BR2CSFB - A toolkit for breeding resistance to adult and larval herbivory by the cabbage stem flea beetle
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Protecting Crops and the Environment
Abstract
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Technical Summary
Loss of chemical controls for cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB; Psylliodes chrysocephala) and decline in OSR cropping area represent a serious risk to the viability of the UK OSR industry. Integrated pest management strategies offer an alternative to chemical control. Resistant cultivars are central to this approach.
Through controlled feeding studies and field trials we have identified variation for adult CSFB feeding within a DFFS of B. napus. Controlled larval infestation studies have also identified variation in the numbers of emerging adult CSFB. These data indicate that some lines of B. napus carry genes which 1) deter adult CSFB feeding and 2) confer antibiosis resistance against larval infestation. If identified, this variation can be exploited to breed OSR resistant to CSFB.
Here we describe a program to identify the genetic variation underlying these resistance traits and develop our understanding of interactions between plants and chewing beetle pests at adult and larval stages. Using Associative Transcriptomics, we have successfully identified variation at two loci associated with increased adult CSFB palatability which contain genes with known functions in plant defence signalling. This approach will be combined with biparental mapping and genome re-sequencing, to identify further loci associated with reduced adult palatability and larval antibiosis resistance. Using transcriptome time course analysis, larval development studies and metabolomic analysis, we will form an understanding of the underlying response of OSR to CSFB and the resulting effects on insect development, allowing us to begin to unravel the mechanisms underlying the observed CSFB resistance. Key genes implicated in resistance and defence responses will be investigated using candidate gene studies. These data will allow us to develop and test hypotheses which can be exploited in collaboration with our breeding partners for genetic plant protection against this key agricultural pest.
Through controlled feeding studies and field trials we have identified variation for adult CSFB feeding within a DFFS of B. napus. Controlled larval infestation studies have also identified variation in the numbers of emerging adult CSFB. These data indicate that some lines of B. napus carry genes which 1) deter adult CSFB feeding and 2) confer antibiosis resistance against larval infestation. If identified, this variation can be exploited to breed OSR resistant to CSFB.
Here we describe a program to identify the genetic variation underlying these resistance traits and develop our understanding of interactions between plants and chewing beetle pests at adult and larval stages. Using Associative Transcriptomics, we have successfully identified variation at two loci associated with increased adult CSFB palatability which contain genes with known functions in plant defence signalling. This approach will be combined with biparental mapping and genome re-sequencing, to identify further loci associated with reduced adult palatability and larval antibiosis resistance. Using transcriptome time course analysis, larval development studies and metabolomic analysis, we will form an understanding of the underlying response of OSR to CSFB and the resulting effects on insect development, allowing us to begin to unravel the mechanisms underlying the observed CSFB resistance. Key genes implicated in resistance and defence responses will be investigated using candidate gene studies. These data will allow us to develop and test hypotheses which can be exploited in collaboration with our breeding partners for genetic plant protection against this key agricultural pest.
Publications
S. M. Cook
(2022)
Working Group: Integrated Control in Oilseed Crops
Cook, S.M.
(2024)
IOBC/wprs Bulletin
Cook S
(2024)
Integrated pest control in oilseed crops-new advances from the rapeseed research community.
in Pest management science
| Description | Field data from the first two years of this study are indicating some variation in the susceptibility of different commercial cultivars of oilseed rape to cabbage stem flea beetle, with both adult feeding and larval infestation showing variation with cultivar. Our final year of field work will help to confirm how robust this variation is. Industry partners have made separate assessment of the plots and these observations, together with our own, are starting to inform future breeding programmes for resistance to this devastating pest. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | International Resistance Action Committee - consultation on cabbage stem flea beetle for updated information 'posters' |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| URL | https://irac-online.org/documents/cabbage-stem-flea-beetle-in-winter-osr/?ext=pdf |
| Description | Membership of OSR-Reboot Group |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.unitedoilseeds.co.uk/osr-reboot |
| Description | Recorded video for BASIS training and award in IPM: managing Arable Pests and Beneficials (section 4) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Course participants reported decrease in use of synthetic insecticides (BASIS) |
| URL | https://basis-classroom.co.uk/courses/managing-pests-beneficials |
| Description | PhD studentship: Regenerative Agricultural practices for biocontrol in Mustard |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 02/2028 |
| Description | Royal Society of Biology Plant Health Undergraduate Studentships (PHUGS) programme |
| Amount | £4,150 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Biology (RSB) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 09/2023 |
| Description | Consultancy subcontract to csfbSMART project |
| Organisation | National Institute of Agronomy and Botany (NIAB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribution of know-how and in-depth knowledge of literature on cabbage stem flea beetle; intellectual input on design of protocols for farmers to determine pest abundance and damage levels caused by this pest |
| Collaborator Contribution | NIAB - co-ordination of network of farmers growing oilseed rape |
| Impact | Network of farmers growing oilseed rape Press release: https://www.niab.com/news-views/news/news-arable-industry-joins-together-fight-cabbage-stem-flea-beetle eb page : https://www.niab.com/csfbsmart |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | -LSPB to visit BR2CSFB plots |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | - LSPB 22/3/23 to assess BR2CSFB plots |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | AAB Biocontrol and IPM conference (16-17/11/22) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented a poster and gave a talk on Conservation Biological control of cabbage stem flea beetle in oilseed rape |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Agrii visit to Rothamsted |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I presented work on control of cabbage stem flea beetle and demonstrated trials on breeding for resistance |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | BASF Sustainability Workshop |
| 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 | Invited to workshop following visits to the Grange Farm. Gave a talk and this sparked discussion which was connected to other talks. The participants visited Grange Farm and I was later invited to BASF dinner and discussions regarding on-farm sampling. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | British Crop Protection Council BCPC - Conference - Invited talk (2-3/11/21, Harrogate) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | I gave an invited presentation on 'Can we grow oilseed rape without Insecticides' which was followed by a long question & answer session with lots of questions! I was very pleased with audience engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | British Crop protection Council (BCPC) Pests & beneficials group Annual meeting |
| 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 | As part of the Pests & Beneficials Group I helped to organize this meeting which was held online |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.bcpc.org/events/reviews-events/bcpc-pest-beneficials-reviews/bcpc-pests-and-beneficials-... |
| Description | Canadian Canola week. Invited presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Canadian Canola week. Invited presentation on: Cabbage stem flea beetle control in Europe: Problems - and solutions - following the neonicotinoid ban (invited in person expenses offered but chose to attend online) 6/12/23 https://www.canolacouncil.org/event/canola-week/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.canolacouncil.org/event/canola-week/ |
| Description | DPG working group oilseed rape meeting (German group) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to the German DPG working group on IPM of cabbage stem flea beetle |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Fred Beaudoin - Chair & Co-organizer of the UK Brassica Research Community annual 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 | Fred Beaudoin co-Organized the workshop which comprised 20 short talks and good discussion following each. There was much discussion following the talk from Duncan Farringdon who produced the first C-neutral product in the world! He highlighted how badle research is needed to ensure the sustainability of the oilseed rape crop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Global Council for Innovation in rapeseed (GCIRC) Technical meeting on IPM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As chair of the GCIRC Crop protection Committee I was tasked with organizing a technical meeting for GCIRC members and invited speakers on integrated insect pest management in rapeseed. I organized the programme and invited the speakers - 13 speakers from the 9 countries encompassing the global rapeseed community (Europe, China, India, Canada) (6:7 male:female ratio). Talks were pre-recorded and were followed by a 2hr live summary, Q&A and discussion session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Groundswell '24 |
| 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 | Attended Groundswell to present work on IPM of oilseeds on the Coleman's stand |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Groundswell 2023 |
| 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 | Presented work on cabbage stem flea beetle as a poster and engaged farmers in volunteering to send in samples for analysis |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | IOBC WG Integrated Control in Oilseed Crops - organized entomology subsection of the meeting and presented an oral poster |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As the Entomology subgroup Convenor of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) Working Group on Integrated Control in Oilseed crops , I organised the scientific programme for the Entomology subsection of the meeting (online) 17-18/5/22. The programme comprised 23 oral presentations, 11 flash talks and 2 virtual posters. I edited the English on all Joint session and Entomology sub-section Abstracts and Bulletin submissions (39 submissions in total). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | IOBC working group meeting on Integrated Control in Oilseed Crops, 10-11/9/2024 |
| 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 | Sam Cook was co-convenor of this working group meeting, attended by 90 people from 15 different countries (mainly Europe). Organized the Entomology subgroup sessions which comprised 28 talks and 18 posters |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://wwwuser.gwdguser.de/~iobc/2024.php |
| Description | Indegro farmer academy visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented BR2CSFB field trial to visitors from Ingegro |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | International Conference on Vegetable Oils, Hyderabad, India. Invited oral presentation as part of the session on mustard-rapeseed 21/1/23 (online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | International Conference on Vegetable Oils, Hyderabad, India. Invited oral presentation as part of the session on mustard-rapeseed 21/1/23 (online) on: 'Developing IPM strategies for insect pests in European rapeseed'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.icar-iior.org.in/sites/default/files/iiorcontent/icvo-2023/Finalized%20%20Programme%20of... |
| Description | International plant health conference, London UK (21-23/9/22) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented a poster on BR2CSFB work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited talk to Women's Institute - National Investigation and Discovery Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Women's Institute - National Investigation and Discovery Day hosted by Buckinghamshire WI (12/3/24). Invited talk on' Why do we use pesticides? What are the risks involved? & What are the alternatives? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | NIAB CSFBsmart field day - presented 3 posters and discussed CSFB IPM with farmers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | NIAB CSFBsmart field day - presented 3 posters and discussed CSFB IPM with farmers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Organizing Committee for BCPC Pests & Beneficials Annual meeting ' Mind the gap: managing pests with reduced choice of synthetic chemicals' |
| 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 | I helped to organize the Annual Meeting held in Cambridge on 5/12/24 and I attended regular quarterly meetings of the group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.bcpc.org/events/bcpc-pests-beneficials-review-2024 |
| Description | RAGT seeds to visit BR2CSFB plots |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | RAGT seeds - to assess BR2CSFB plots |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | UK Brassica research Community / Oilseed Rape genetic Improvement network meeting |
| 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 | Attended the emeting - very fruitful and interesting discussions among the range of stakeholders attending |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | UK-BRC meeting + OREGIN meeting |
| 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 | Attended the meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |