorporation of non-GM mutants into wheat breeding programs in Canada, the UK and Australia. Phenotypic analyses from both greenhouse and field environments will be accompanied with molecular analyses to identify upstream/downstream elements of stomatal pathways to fine-tune our approach for higher yield potential and stability. Key alleles regulating stomatal pathways will be identified in wheat, a first important step in germplasm and marker development for improve yields through optimized respiration, carbon assimilation and transpiration. This work falls within the call priorities 'In collaboration with international partners, upstream trait discovery, trait development and fundamental science with the goal of increasing the genetic yield potential in wheat by 50% in the next 20 years', as it brings together international expertise and efforts to employ discovery and fundamental science to study genetic components of yield potential, combined with a strong applied element on trait and germplasm development which will bring rapid results for wheat producers in Canada and around the globe.

Technical Summary

It has been estimated that increases of 50% will be required in the yield of grain crops such as wheat and rice if food supply is to meet the demands of the increases in the world population. There is clearly an urgent need to develop crop plants that yield higher outputs per unit area of land, without having to increase inputs of fertiliser or water. The overall aim of this research proposal is to use novel screening techniques to generate and screen genetic mutants in wheat with altered stomatal patterning (increased or decreased stomatal index) and altered stomatal behaviour for better yield potential, Water Use Efficiency and leaf/canopy temperature control. Using thermal imaging and Infra-red gas exchange analysis we will assess variation in stomatal responsiveness in the various anatomical and physiological mutants. Using chlorophyll fluorescence and IRGAs we will determine photosynthetic rates and capacity in the flag and determine the effect of alternated stomatal conductance on these processes. Gene-edited/TILLING lines showing the best yield potential in different field settings will be made available for rapid incorporation of non-GM mutants into wheat breeding programs in Canada, the UK and Australia. Phenotypic analyses from both greenhouse and field environments will be accompanied with molecular analyses to identify upstream/downstream elements of stomatal pathways to fine-tune our approach for higher yield potential and stability. Key alleles regulating stomatal pathways will be identified in wheat, a first important step in germplasm and marker development for improve yields through optimized respiration, carbon assimilation and transpiration.

Planned Impact

The project contributes to the Food Security Strategic Priority of the BBSRC. A key impact delivered through conventional breeding programmes will be improvements in wheat varieties better adapted to different environments. Varieties with greater levels of productivity and water use efficiency will help meet essential targets in food security and sustainable food production in the UK and worldwide. The research addresses environmental sustainability of crop production through use of novel high-throughput phenotyping combined with genetic mapping to identify markers that can be applied in practical wheat breeding programmes. We propose to target different genes in the stomatal development and functional pathways using transgenic/mutagenic approaches to improve photosynthesis and yield potential in wheat, as part of a germplasm development initiative, and to better characterize these pathways in cereals.
Better understanding of the control of stomatal patterning and behaviour on dynamics, canopy temperatures and WUE in plant carbon gain will accelerate the development and manipulation of plants for more efficient photosynthesis, the process that ultimately drives productivity per unit cultivated land area. Breeding programmes that incorporate project findings will be better placed to develop varieties with improved stomatal patterning and physiology, and thus increased water use efficiency and greater carbon gain per unit of resource (water, land, nutrients) input. This contributes to the sustainability of food production. The main non-academic beneficiaries of this research will be the agri-biotech sector and commercial breeders, and in particular the agri-businesses that have programmes to increase yield of crop plants. The findings will also be important for policy-makers interested in developing novel strategies to achieve food security, as well as the public who will benefit from food security and better agricultural use of water resources. In the activities described within the we will develop and identify mutant and CRISPR germplasm fully characterized for stomatal phenotype, yield performance under different field environments, photosynthetic performance, leaf temperature and WUE. These lines will be made available to Canadian breeders participating on this project and breeders collaborating with international partners. Further to this, new knowledge will be delivered on stomatal development and activity in monocots, and more specifically in wheat. The upstream activities described in this proposal will identify new gene targets and provide opportunities to develop or identify germplasm with very specific sequence changes to optimize activity of different genes involved in stomatal patterning and aperture function for improved yield, without compromising plant type and agronomic traits.
The project will benefit the professional career development of the RAs in both the UK and Canada through the transfer of phenotyping and physiology skills from the UK to Canada. The RAs will be trained in a wide range of research skills, including gaining scientific practical skills in plant physiology and communication skills through the dissemination of the research.
 
Description Gatsby masterclass 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Practical activity in which A level student extracted DNA from GM plant material and carried out PCR to check for gene of interest. This resulted in questions and discussions regarding the methods and the importance of plant science and "feeding the world".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Invited seminar speaker Viikki Plant Science Centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Seminar describe current research and findings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/news/science-news/vips-invited-seminar-december-2020
 
Description Invited seminar speaker, Sheffield, Oct 23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussed research work and findings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited speaker for EA meeting Jan 24 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Participated in debate on the future of food.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited speaker to Women in Science event. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave a change to provide advice and experience of working as a female in sciences and some of the challenges associated with this.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited to give School seminar, Reading, May 23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussed research work and findings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited to give department seminar at Royal Hollaway 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussed research work and findings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited to give department seminar in Helsinki University March 23 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussed research work and findings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited to give department seminar in Leuven, Belgium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Promoted research activities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Nominated and selected as Co-chair of the GRC CO2 assimilation, USA 2019, and Chair of GRC on the next conference in Italy May 2021 
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 Nominated and selected by peer to be the co-chair for the 2019 conference, and chair for the 2021 GRC conference on CO2 assimilation.

https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/
https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2021/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/
 
Description Participated with a stand at the New Scientist Live event, Sept 23 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Introduce plant science to general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://live.newscientist.com/
 
Description Ran Gatsby Summer school activity 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Gatsby summer class to engage year 13s in plant science
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Saclay Plant Sciences 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Seminar series to present recent work and findings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www6.inrae.fr/saclay-plant-sciences_eng/Events/Online-SPS-Seminars/Tracy-Lawson-19-10-2020
 
Description Seminar speaker for the 1st Brazilian photosynthesis meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Research seminar to share data and findings
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.even3.com.br/brsymphotosynthesis20/
 
Description Workshop on Physiological Tools for Phenotyping Rice Photosynthesis 
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 The aim of the workshop was to provide theoretical as well as hands on experience of a number of key techniques for measuring plant phenotyping and plant performance. A number of different approaches were presented that can be utilized by researchers, breeders and growers. The format focussed on Infra-red gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and P700, NDVI and thermal imaging. The workshop provided participants with (a) an overview of the principles behind these techniques and their possible application (b) hands on experience using the instruments and approaches (including improve troubleshooting skills).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020