Selection for accelerated barley breeding

Continual improvement of our major crops through breeding is essential if we are to maintain our supply of food, feed and fibres. Modern crop breeding often uses a variety of molecular and statistical tools to make breeding faster and more precise. Marker assisted selection can help in breeding programmes by following the presence of molecular DNA markers that correspond to traits of interest, such as high yield or disease resistance, even when nothing is known about the exact genes controlling the trait. In livestock breeding, as opposed to crop breeding, an alternative method is sometimes used called genomic selection. In genomic selection, all of the specific DNA markers that define the genetic make-up of an animal, and not just those correlated with the trait, are used to predict its 'breeding value' i.e. how good a parent it will be for producing superior offspring with improved specific characteristics. We have produced a new model for adapting genomic selection methods to barley breeding. Our statistical model correlates all of the specific DNA markers that are present in a cultivar (indicative of the specific gene variants in that cultivar) with a range of different phenotypes we have measured including grain yield, biomass yield, straw strength etc. The model can be used to predict which cultivars are best to use to improve specific traits, and can further predict how progeny will perform for that trait by determining the complement of molecular markers that they inherit from their parents. This is a more efficient way of predicting the best cultivars to breed from as it takes into account all of their molecular markers and not just those that are obviously correlated with the trait, as is the case with traditional marker assisted selection.

This studentship will explore the use of this model for its value in barley pre-breeding, by using it to select the best barley cultivars to breed from in order to improve a couple of specific traits (e.g. digestibility, yield). The project will train the PhD student in many aspects of plant breeding including the use of both molecular and statistical analyses, the design and performance of field trials, field phenotyping, production of di-haploid populations etc. The student will be supervised by Prof Claire Halpin of the University of Dundee (based on the James Hutton Institute site) and the barley breeder at the James Hutton Institute (JHI), Dr. Bill Thomas. The student will also receive training from Prof Robbie Waugh (cereal genetics), Hazel Bull (trainee barley breeder) and Helena Oakey (biological statistician). The successful applicant will benefit from all of the expertise and resources available at both UoD and JHI. Candidates must fulfil RCUK eligibility requirements, which can be found at: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidelines/studentship_eligibility.pdf