BlessT: Wheat lacking B-type starch granules for improved functionality.
Lead Research Organisation:
National Institute of Agricultural Botany
Department Name: Genetics and Breeding
Abstract
Starch is a major component of cereal grains and the size and shape of starch granules have significant impact on grain use. In wheat, there are two types of granules (A and B). The smaller, B-granules have negative impacts on many end-uses of wheat.
To solve this problem, we have generated a new type of wheat, BlessT that lacks B-granules. This was achieved by identifying two regions of the genome harbouring genes required for B-granule initiation and then stacking deletions of these regions together in the same plant.
A Pathfinder Report assessed the market potential of BlessT and concluded that the technology targets a number of large and growing markets. It identified how the changed processing ability of BlessT could be developed commercially. In this project, these targets will be pursued by providing:
1) Further data on processing properties
2) Bulk volumes of grain for further testing by potential commercial partners
3) Field trials that measure the effects on yield
To solve this problem, we have generated a new type of wheat, BlessT that lacks B-granules. This was achieved by identifying two regions of the genome harbouring genes required for B-granule initiation and then stacking deletions of these regions together in the same plant.
A Pathfinder Report assessed the market potential of BlessT and concluded that the technology targets a number of large and growing markets. It identified how the changed processing ability of BlessT could be developed commercially. In this project, these targets will be pursued by providing:
1) Further data on processing properties
2) Bulk volumes of grain for further testing by potential commercial partners
3) Field trials that measure the effects on yield
Publications
Benedetta Saccomanno
(2019)
Poster: Wheat lacking B-type starch granules for improved functionality
Chia T
(2020)
A carbohydrate-binding protein, B-GRANULE CONTENT 1, influences starch granule size distribution in a dose-dependent manner in polyploid wheat.
in Journal of experimental botany
Saccomanno B
(2021)
Characterization of wheat lacking B-type starch granules
Saccomanno B
(2022)
Characterization of wheat lacking B-type starch granules.
in Journal of cereal science
| Description | New lines of wheat, BlessT with altered starch granule size distribution in the grain were studied. Novel functional properties were discovered which have implications for the ways in which wheat flour and starch performs during processing to flour, alcohol, bakery products and non-food uses. |
| Exploitation Route | The novel functional properties of BlessT wheat are being further examined by selected industrial collaborators for their potential benefits in several processes including alcohol production, baking, starch extrusion and wet and dry milling. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | The lines of wheat produced during this study and the results of functional tests carried out on them are been used by breeders and manufacturers to improve their products. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | ADM |
| Organisation | Archer Daniels Midland |
| Department | ADM milling |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Wheat lines from our research project have been supplieid to the research groups of ADM Millers in UK and USA for in-house testing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | ADM Millers will test the functional properties of our wheat lines and provide feedback. |
| Impact | The results of testing are not yet available but will include baking trials and wet milling trials. Multidiciplinary: wheat genetics, biochemistry, grain quality, milling and baking. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | FOF partner: KWS |
| Organisation | KWS UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have provided research, new germplasm and biochemical and genetic analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | KWS have provided staff, equipment and field trials. They have also provided technical and business training to the Innovation Fellow. |
| Impact | Germplasm was provided for evaluation and was bulked up before return to academic partner. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | FOF partner: Limagrain |
| Organisation | Limagrain |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have provided the research, new germplasm and the biochemical and genetic analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | Limagrain have provided staff, equipment and field trials. They have also provided technical and business training to the Innovation Fellow. |
| Impact | The work is still on-going. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | FOF partner: RAGT |
| Organisation | RAGT Seeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | we have provided research, new germplasm and biochemical and genetic analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | RAGT have provided staff, equipment and field trials. They have also provided technical and business training to the Innovation Fellow. |
| Impact | Germplasm was functionally tested and the post holder was provided with both technical and business training. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | FOF partner: Scottish Whiskey Research organisation |
| Organisation | Scotch Whisky Research Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have provided reserach, new germplasm and biochemical and genetic analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SWRI have provided staff and specialist equipment. They have also provided technical and business training to the Innovation Fellow. |
| Impact | The project is on-going. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | RRES |
| Organisation | Rothamsted Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Wheat lines were supplied to RRES bioimaging for germination and microscopy. |
| Collaborator Contribution | RRES bioimaging of germinating grains for analysis of rates and nature of starch granule digestion. |
| Impact | none to date |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Title | Plant gene for granule development, modified cereal plants and grain. |
| Description | A method was described for the modification of the size of starch granules in domesticated Triticeae and Avenae. Specifically, the method relates to the modification of the number of granule initiations per plastid in grain. |
| IP Reference | US20190233838A1 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | The patent was useful in discussions about commercialization opportunities with various industrial groups involved in the growth, breeding and/or use of cereal grains. |
| Description | BBSRC kickoff event |
| 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 | A meeting to introduce BBSRC Fellows to one another and to the support and training for future leaders available to them. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Barley Away Day meeting, at Dunkeld, Dundee, Scotland organised by members of the James Hutton Research Institute. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented research on barley and wheat grain quality. Outcomes were sharing of knowledge and making connections with colleagues in cereal grain research, development and manufacturing industries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/i/events/1225721044570451968?lang=en |
| Description | FOF steering group meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Grant holders and researchers met with steering group members from industry to discuss the route to market for the new wheat lines being developed. Also present were researchers from NIAB engaged in the development of related wheat lines (funded by designing future wheat 2.1 ISP). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | FoodFutures II |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A networking event with agri-tech and food industry representatives for University of Cambridge PhD students and Postdocs Was held at Clare College, Cambridge. The day was an excellent opportunity for Cambridge's early-career researchers to interact with industry representatives from ADAS, Buhler, Corteva Agriscience, Koppert, PepsiCo and more, hear about what these companies do, and learn about funding Cambridge has available for industry placements and collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Scientific Writing workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This one-day course focused on the structure of good scientific writing. It including writing exercises as an integral part of the workshop. It looked at the practical process of writing, the nature of scientific publishing, and the importance of editing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://writeaboutscience.com |