Broadening and improving the Turnip yellows virus resistance base in oilseed rape (BITYR)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Turnip yellows virus (TuYV, formerly known as Beet western yellows virus) is a very important pathogen affecting oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) crops in the UK and Europe. Of the viruses infecting OSR, it is the most common and the most damaging. Estimates of yield reductions from TuYV infection of OSR in the UK alone are upto 30%, resulting in losses of £67-180 million/annum.
OSR is the 3rd most widely grown field crop in the UK and crucial to UK food production as a break crop between wheat crops it has also been one of the most profitable arable crops for farmers in recent years.
TuYV is transmitted by the very common peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae. Once aphids acquire the virus they transmit it for life.
The earlier plants are infected by TuYV, the greater the yield loss. The only way to prevent early TuYV infection has been the neonicotinoid seed treatments applied to most OSR seeds in the past. The active ingredients of these seed treatments have now been banned by the EU because of alleged effects on bees. There is an urgent need to develop new ways of controlling TuYV to protect yields and reduce losses. The best approach is to develop OSR varieties with natural resistance to the virus.
The pant breeding company Limagrain have developed and are selling an OSR variety called Amalie with partial resistance to TuYV. Amalie is susceptible to TuYV, but the amount of virus accumulating in plants is reduced and yield losses ameliorated relative to other OSR varieties. University of Warwick (UoW) identified another OSR source of partial resistance to TuYV with reduced virus accumulation and reduced yield loss. They have also identified a number of more extreme sources of resistance in the close relatives of OSR, Brassica oleracea (cabbage, cauliflower etc.) and Brassica rapa (turnips etc.). UoW have also been investigating the diversity of TuYV and have a collection of virus isolates representing different genetic groups.
These discoveries provide the opportunity for synergy between Limagrain and the University of Warwick by collaborating to:
- combine OSR resistances to improve virus control and yields
- broaden the TuYV resistance base in order to reduce the risk of break down of the resistance sources
- begin to exploit the more extreme sources of resistance from OSR relatives
OSR is the 3rd most widely grown field crop in the UK and crucial to UK food production as a break crop between wheat crops it has also been one of the most profitable arable crops for farmers in recent years.
TuYV is transmitted by the very common peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae. Once aphids acquire the virus they transmit it for life.
The earlier plants are infected by TuYV, the greater the yield loss. The only way to prevent early TuYV infection has been the neonicotinoid seed treatments applied to most OSR seeds in the past. The active ingredients of these seed treatments have now been banned by the EU because of alleged effects on bees. There is an urgent need to develop new ways of controlling TuYV to protect yields and reduce losses. The best approach is to develop OSR varieties with natural resistance to the virus.
The pant breeding company Limagrain have developed and are selling an OSR variety called Amalie with partial resistance to TuYV. Amalie is susceptible to TuYV, but the amount of virus accumulating in plants is reduced and yield losses ameliorated relative to other OSR varieties. University of Warwick (UoW) identified another OSR source of partial resistance to TuYV with reduced virus accumulation and reduced yield loss. They have also identified a number of more extreme sources of resistance in the close relatives of OSR, Brassica oleracea (cabbage, cauliflower etc.) and Brassica rapa (turnips etc.). UoW have also been investigating the diversity of TuYV and have a collection of virus isolates representing different genetic groups.
These discoveries provide the opportunity for synergy between Limagrain and the University of Warwick by collaborating to:
- combine OSR resistances to improve virus control and yields
- broaden the TuYV resistance base in order to reduce the risk of break down of the resistance sources
- begin to exploit the more extreme sources of resistance from OSR relatives
People |
ORCID iD |
| John Walsh (Primary Supervisor) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M017206/1 | 04/10/2015 | 03/10/2019 | |||
| 1644951 | Studentship | BB/M017206/1 | 04/10/2015 | 31/01/2020 |
| Description | There are a number of commercially available varieties of oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) that possess the same Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) resistance. The mechanism(s) and gene(s) responsible for TuYV resistance in these varieties are unknown. In an attempt to elucidate the first candidate genes responsible for TuYV resistance and the first against a virus belonging to the Luteoviridae family, a population segregating for the commercial TuYV resistance has been created and screened with a selection of DNA markers. The screen identified resistance-linked markers and has identified an interval of the OSR genome, associated with the resistance that contains approximately 300 genes. OSR arose from the recent interspecific hybridisation of Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea. Owing to the recentness of the hybridisation event, the genetic diversity within OSR is more restricted compared to the progenitor species. Therefore, the more genetically diverse progenitor species can be screened for TuYV resistance capable of being integrated into OSR. To broaden the TuYV resistance base in OSR, resistance in B. rapa and B. oleracea lines have been characterised and mapped as part of this project and a BBSRC Impact Acceleration Award. To do this, populations segregating for the B. rapa or B. oleracea TuYV resistances were created and screened with a selection of DNA markers. The latter was carried out through collaborations with Limagrain Europe and University of Western Australia. Results suggested, that both resistances are novel (different to the commercial resistance), dominantly inherited and possibly controlled by multiple genes. Combination and integration of the TuYV resistances from the characterised B. rapa and B. oleracea lines into OSR has been achieved using resynthesis; a technique that involves the interspecific crossing of the two lines. These resynthesised oilseed rape plants are the first to process a dual resistance to TuYV. This is also the first example of TuYV resistance originating from B. oleracea. During this project, the first Brazilian isolate of TuYV has been sequenced following an international placement hosted at the University of Warwick. The Brazilian TuYV isolate sequence is very different to the sequences of European isolates and will deposited in GenBank after publication of a note. |
| Exploitation Route | In this project and follow on BBSRC Impact Acceleration Award funding, novel Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) resistance has been identified and mapped in Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea lines. These TuYV-resistant B. rapa and B. oleracea lines were crossed to produce 'resynthesised' oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) plants possessing combined TuYV resistance. These resynthesised OSR plants are off particular interest to Limagrain UK Ltd. (industrial sponsor of this project), who want to include them in their elite OSR breeding program. Furthermore, TuYV resistance-linked markers, identified from mapping of the B. rapa and B. oleracea lines, can be used to accelerate the introgression of the novel resistances into commercial varieties of OSR, using marker-assisted selection. Additional TuYV resistant B. oleracea lines not currently being utilised under a project, have been identified at the University of Warwick and have had interest from industry. These lines can also be utilised by subsequent research projects to further broaden and improve TuYV resistance in OSR and also vegetable brassicas. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
| Description | BBSRC IAA University of Warwick |
| Amount | £300,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S506783/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Conference Travel Grant |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The British Society of Plant Pathology |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2018 |
| End | 01/2019 |
| Description | BBSRC IAA - genotyping project |
| Organisation | University of Western Australia |
| Department | School of Agriculture and Environment |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I produced and phenotyped Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa backcross populations for Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) resistance. I analysed the genotyping data produced by the University of Western Australia and successfully identified Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) associated with TuYV resistance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Jacqueline Batley's group at the University of Western Australia carried out genotyping of ~285 individuals from B. rapa and B. oleracea backcross population on the Illumina(R) InfiniumTM Brassica ABC SNP array. |
| Impact | Too early to tell. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Food security public outreach event (University of Warwick) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public outreach event which involved manning a stall showcasing the impact of plant viruses on food security and the importance of genetic resistance to plants viruses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |