Modelling and manipulation of plant-aphid interactions: A new avenue for sustainable disease management of an important crop in Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Biological Chemistry & Crop Protection
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Our overall objective is to assess potential risks/benefits for disease management (using epidemiological modelling with experimental validation) from identifying and adapting the knowledge/tools (including gene sequences/semiochemicals/epidemiological models) from studying viral suppressor of RNA silencing-mediated effects on aphid-plant relations to develop 'push-pull'-type systems to protect bean. However, aphids are important pests and disease vectors affecting all major crops, meaning our results will have wide applicability. Our collaboration will translate work from model systems (Arabidopsis and tobacco) to a vital crop (bean) with uniquely African viral disease problems (with emphasis the combined effects of bean common mosaic virus and bean common necrotic mosaic). Key objectives/activities are listed with lead researcher(s) and time-scales indicated in parentheses.
1. Epidemiological modelling (Yrs 1-4, CAG, Cam)
2. Validation and exploration of modelling predictions in controlled conditions (Yrs 1-4, Cam)
3. Field surveys and data collection in Uganda (Yr. 1) and experiments utilizing data from 1 and 2, and field samples (Yrs. 2-4)(MA, CIAT)
4. Analyzing the effects of silencing suppressors on bean mRNA and small RNA profiles (Yrs 2-4) (JH, AD, BecA; DB, Cam)
5. Metabolite analyses to identify semiochemicals produced by bean that influence plant-aphid interactions (Yrs 2-4, Rothamsted)
6. Initiating pathways to impact activities via the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance, a network of the national bean research programmes of 28 African nations (Yr3/4; Lead: MA, CIAT).
1. Epidemiological modelling (Yrs 1-4, CAG, Cam)
2. Validation and exploration of modelling predictions in controlled conditions (Yrs 1-4, Cam)
3. Field surveys and data collection in Uganda (Yr. 1) and experiments utilizing data from 1 and 2, and field samples (Yrs. 2-4)(MA, CIAT)
4. Analyzing the effects of silencing suppressors on bean mRNA and small RNA profiles (Yrs 2-4) (JH, AD, BecA; DB, Cam)
5. Metabolite analyses to identify semiochemicals produced by bean that influence plant-aphid interactions (Yrs 2-4, Rothamsted)
6. Initiating pathways to impact activities via the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance, a network of the national bean research programmes of 28 African nations (Yr3/4; Lead: MA, CIAT).
Planned Impact
We aim to develop technologies for aphid management (and potentially other insect pests) and aphid-vectored viruses while strengthening capacity in sustainable pest and disease management. Transnational, multi-stakeholder and participatory approaches ensure technology uptake and provide opportunities for beneficiaries along the value chain (incl. research papers, epidemiological models, gene sequences and markers for bean improvement through PABRA's networks, semiochemicals that could be exploited by growers, industry, etc). Cambridge Plant Sciences hosts a Business Fellow (Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley) to facilitate routes to impact and the Dept. is the hub of the Cambridge Partnership for Plant Sciences linking many research institutes, SMEs and regional industry. The Figure summarizes our pathways to impact and capacity building, demonstrating how our innovation chain ensures delivery of results to end users. Capacity building is embedded in all phases of the project. PhD & PDRA exchange placements will facilitate skills transfer and establish an international team capable of addressing food security constraints in future projects. Our project enables BecA and ECABREN to expand research beyond their respective ILRI and CIAT core-funded activities and in line with priorities developed in consultation with African national partners.
Publications
Babikova Z
(2014)
Underground allies: how and why do mycelial networks help plants defend themselves?: What are the fitness, regulatory, and practical implications of defence-related signaling between plants via common mycelial networks?
in BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology
Babikova Z
(2013)
How rapid is aphid-induced signal transfer between plants via common mycelial networks?
in Communicative & integrative biology
Bruce T
(2014)
Glucosinolates in oilseed rape: secondary metabolites that influence interactions with herbivores and their natural enemies
in Annals of Applied Biology
Bruce T
(2019)
Editorial
in Physiological Entomology
Bruce T
(2014)
Interplay between insects and plants: dynamic and complex interactions that have coevolved over millions of years but act in milliseconds
in Journal of Experimental Botany
Bruce TJ
(2014)
Variation in plant responsiveness to defense elicitors caused by genotype and environment.
in Frontiers in plant science
Drakulic J
(2015)
Sharing a Host Plant (Wheat [Triticum aestivum]) Increases the Fitness of Fusarium graminearum and the Severity of Fusarium Head Blight but Reduces the Fitness of Grain Aphids (Sitobion avenae).
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Drakulic J
(2016)
Direct and host-mediated interactions between Fusarium pathogens and herbivorous arthropods in cereals
in Plant Pathology
Drakulic J
(2016)
Aphid Infestation Increases Fusarium langsethiae and T-2 and HT-2 Mycotoxins in Wheat.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Description | Better understanding of the epidemiology and ecology of aphids as vectors of plant diseases in Africa |
Exploitation Route | Development of management programmes to reduce crop damage by aphids and the diseases they transmit |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
Description | We aim to develop technologies for aphid management (and potentially other insect pests) and aphid-vectored viruses while strengthening capacity in sustainable pest and disease management. |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | AAB conference - Bringing Biocontrol and IPM to Market |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Over the last decade, the AAB "Advances in Biocontrol and IPM" Conference has become a popular fixture in the national calendar of events. The overall objective has been to create an annual gathering of the IPM community at which policy makers, experienced researchers, early career scientists and practitioners can detach themselves from their usual day-to-day pressures and become totally immersed in this important subject. To broaden its appeal still further, we will continue with a hybrid format to enable both in-person delegates at our regular conference venue and those who prefer to join us online. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.aab.org.uk/event/bringing-biocontrol-and-ipm-to-market/ |
Description | AAB: Advances in IPM 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce - gave a talk, chaired a session and helped to organise the Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) Advances in IPM 2016 conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.aab.org.uk/contentok.php?id=194&basket=wwsshowconfdets |
Description | AGRInet conference |
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 | Toby Bruce - lecture at the AgriNet conference, 13 May 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.agri-net.net/events/agri-net-5th-international-plant-chemical-biology-conference |
Description | AgriTech REAP conference |
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 | Toby Bruce attended conference and took part in discussion |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.agritech-east.co.uk/reap-2015-roundup/ |
Description | Agricology |
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 | Toby Bruce - serving on steering committee of Agricology, "Practical, sustainable farming regardless of labels". This is an important initiative to bridge the divide between organic and conventional farming and an opportunity to develop more evidence based approaches to sustainable agriculture. Toby is responsible for discussions relating to crop protection. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Agricology blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce - Blog post - TACKLING THE FOOTPRINT OF PESTS, WEEDS & DISEASES IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.agricology.co.uk/tackling-footprint-pests-weeds-diseases-our-food-system |
Description | Aphidophaga |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce - presented research at an international conference in Germany, 29 August - 2 Sept 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://aphidophaga.de/ |
Description | Association of Applied Biologists: IPM the 10 year plan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce gave a talk, "Current state of the agricultural research community in the UK and its ability to deliver new and novel techniques to the production industry" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.aab.org.uk/images/ipm_2015_pro.pdf |
Description | CPM magazine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce featured as the "On farm innovator" in Crop Production Magazine, April 2016 issue |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.cpm-magazine.co.uk/2016/04/11/on-farm-innovator-crowd-sourced-science/ |
Description | Chemical Ecology Postgraduate Course |
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 | Course of lectures in chemical ecology together with brainstorming future research, and student activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Chinese Delegation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Two lectures on Crop Protection to a high level panel of Chinese academics and government policy advisers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Ecomodernism launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | I was invited by Owen Patterson MP and Mark Lynas to attend the Ecomodernism launch. It was an interesting event and I took part in the discussion. It was about environmentalism making use of technology. I agreed that technology could be useful but not that we can fully decouple from nature. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.uk2020.org.uk/events/eco-modernism-restoring-science-environment-policy/ |
Description | Farmers Weekly Ag Careers Live event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce - presented research and careers in agricultural research at a Careers Fair in Birmingham |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.fwi.co.uk/ms/events/ag-careers-live/ |
Description | GFS workshop - Alternatives to Pesticides |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce attended GFS (Global Food Security) workshop - Alternatives to Pesticides organised by Tim Benton (former GFS Champion). Toby gave a talk and participated in discusssions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Gates - Grand Challenges 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce took part in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation "Grand Challenges 2016" meeting. He contributed to discussion in the Crop Research stream |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Gates Workshop - Plant Communication for Agricultural Innovation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation organised a workshop, described as follows: "The goal of this convening is to bring together leading scientists working in plant-plant and plant-pest communication to discuss the current state of research in this area, consider how recent advances may be leveraged to improve agricultural productivity, and to brainstorm prospective research areas worthy of future exploration. Although we do not currently have approval to fund such research, we hope this meeting will serve to inform our thinking on possible future investment areas." |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Gordon Research Conference - Plant volatiles |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce gave an invited lecture - Plant volatiles in Biocontrol |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.grc.org/programs.aspx?id=15108 |
Description | Guest Lecture - University of Nottingham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Gave a lecture to M.Sc. students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | International Congress of Entomology (Helsinki, Finland) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Gave two invited talks at the leading international conference for Entomology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.icecouncil.org/upcoming-congress |
Description | Invited Seminar at University of Warwick (2 May 2019) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited Seminar at University of Warwick (2 May 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | JIC visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce - Visit to the John Innes Centre for discussion and to give a talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Nuffield students 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 | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce organised and took part in Nuffield farming scholarship students visit to Rothamsted |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Royal Holloway lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce - talk about protecting harvests with fewer pesticides |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | SCPRID Connections workshop (Windsor) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | This workshop, organised by the Gates foundation, drew together the SCPRID project teams to discuss connections between projects and pathways to impact. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Syngenta - Good Growth Plan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce attended a discussion meeting with Syngenta about their Good Growth Plan and collaboration with Rothamsted |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | The Future of Crop Protection |
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 | On November 1st, 2022, 140 professionals from the horticultural industry met at the World Horti Center to discuss the innovations that are needed to make crop protection future-proof. By 2030, the EU wants the use of plant protection products to be halved. The central topic of the day was: what needs to be done to deal with this challenge? What should companies, research institutes, and other organisations in the horticultural industry do to turn this upcoming demand into an opportunity? I gave an invited keynote talk and took part in discussions at this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://impact2025.nl/en/event/the-future-of-crop-protection/ |
Description | UK-US Plant Health Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Toby Bruce attended a discussion meeting at the UK embassy in Washington DC to discuss Plant Health and write a whitepaper with other delegates. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://blogs.fco.gov.uk/stefaniadimauronava/2016/10/13/blog-at-the-root-of-it-all/ |
Description | World BioProtection Summit - invited lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Gave a talk about "Innovation in crop protection: challenges and opportunities" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.worldbioprotectionforum.com/bioprotection-summit-and-awards-2022/ |
Description | • Society of Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Manchester, UK. "Chemical communication between insects and plants - dynamic and complex interactions that have evolved over millions of years but act in milliseconds" 3-4 July 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Talk was well received and stimulated questions Invited to write a paper in JXB about the talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.sebiology.org/meetings/Past_Meetings/Manchester/Manchester.html |