Controlling important diseases in potato by cloning functional NB-LRR-type resistance genes
Lead Research Organisation:
James Hutton Institute
Department Name: Cell & Molecular Sciences
Abstract
Potato is one of the world's most important food crops, and production is threatened by several pests and pathogens that severely reduce crop yield and quality. These pathogens include late blight, the organism that caused the infamous Irish potato famine, soil-dwelling cyst nematodes that attack the roots, and a number of bacteria and viruses. Current control methods for many of these pathogens in most parts of the world are based mainly on the use of chemical sprays which are both environmentally hazardous and often ineffective. Moreover, some of these chemicals, for example nematicides, are being removed from use by EU legislation, severely limiting the ability of growers to control cyst nematodes. Modelling suggests that global potato production could increase by up to a third if the diseases that reduce yields could be controlled.
It is widely thought that the most promising and environmentally benign route for combating crop pests and diseases is by deployment of naturally-occurring plant resistance genes. In plants, including potato, disease resistance is typically controlled by resistance genes, known as 'R genes' that have a recognizable DNA 'domain' structure. In the plant innate immune system, the R proteins encoded by R genes provide resistance by recognising 'effector' molecules produced by the pathogen and then activating various defence processes. Hence R genes are key players in plant disease resistance, and they are effective towards diverse pathogens of all major types (oomycetes, fungi, viruses, nematodes and bacteria). We recently analysed the published potato genome and identified ~760 R genes using a novel technique we have developed for rapid isolation of all R genes from potato varieties or wild species. This new method, called RenSeq (R gene enrichment sequencing), takes advantage of recent developments in genome sequencing and in 'capturing' targeted DNA sequences from complex mixtures. Using this technique we can now sequence the R genes, which represent only about 0.24% of the DNA in the potato genome, from any potato or closely related plant in an efficient and cost effective manner. Moreover, given the appropriate sequence information, this method can be easily applied to other crop species.
This project makes use of the wide diversity of R genes present in wild potatoes and other Solanaceae. The main aims of this project are to combine the RenSeq method with the latest sequencing technologies to determine the R gene complements of selected Solanum species harbouring functionally effective resistances against one or more potato pathogen. We will use the sequence data generated to identify markers and gene candidates for functional resistances using an efficient genetic pooling approach. This will make use of existing crosses between resistant and susceptible plants to map the functional resistances to a chromosomal position in the plant genome. RenSeq will be deployed to sequence all R genes in the parents of crosses as well as pools of offspring plants that are resistant and susceptible. Comparing these sequence data using new bioinformatics approaches we will develop genetic markers that are within or immediately flanking the genes conferring resistance. Markers will be deployed via conventional plant breeding to select for resistance and candidate genes will be subjected to functional studies for potential future biotechnological deployment. A key aspect of this project is the partnership between the JHI, UoD and TSL, the plant genome sequencing expertise of TGAC as well as the link with Simplot, who will test resistance genes in field trials in the USA.
It is widely thought that the most promising and environmentally benign route for combating crop pests and diseases is by deployment of naturally-occurring plant resistance genes. In plants, including potato, disease resistance is typically controlled by resistance genes, known as 'R genes' that have a recognizable DNA 'domain' structure. In the plant innate immune system, the R proteins encoded by R genes provide resistance by recognising 'effector' molecules produced by the pathogen and then activating various defence processes. Hence R genes are key players in plant disease resistance, and they are effective towards diverse pathogens of all major types (oomycetes, fungi, viruses, nematodes and bacteria). We recently analysed the published potato genome and identified ~760 R genes using a novel technique we have developed for rapid isolation of all R genes from potato varieties or wild species. This new method, called RenSeq (R gene enrichment sequencing), takes advantage of recent developments in genome sequencing and in 'capturing' targeted DNA sequences from complex mixtures. Using this technique we can now sequence the R genes, which represent only about 0.24% of the DNA in the potato genome, from any potato or closely related plant in an efficient and cost effective manner. Moreover, given the appropriate sequence information, this method can be easily applied to other crop species.
This project makes use of the wide diversity of R genes present in wild potatoes and other Solanaceae. The main aims of this project are to combine the RenSeq method with the latest sequencing technologies to determine the R gene complements of selected Solanum species harbouring functionally effective resistances against one or more potato pathogen. We will use the sequence data generated to identify markers and gene candidates for functional resistances using an efficient genetic pooling approach. This will make use of existing crosses between resistant and susceptible plants to map the functional resistances to a chromosomal position in the plant genome. RenSeq will be deployed to sequence all R genes in the parents of crosses as well as pools of offspring plants that are resistant and susceptible. Comparing these sequence data using new bioinformatics approaches we will develop genetic markers that are within or immediately flanking the genes conferring resistance. Markers will be deployed via conventional plant breeding to select for resistance and candidate genes will be subjected to functional studies for potential future biotechnological deployment. A key aspect of this project is the partnership between the JHI, UoD and TSL, the plant genome sequencing expertise of TGAC as well as the link with Simplot, who will test resistance genes in field trials in the USA.
Technical Summary
We have developed RenSeq, an NB-LRR-specific enrichment and sequencing workflow that enables a detailed annotation of R genes in genome sequences and rapid mapping of resistances in segregating populations. The underlying principle for this project is RenSeq-based comparative bulked segregant analysis to reveal candidate R genes among closely-related paralogous and non-functional alleles.
RenSeq will be used to generate error corrected, long, R gene-specific sequences from parental plants (Objective 1). Up to 1.5 kb, highly accurate sequencing reads obtained by combining PacBio with MiSeq paired-end reads will be assembled to generate high-quality contigs that best describe the NB-LRRs in the resistant and susceptible parents, respectively, to enable discrimination between alleles and paralogs.
In Objective 2, shorter but highly accurate MiSeq-based RenSeq reads will be obtained from bulked resistant and bulked susceptible plants and compared to the parental NB-LRRs established in Objective 1. Candidate NB-LRRs are unique to the resistant parent as well as the resistant bulks and absent in the corresponding susceptible plants.
In Objective 3, transgenic potato lines expressing candidate R genes will be used to verify resistance to corresponding pathogens. In parallel, we will take advantage of on-going complementary research to identify and clone effectors from P. infestans, G. pallida and PVY. From these we will identify avirulence (Avr) genes matching the R genes in this study by co-infiltration with R gene candidates in the model Solanaceae N. benthamiana. Identification of avirulences will facilitate prediction of R genes durability. Markers will be developed from functional R genes to aid marker assistant selection in the JHI/MRS breeding programme.
In Objective 4, together with the industrial partner Simplot, we will test and combine R genes effective against late blight, PCN and PVY in selected US/UK potato cultivars using Golden Gate cloning.
RenSeq will be used to generate error corrected, long, R gene-specific sequences from parental plants (Objective 1). Up to 1.5 kb, highly accurate sequencing reads obtained by combining PacBio with MiSeq paired-end reads will be assembled to generate high-quality contigs that best describe the NB-LRRs in the resistant and susceptible parents, respectively, to enable discrimination between alleles and paralogs.
In Objective 2, shorter but highly accurate MiSeq-based RenSeq reads will be obtained from bulked resistant and bulked susceptible plants and compared to the parental NB-LRRs established in Objective 1. Candidate NB-LRRs are unique to the resistant parent as well as the resistant bulks and absent in the corresponding susceptible plants.
In Objective 3, transgenic potato lines expressing candidate R genes will be used to verify resistance to corresponding pathogens. In parallel, we will take advantage of on-going complementary research to identify and clone effectors from P. infestans, G. pallida and PVY. From these we will identify avirulence (Avr) genes matching the R genes in this study by co-infiltration with R gene candidates in the model Solanaceae N. benthamiana. Identification of avirulences will facilitate prediction of R genes durability. Markers will be developed from functional R genes to aid marker assistant selection in the JHI/MRS breeding programme.
In Objective 4, together with the industrial partner Simplot, we will test and combine R genes effective against late blight, PCN and PVY in selected US/UK potato cultivars using Golden Gate cloning.
Planned Impact
Who might benefit from this research?
The immediate beneficiaries of this research will include other academic researchers, as described in detail above. This project has been developed by the academic partners in collaboration with our commercial sponsor Simplot, who have a major investment in potato through ownership of various processed potato products. One of the main outputs of this project will be technical 'know-how' of how to efficiently isolate resistance gene repertoires from potato, which will be applicable to any plant. A second major output is a large amount of information about potato resistance genes, including some genes of known function that can be exploited via potato breeding as well as by biotechnological approaches. This project therefore will provide information, namely markers and functional resistances that will benefit those engaged in potato improvement, such as breeders and companies that generate varieties for the UK fresh and processed markets. JHI is ideally placed to exploit this link through its commercial arm, Mylnefield Research Services (MRS), which runs potato breeding programmes for all major national potato producers, enabling ready routes to translate research outcomes to UK industry. In the long term, breeding of other crop species will benefit from generic technologies developed in this proposal.
Our project is unusual in that our industrial partner is a US-based company that has extensive reach into the development of a diverse array of processed potato products. We believe that Simplot has a forward looking strategy for procuring improved raw material for their product range, and are not averse to the use of the latest technologies. We seek the best acceptable route to deploy resistances to important pathogens that will ultimately impact on food security as well as the sustainability of potato production. In the UK at the present time, this equates to conventional potato breeding. However, in the USA other options, including GM, are considered. We believe that the industrial link with Simplot will be very helpful for UK plant breeding and agriculture in the medium to long term. The public and stake holders will benefit from the availability of cultivars that are produced under more environmentally benign farming regimes which will require less pesticide input.
How will they benefit from this research?
In the shorter term potato breeders will have a much improved 'toolbox' for breeding varieties with improved resistances to pests and pathogens that impact on both UK production (e.g. blight, PCN) as well as those affecting countries to which UK, and Scotland, in particular, exports seed (e.g. viruses). JHI is well placed to efficiently exploit this information through its commercial arm, MRS, which operates multiple commercial breeding programmes with industrial partners. The availability of novel resistance genes and markers diagnostic for these genes will allow more rapid development of new resistant varieties. Moreover, varieties developed using these resources will combine resistances to more than one pathogen, something which has been hard to achieve to date.
Stakeholders, including the public and farmers will benefit from improved environmental conditions through reduced use of fungicides, nematicides and insecticides used to control blight, PCN and aphid vectors of viruses. The public will also benefit through availability of fresh produce and process products containing less chemical residues.
The immediate beneficiaries of this research will include other academic researchers, as described in detail above. This project has been developed by the academic partners in collaboration with our commercial sponsor Simplot, who have a major investment in potato through ownership of various processed potato products. One of the main outputs of this project will be technical 'know-how' of how to efficiently isolate resistance gene repertoires from potato, which will be applicable to any plant. A second major output is a large amount of information about potato resistance genes, including some genes of known function that can be exploited via potato breeding as well as by biotechnological approaches. This project therefore will provide information, namely markers and functional resistances that will benefit those engaged in potato improvement, such as breeders and companies that generate varieties for the UK fresh and processed markets. JHI is ideally placed to exploit this link through its commercial arm, Mylnefield Research Services (MRS), which runs potato breeding programmes for all major national potato producers, enabling ready routes to translate research outcomes to UK industry. In the long term, breeding of other crop species will benefit from generic technologies developed in this proposal.
Our project is unusual in that our industrial partner is a US-based company that has extensive reach into the development of a diverse array of processed potato products. We believe that Simplot has a forward looking strategy for procuring improved raw material for their product range, and are not averse to the use of the latest technologies. We seek the best acceptable route to deploy resistances to important pathogens that will ultimately impact on food security as well as the sustainability of potato production. In the UK at the present time, this equates to conventional potato breeding. However, in the USA other options, including GM, are considered. We believe that the industrial link with Simplot will be very helpful for UK plant breeding and agriculture in the medium to long term. The public and stake holders will benefit from the availability of cultivars that are produced under more environmentally benign farming regimes which will require less pesticide input.
How will they benefit from this research?
In the shorter term potato breeders will have a much improved 'toolbox' for breeding varieties with improved resistances to pests and pathogens that impact on both UK production (e.g. blight, PCN) as well as those affecting countries to which UK, and Scotland, in particular, exports seed (e.g. viruses). JHI is well placed to efficiently exploit this information through its commercial arm, MRS, which operates multiple commercial breeding programmes with industrial partners. The availability of novel resistance genes and markers diagnostic for these genes will allow more rapid development of new resistant varieties. Moreover, varieties developed using these resources will combine resistances to more than one pathogen, something which has been hard to achieve to date.
Stakeholders, including the public and farmers will benefit from improved environmental conditions through reduced use of fungicides, nematicides and insecticides used to control blight, PCN and aphid vectors of viruses. The public will also benefit through availability of fresh produce and process products containing less chemical residues.
Organisations
- James Hutton Institute (Lead Research Organisation)
- Scottish Government (Co-funder)
- N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (Collaboration)
- University of Medellin (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- China Agricultural University (CAU) (Collaboration)
- International Potato Center (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- French National Institute of Agricultural Research (Collaboration)
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Collaboration)
- Wageningen University & Research (Collaboration)
- Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) (Collaboration)
- Julius Kuhn Institute (Collaboration)
- University of Ljubljana (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA (Collaboration)
- National Institute of Crop Science (Collaboration)
- Cornell University (Collaboration)
- Huazhong Agricultural University (Collaboration)
- Simplot (United States) (Project Partner)
Publications
Van Weymers PS
(2016)
Utilizing "Omic" Technologies to Identify and Prioritize Novel Sources of Resistance to the Oomycete Pathogen Phytophthora infestans in Potato Germplasm Collections.
in Frontiers in plant science
Armstrong MR
(2019)
Tracking disease resistance deployment in potato breeding by enrichment sequencing.
in Plant biotechnology journal
Stam R
(2014)
The role of effectors in nonhost resistance to filamentous plant pathogens.
in Frontiers in plant science
Varypatakis K
(2020)
The Genomic Impact of Selection for Virulence against Resistance in the Potato Cyst Nematode, Globodera pallida
in Genes
Giolai M
(2016)
Targeted capture and sequencing of gene-sized DNA molecules.
in BioTechniques
Maillot G
(2022)
Strive or thrive: Trends in Phytophthora capsici gene expression in partially resistant pepper.
in Frontiers in plant science
Wang Y
(2023)
SMRT-AgRenSeq-d in potato (Solanum tuberosum) as a method to identify candidates for the nematode resistance Gpa5
in Horticulture Research
Lin X
(2020)
RLP/K enrichment sequencing; a novel method to identify receptor-like protein (RLP) and receptor-like kinase (RLK) genes.
in The New phytologist
Gartner U
(2021)
Resisting Potato Cyst Nematodes With Resistance.
in Frontiers in plant science
Jiang R
(2018)
Potato late blight field resistance from QTL dPI09c is conferred by the NB-LRR gene R8.
in Journal of experimental botany
Feechan A
(2015)
Plant Programmed Cell Death
Ahmed A
(2016)
Plant Pathogen Resistance Biotechnology
He Q
(2018)
Plant pathogen effector utilizes host susceptibility factor NRL1 to degrade the immune regulator SWAP70.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Wang S
(2019)
Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors act in concert at diverse subcellular locations to enhance host colonization.
in Journal of experimental botany
Thilliez GJA
(2019)
Pathogen enrichment sequencing (PenSeq) enables population genomic studies in oomycetes.
in The New phytologist
Bartlett L
(2020)
Operational considerations for hot-washing in potato crisp manufacture
in Food and Bioproducts Processing
Torrance L
(2020)
Natural resistance to Potato virus Y in Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja.
in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
Wiesel L
(2014)
Molecular effects of resistance elicitors from biological origin and their potential for crop protection.
in Frontiers in plant science
Strachan SM
(2019)
Mapping the H2 resistance effective against Globodera pallida pathotype Pa1 in tetraploid potato.
in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
Armstrong M
(2021)
Identification of Resistance Genes Using Diagnostic R-Gene Enrichment Sequencing (dRenSeq).
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Lin X
(2020)
Identification of Avramr1 from Phytophthora infestans using long read and cDNA pathogen-enrichment sequencing (PenSeq).
in Molecular plant pathology
Chen X
(2018)
Identification and rapid mapping of a gene conferring broad-spectrum late blight resistance in the diploid potato species Solanum verrucosum through DNA capture technologies.
in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
Li J
(2023)
Identification and mapping of Rpi-blb4 in diploid wild potato species Solanum bulbocastanum
in The Crop Journal
Tomczynska I
(2014)
Hypersensitive response to Potato virus Y in potato cultivar Sárpo Mira is conferred by the Ny-Smira gene located on the long arm of chromosome IX.
in Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement
Adams TM
(2023)
HISS: Snakemake-based workflows for performing SMRT-RenSeq assembly, AgRenSeq and dRenSeq for the discovery of novel plant disease resistance genes.
in BMC bioinformatics
Jupe F
(2014)
Genomic DNA library preparation for resistance gene enrichment and sequencing (RenSeq) in plants.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
McLellan H
(2022)
Exploiting breakdown in nonhost effector-target interactions to boost host disease resistance.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Wang H
(2021)
Evolutionarily distinct resistance proteins detect a pathogen effector through its association with different host targets.
in The New phytologist
Lu J
(2021)
Comparison of the Distinct, Host-Specific Response of Three Solanaceae Hosts Induced by Phytophthora infestans.
in International journal of molecular sciences
Duan Y
(2020)
Comparative Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Compatible and Incompatible Patterns of Potato Toward Phytophthora infestans.
in G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
Beketova M
(2021)
Combination Breeding and Marker-Assisted Selection to Develop Late Blight Resistant Potato Cultivars
in Agronomy
Volk H
(2019)
Chitin-Binding Protein of Verticillium nonalfalfae Disguises Fungus from Plant Chitinases and Suppresses Chitin-Triggered Host Immunity.
in Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI
Baker K
(2018)
BLASTmap: A Shiny-Based Application to Visualize BLAST Results as Interactive Heat Maps and a Tool to Design Gene-Specific Baits for Bespoke Target Enrichment Sequencing.
in Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Jouet A
(2019)
Albugo candida race diversity, ploidy and host-associated microbes revealed using DNA sequence capture on diseased plants in the field.
in The New phytologist
Wiesel L
(2015)
A transcriptional reference map of defence hormone responses in potato.
in Scientific reports
Boevink PC
(2016)
A Phytophthora infestans RXLR effector targets plant PP1c isoforms that promote late blight disease.
in Nature communications
Paajanen P
(2019)
A critical comparison of technologies for a plant genome sequencing project.
in GigaScience
| Description | This project commenced on the 1st of September 2014 and concluded on the 31st of August 2018. Resources: We have designed NB-LRR gene specific bait libraries for RenSeq that encompasses the latest annotation of disease resistance genes from potato and tomato alongside functional genes from pepper and Nicotiana tobacco. The libraries are in the public domain: http://solanum.hutton.ac.uk/46220_probes_library.csv (Version 3.0) and http://solanum.hutton.ac.uk/renamed_FunctionalRefSequences.110mer.probes_KamilFiltered95.rmdup.0.91.fast a (version 4.0). In addition, we have utilised GenSeq, an enrichment strategy that targets established COS markers to aid the quick-mapping of new resistances (Chen et al., 2018; Strachan et al., 2019). The GenSeq probe library is also in the public domain http://solanum.hutton.ac.uk/GenSeq_filtered_probes.fasta. We have screened diploid potato accessions from the Commonwealth Potato Collection for late blight resistant and identified novel sources of resistance in diverse wild species such as Solanum bulbocastanum, S. capsicibaccatum, S. microdontum, S. mochiquense, S. okadae, S. pinnatisectum, S. polyadenium, S. tarijense, and S. verrucosum (Van Weymers et al., 2016). Technology development: • To help prioritize novel resistances from resistant CPC accessions and to dismiss accessions that contain already characterized NB-LRRs, we have developed a diagnostic form of RenSeq, which is referred to as dRenSeq (Van Weymers et al., 2016). We have established dRenSeq on diploid species but also recently for tetraploid cultivars (Armstrong et al., 2019). For dRenSeq in tetraploid potatoes, we could demonstrate that the technology enables the parallel identification and sequence validation of multiple functional resistance genes effective against different pathogens (Armstrong et al., 2019). It is currently the only available tool to cost-effectively analyse multiple genotypes in crop breeding programs and to confirm transgene integrity in GM crops as shown for Simplot's Innate ® varieties. The sensitivity of dRenSeq, achieved through enrichment-based deep-sequencing, is sufficient to determine single sequence polymorphisms in NLRs within tetraploid varieties. This is a prerequisite to certifying deployment of functional genes rather than pseudogenised or less effective variants. PCR-based tests are typically unable to identify such variations without sequencing multiple cloned products. Similarly, effector recognition studies are dependent on the discovery of cognate avirulence genes, limited by suitable expression systems that work in all host genotypes, and can suffer from a lack of specific plant responses. DRenSeq can be used for any crop where NLRs control diseases. To identify candidate genes, we refined RenSeq to enable the targeted capture and PacBio-based sequencing of gene-sized DNA molecules of up to 7kb in length (Giolai et al., 2016). We have shown recently that RenSeq-derived reads can be used for the design of highly-specific and transferrable markers such as KASP to track disease resistance genes in populations. Consequently, NB-LRR gene-specific markers for all major potato resistance genes have been designed and are used by commercial breeding companies. Further, international potato breeders have sent us DNA for dRenSeq analysis. We developed PenSeq to enable the characterization of allelic diversity in pathogen effectors, enabling evolutionary and population genomic analyses of Phytophthora species. Furthermore, PenSeq enables the massively parallel identification of presence/absence variations and sequence polymorphisms in key pathogen genes, which is a prerequisite for the efficient deployment of host resistance genes (Thielliez et al., 2019 and Jouet et al., 2019) Mapping/cloning of resistances: DRenSeq established that the resistance QTL dPI09c in the B3 population, which was developed by CIP and thought to be free of any major R genes, is based on the resistance gene R8 (Jiang et al., 2018). We also identified and functionally confirmed R8-like variants. We have mapped a novel late blight resistance from S. verrucosum to a 1 MB interval and successfully screened a BAC library for candidates (Chen et al., 2018). The H2 resistance gene, introduced into cultivated potatoes from the wild diploid species Solanum multidissectum, confers a high level of resistance to the Pa1 pathotype of the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. A cross between tetraploid H2-containing breeding clone P55/7 and susceptible potato variety Picasso yielded an F1 population that segregated approximately 1:1 for the resistance phenotype, which is consistent with a single dominant gene in a simplex configuration. Using genome reduction methodologies RenSeq and GenSeq, the segregating F1 population enabled the genetic characterisation of the resistance through a bulked segregant analysis. A diagnostic RenSeq analysis of the parents confirmed that the resistance in P55/7 cannot be explained by previously characterised resistance genes. Only the variety Picasso contained functionally characterised disease resistance genes Rpi-R1, Rpi-R3a, Rpi-R3b variant, Gpa2 and Rx, which was independently confirmed through effector vacuum infiltration assays. RenSeq and GenSeq independently identified sequence polymorphisms linked to the H2 resistance on the top end of potato chromosome 5. Allele specific KASP markers further defined the locus containing the H2 gene to a 4.7Mb interval on the distal short arm of potato chromosome 5 and to positions that correspond to 1.4MB and 6.1MB in the potato reference genome. (Strachan et al., 2019). We have identified candidate genes through PacBio- based sequencing of gene-sized, NB-LRR gene enriched DNA molecules in collaboration with the Earlham Institute. A new source of major gene resistance against Potato virus Y (PVY) was identified and genetically characterised in the progeny of two diploid potato populations of Solanum tuberosum Groups Phureja and Tuberosum. Phenotypic analysis revealed the resistance mechanism permitted a small amount of PVY replication in epidermal cells of inoculated leaves. The virus was confined to discrete local lesions and did not enter the vascular system, however, no hypersensitive response was visible. Detailed genotypic analysis located the resistance on chromosome 9 in the central region (at approx. 22 cM) not previously associated with PVY resistance. (Torrance et al., under revision for TAG) In collaboration with Prof Xie Conghua (Wuhan, China) and Jin Liping (CAAS, Beijing) we fine mapped a novel PVY resistance gene (Cai et al., in preparation) We have identified a novel resistance in Solanum bulbocastanum and mapped the resistance through RenSeq and GenSeq to chromosome 5 (manuscript in preparation). We have adapted RenSeq to Receptor-like proteins and kinases (RLP/RLKs) and have shown that this approach is very powerful for the mapping of PRR receptors. In a proof of concept, we conducted enrichments of RLP/RLKs on the sequenced potato and tomato reference genomes and improved their annotations. A potato population that segregates for Inf1 and SCR74 recognition was used in a bulked segregant analysis. As expected, the position of the Inf1 receptor ELR was confirmed to be on LG12. However, we could also map the receptor for SCR74 recognition to the top end of chromosome 9 (Xia et al., under revision in New Phytologist). |
| Exploitation Route | The commercial partner of this BBSRC IPA project, Simplot, has recently successfully applied for deregulation of Innate ™ potatoes within the USA. The second generation of Innate will include late blight resistance genes and Simplot is seeking to 'future proof' these resistances with novel resistances that will arise through this project. We have identified potato cultivars with effective resistance against late blight which includes Rpi-blb2, R8, R9a, and Rpi-vnt1.3. These have been prioritised for a dRenSeq informed breeding approach through James Hutton Limited. With the help of the developed markers, international breeding programs are now involved in combining effective resistances. Commercial companies have also requested an assessment of their pre-breeding material. This is offered as a commercial service through James Hutton Limited. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | This project builds on the previously established annotation of NB-LRR-like genes in potato (Jupe et al 2012 and 2013) and tomato (Andolfo 2014) that was used to establish RenSeq (Jupe et al 2013; 2014). RenSeq technology has proven a suitable tool for mapping and cloning NB-LRR genes and attracted substantial interest from the scientific community. Through RenSeq, we have mapped resistances against late blight (Chen et al., 2018), nematodes (Strachan et al., 2019) and Virus (Torrance et al., under revision for TAG). To help prioritize novel resistances and to dismiss CPC accessions that contain already characterized NB-LRRs, we have developed a diagnostic form of RenSeq, which is referred to as dRenSeq (Van Weymers et al., 2016). With the help of dRenSeq, we could demonstrate that an 'R gene free' source of late blight resistance, that behaved like a QTL in phenotypic screens was based on the presence of R8 (Rui et al., 2018). We have established dRenSeq on diploid species but also recently on tetraploid cultivars (Armstrong et al., 2019). The latter identified defeated late blight resistances as well as functional G. pallida and PVY resistance genes in, for example, the cultivar Picasso. We are using dRenSeq as a novel tool to evaluate breeding and pre-breeding material and for NB-LRR gene stacking. The data have been presented to the Industrial partner at progress meetings in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and Simplot has expressed a desire to characterise the top 30 US potato cultivars through dRenSeq. We have now sequenced over 50 US cultivars and 150 European/UK cultivars. By using dRenSeq in European/UK cultivars we could demonstrate the limited base of resistances that have been used in the potato breeding industry (R1-R3). However, we have also identified cultivars with broader resistances such as Rpi-blb2, R8, R9a, and Rpi-vnt1.3 (Armstrong et al., 2019). The technology and the identified highly informative markers for NLRs are now used in potato breeding at James Hutton limited to direct parental selection in breeding programs that aim to combine multiple resistances. To identify candidate genes, we recently refined RenSeq to enable the targeted capture and PacBio-based sequencing of gene-sized DNA molecules of up to 7kb in length (Giolai et al., 2016). We have successfully implemented association RenSeq (AgRenSeq) to identify candidates for resistances already deployed in cultivars but for which the genes have proven recalcitrant to clone. Examples include wart-disease, PCN, and Fusarium. Additional projects that enrich related gene family members from host plants (RLP/RLKs) and pathogens (secreted proteins - PenSeq) have been set up in collaboration with colleagues in Wageningen, the USA, and China. In 2018 we also established RenSeq in Rice and mapped the source of a novel resistance from Zhonghua against free-living nematodes (a collaboration between JHI, University of St Andrews, France and Vietnam). The work has been represented at national and international conferences such as: Invited Speaker; Durham University (February 2016), Invited Speaker; National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia (June 2016); Selected Speaker; Plant Science Scotland PI meeting (June 2016), Selected Speaker; EAPR meeting (August 2016); Key Note Speaker; European Society of Nematology, Braga, Portugal (August 2016); Invited Speaker; Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), Wuhan, China (October 2016); Invited Speaker; Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan, China (October 2016), Invited Speaker; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China (February 2017), Keynote Speaker /Chair 6th plant genomics & gene editing congress, Rotterdam (may 2018) Keynote Speaker EAPR meeting, Warnemuende, Germany (December 2018), Plenary Speaker, China Potato Conference, Enshi, China (May 2019), Speaker and Invited session Chair IS-MPMI, Glasgow (July 2019), Plenary Speaker, South African Genetics Society (online - September 2020), Further, in 2019-2022, the research was showcased at the following events: 2019 December: Invited presentation at SRUC 2019 December: Invited presentation at the University of Edinburgh 2019 November: Organiser, speaker and facilitator at University of Dundee, Plant Sciences Retreat 2019 September: Invited presentation: Fourth Sino-Europe Symposium on Potato in Dingxi, China 2019 September: Foreign Expert at Potato/Pathogen workshop in Chongqing, China 2019 July: MPMI presenter and session moderator 2019 June: Stakeholder meeting - Agrico R&D department 2019 May: Plenary Speaker, China Potato Conference, Enshi, China 2019 February: Stakeholder meeting, McCain 2020 December: Invited Presentation at China National Talent Introduction Base 2020 September: Stakeholder meeting; Solana (online) 2020 September: CMS seminar the James Hutton Institute (online) 2020 September: Plenary Speaker, South African Genetics Society (online) 2020 June: University of Dundee, Crieff Research Symposium (online) 2020 March: Speaker, 8th plant genomics & gene editing congress, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2020 February: Organiser, speaker and facilitator for Potato@Hutton workshop 2021 February: Stakeholder meeting Greenvale (online) 2021 September: Agri-Tech-E invited speaker and panel member (online) 2021 September: Yunan late blight meeting (online) 2021 September: CMS seminar, JHI 2021 July: Edinburgh Science Festival - invited speaker (online) 2021 May: Invited Stakeholder meeting Aardevo (online) 2021 April: Stakeholder meeting Simplot (online) 2021 March: Stakeholder meeting McCain (online) 2021 February: EastBio PhD student presentation 2022 December: Potato strategy meeting - presentation and organiser 2022 November: Gatsby presentation 2022 September: USDA agritech meeting in Edinburgh (presenter and panel member) 2022 September: USDA agritech meeting in Dublin (presenter and panel member) 2022 September: presentation to University of Edinburgh BSc students IPIC 2022 July: Session Chair and Presenter, EAPR meeting, Krakow, Poland 2022 June: Presentation to Solana (online) 2022 June: Presentation to the University of Lagos, Nigeria (in person at the UoD) 2022 June: Presentation at the World Potato Congress, Dublin, Ireland (in person) 2022 May: KMC visiting group from Denmark (in person) 2022 March: Daffodil project- Royal Society & Queen Anne-High School in Dunfermline (in person) 2022 March: Arbor RenSeq Webinar (online) 2022 February: Stakeholder meeting Greenvale (online) 2022 February: PCN working group presentation (online) 2022 February: Hutton Board presentation (online) 2022 January: SACCAP conference - Dundee (online) 2023 January: Invited speaker 24th Annual SACAPP conference, Dundee, UK 2023 January: Presenter - GB potato consultant meeting A number of peer-reviewed publications have arisen thus far. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Policy document for 'knowledgescotland' |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=399 |
| Description | (ResearchLeaders2025) - Research Leaders 2025 - A Fellowship Programme developing the Next Generation of Agri-Food Research Leaders |
| Amount | € 4,248,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 754380 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | BBSRC - Subcontracting from the University of Dundee to the JHI |
| Amount | £118,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/N009967/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | BBSRC - subcontract |
| Amount | £1 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/P019595/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 02/2020 |
| Description | COST ACTION |
| Amount | € 2,330 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | COST-STSM-FA1208-21999 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | Horizon 2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2015 |
| End | 04/2015 |
| Description | EU Research Leader |
| Amount | € 247,860 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | Newton Advanced Fellowships 2020 - NAF\R1\201061 |
| Amount | £69,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NAF\R1\201061 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Royal Society - IEC\R2\192090 - International Exchanges 2019 Cost Share (Russia) |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IEC\R2\192090 - International Exchanges 2019 Cost Share (Russia) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 10/2021 |
| Description | Studying Co-evolution in agriculture to inform NLR deployment |
| Amount | £456,327 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S015663/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | TSB MCAP2 |
| Amount | £1,320,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | TS/R005427/1 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 08/2020 |
| Title | GenSeq enrichment tool |
| Description | A new, enrichment-sequencing based approach to map novel traits in potato. The manuscript detailing the technology has been accepted for publication in the journal Theoretical and Applied Genetics (TAG) 2018 |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Publication |
| URL | http://solanum.hutton.ac.uk |
| Title | HISS: Snakemake-based workflows for performing SMRT-RenSeq assembly, AgRenSeq and dRenSeq for the discovery of novel plant disease resistance genes |
| Description | Computational pipeline to conduct RenSeq-based association studies in potato |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Request for further information and collaborations |
| URL | https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.01.514708v1 |
| Title | PenSeq |
| Description | We have developed pathogenicity factor target enrichment and sequencing (PenhSeq) to include P. infestans and P. capsici secreted proteins and RXLR effectors, to facilitate the massively parallel elucidation of polymorphisms in effectors and known avirulence determinants. Results: Target enrichment sequencing of 579 P. infestans and 574 P. capsici genes was conducted in parallel for twelve isolates, six from each species, and included the reference isolates T30-4 for P. infestans and LT1534 for P. capsici. Under high-stringent mapping conditions PenSeq reads displayed a higher than 50 % on-target rate and over 87 % of all targeted genes from the reference genomes were fully represented. PenSeq revealed presence/absence variations and sequence polymorphisms for known Avr genes across different pathogen genotypes. Hybridization of P. infestans and P. capsici-derived baits identified 30 additional RXLR effectors in novel parts of the T30-4 genome. A subsequent de novo annotation identified 1367 putative RXLR-containing regions of which 631 displayed evidence of expression in at least three publically available RNAseq datasets. Conclusions: PenSeq enables the massively parallel sequence polymorphism study of effectors, facilitating the molecular characterization of Phytophthora isolates for population studies. The technology provides a novel diagnostic tool to predict the efficacy of host resistances in the face of pathogen population shifts. A high number of novel RXLR candidates were identified through PenSeq and a de novo analysis. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Predicting the durability of deployed resistances by studying the diversity of P. infestans effectors including Avr genes. Thielez et al., 2019 and Jouette et al., 2018 |
| URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30288743 |
| Title | dRenSeq - a new tool for potato disease resistance breedings |
| Description | We can identify and validate the sequence of all currently known NB-LRRs genes in potato wild accessions and cultivars. We are using the technoloyg (dRenSeq) as part of breeding efforts to identify the best complementary parents for disease resistance gene stacking. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We are using the technology at James Hutton Limited and have had requests from companies SIMPLOT, Agrico, Syngenta and Solana for potential collaborations. The manuscript detailing the approach is currently under review in Nature Biotechnology |
| Title | NB-LRR gene browser for potato |
| Description | Potato gene browser with the latest annotation tracks for NB-LRR genes |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The presented NB-LRR gene annotation is seen as the international standard for potato |
| URL | http://solanum.hutton.ac.uk |
| Title | SolArray |
| Description | This website describes the results of microarray experiments in Potato. Sequence ID's are based on the gene and transcript IDs from the PGSC DM assembly annotation (v4.03). The microarray probes are from the Potato 60K Agilent array, and were designed to the PSGC transcripts. You can use a probe ID from the Potato 60K Agilent Microarray chip or a PGSC gene ID or transcript ID in the search forms below. Alternatively you can use the BLAST utility to search your own DNA or protein sequences against the PGSC transcripts to find related sequences. Finally the transcripts have been annotated using the top BLAST hit found in the Tomato (ITAG) and Arabidopsis thaliana (TAIR) predicted peptides, and you can use the keyword search form to filter the transcripts for terms of interest. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Hormone-specific marker genes have been developed for potato and are currently being used in fundamental and applied research studies. |
| URL | https://ics.hutton.ac.uk/solarray/ |
| Description | Cambridge joint student |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Potato expertise on disease resistance |
| Collaborator Contribution | CRISPR CAS |
| Impact | Joint PHD studentship |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | RenSeq and dRenSeq analysis on late blight resistant chinese potato cultivars |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing plant material and DNA, phenotyping populations, effector recognition studies |
| Impact | We have submitted a grant proposal under the ASTIP programme |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with China Agricultural University |
| Organisation | China Agricultural University (CAU) |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am currently supervising a student from the China Agricultural University of Beijing at my laboratory in Dundee and have been appointed an adjunct Professor at CAU in recognition of my research contributions. We have been able to send wild potato accessions from the CPC, in true seed form, to CAU following consultation with SASA and DEFRA. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Material from the CPC is currently being assessed for disease resistances and effector recognition |
| Impact | We already have a number of joint publication involving China Agricultural University, James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee. We have also applied jointly for a Royal Society grant which is currently being reviewed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Compass: COMbat crop diseases through PAthogen informed Selection of resistance gene Stacks in resilient varieties and their deployment in changing environments |
| Organisation | Wageningen University & Research |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have jointly prepared and submitted an application for EU H2020; Proposal in the framework of H2020 research programme; SFS-03-2016: Testing and breeding for sustainability and resilience in crops |
| Collaborator Contribution | Leading the European consortium |
| Impact | Exchange of plant material and genetic resources |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | FABI South Africa |
| Organisation | University of Pretoria |
| Department | Microbiology & Plant Pathology Pretoria |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are helping the team at the University of Pretoria, South Africa with Effector expression systems in plants |
| Collaborator Contribution | Exchange of know-how, vectors, approaches Supervising Master student |
| Impact | Functional effector studies |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | GCRF partnership with CIP Peru/Africa/Asia |
| Organisation | International Potato Center |
| Country | Peru |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The University of Dundee is conducting RenSeq targeted enrichment sequencing and the computational analysis. All information is shared and the results will improve international breeding efforts for disease resistance in potato servicing South America, Africa and Asia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | CIP is providing DNA from advanced potato breeding lines and wild species prioritised for disease resistance research. |
| Impact | RenSeq data for wild species and relevant breeding clones. Informed potato breeding |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Julius Kuehn Institute PCN work |
| Organisation | Julius Kuhn Institute |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Input on the genetics of host resistance and life-cycle of PCN |
| Collaborator Contribution | Phenotyping of populations |
| Impact | Meetings and Presentations so far |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | LB diversity in the US |
| Organisation | Cornell University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have been studying the diversity of P. infestans effectors on a molecular level using PenSeq. We have focused the research on typical genotypes (e.g. US23 and US24) from the US. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Christine Smart and Niklaus Gruenwald have sent us well characterised isolates and DNA and helped with the interpretation of results. |
| Impact | Grant applications to the BBSRC and USDA, Support of a PhD student in the US through the data that we generated |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Potato Late blight resistance in Colombia |
| Organisation | Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias) |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Colciencias funded a postdoctoral researcher, Dr Sonia Gomez, who joint my laboratory for one year. We conducted RenSeq and PenSeq analysis for Sonia's home University and characterised a number of resistances against late blight. |
| Collaborator Contribution | DNA was provided from P. infestans isolates and late blight resistant potato varieties. |
| Impact | RenSeq and PenSeq data for material derived from Colombia |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Potato Late blight resistance in Colombia |
| Organisation | University of Medellin |
| Country | Colombia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Colciencias funded a postdoctoral researcher, Dr Sonia Gomez, who joint my laboratory for one year. We conducted RenSeq and PenSeq analysis for Sonia's home University and characterised a number of resistances against late blight. |
| Collaborator Contribution | DNA was provided from P. infestans isolates and late blight resistant potato varieties. |
| Impact | RenSeq and PenSeq data for material derived from Colombia |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Potato and late blight in South Korea |
| Organisation | National Institute of Crop Science |
| Department | Highland Agriculture Research Institute |
| Country | Korea, Republic of |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration between Highland Agricultural Research Institute, RDA, South Korea and the JHI/UoD. We are using dRenSeq and PathSeq to determine the deployment of R genes in South Korea breeding material and the diversity of P. infestans. The ultimate aim is to ascertain if new resistance could be introduced from the UK to South Korea and vice versa |
| Collaborator Contribution | DNA samples from South Korean potato cultivars have been sent to us. Furthermore, the collaborator, Dr Kwangsoo Cho, has given us access to P. infestans sequences from South Korean isolates for analysis. |
| Impact | dRenSeq and PathSeq data Dr Kwangsoo Cho presented his work at the James Hutton Institute |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Potato in China |
| Organisation | Huazhong Agricultural University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | dRenSeq analysis revealed that quantitative resistance to late blight in segregating population is based on R8. We have shared the probe library design for RenSeq with partners in China. In addition we mapped a novel PVY resistance with RenSeq to the bottom end of LG9 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Phenotyping of potato populations that segregate for LB and PVY resistances |
| Impact | Preparation of manuscripts detailing dRenSeq and mapping of PVY resistance |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Royal Society funded project with Vavilov Institute in Russia |
| Organisation | N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Hosting scientists from Russia |
| Collaborator Contribution | providing plant material for analysis |
| Impact | Exchange of personal and ideas |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | SGC ODA GCRF - Vietnam Zhonghua rice |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We developed RenSeq for Rice and mapped. Through RenSeq we achieved the mapping and marker development for the Zhonghua source of resistance to root-knot nematodes in rice. The collaboration includes partners in France and Vietnam. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Crossing of rice, phenotypic analysis of segregants and establishment of bulks for bulked segregant analysis. |
| Impact | Map position for Zhongua-based disease resistance in rice towards root-knot nematodes. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Tomato resistance to LB |
| Organisation | French National Institute of Agricultural Research |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosted a PhD student for training purposes funded through COST ACTION SUSTAIN. Shared P. infestans RXRL libraries |
| Collaborator Contribution | Characterised PH2 and PH3 segregating populations; Identified tomato 'specific' RXLRs from P. infestans isolates that preferential infect tomato rather than potato |
| Impact | COST ACTION STSM funding for PhD student |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Verticillium nonalfalfae and mechanisms of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) resistance to verticillium wilt |
| Organisation | University of Ljubljana |
| Country | Slovenia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Effector co-localization studies in Nicotiana benthamina and setting up yeast-two-hybrid approach to identify interacting host genes |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of candidate effectors from Verticillium that cause hyper-virulence in hop |
| Impact | Successful COST Action STSM application |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | KASP markers for all currently used major potato disease resistance genes |
| Description | We have developed KASP markers, based on dRenSeq analysis of over 200 potato varieties, for all major disease resistance genes. These have been successfully introduced in commercial breeding programs. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Protection not required |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Advanced Breeding and resistance gene stacking through markers assisted selection. |
| Title | R8 Universal marker |
| Description | RenSeq derived markers that are universally transferrable between potato varieties have been developed for R8 and are used in commercial breeding activities. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Protection not required |
| Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Disease resistance breeding and stacking is supported through the markers |
| Title | dRenSeq analysis for commercial breeding companies |
| Description | We are currently offering dRenSeq to commercial breeding companies |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Protection not required |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | interest from industry has grown significantly |
| Description | : Keynote Speaker /Chair 6th plant genomics & gene editing congress, Rotterdam |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote Speaker /Chair 6th plant genomics & gene editing congress, Rotterdam |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Agri-Tech-E invited speaker and panel member |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave an invited presentation at an UK Agri-Tech-E event about potato and our research on disease resistance |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/event/advances-in-breeding-for-agriculture-new-tools-for-new-solutions... |
| Description | Arbor RenSeq Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented our work on RenSeq-based potato improvements and utilisation of the Commonwealth Potato Collection |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2105190255144311567?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_... |
| Description | Article in Holyrood current affairs magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Article about the positive impact of genome sequencing for crop protection |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.holyrood.com |
| Description | BBC Radio 4 - Farming today interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC Radio 4 - Farming today interview with a focus on potato research and the Commonwealth Potato Collection |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0007qg1 |
| Description | BBC Radio Scotland out of doors interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We discussed the importance of the Commonwealth Potato Collection for Research and Crop improvements in light of global threats to potato productions and a growing population. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0019xty |
| Description | BBC Scotland today lunchtime programme: potato |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I presented the work at the Hutton to breed low-input, climate resilient potato varieties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | BSPP outreach event: The plant Doctor, Edinburgh |
| 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 | Engaging with the public at the Edinburgh International Science Festival Raising public awareness about plant pathology and the impact on food crops |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.bspp.org.uk/outreach/article.php?id=91 |
| Description | Discussing the role of potato for UK and global food security with the Secretary of State for Scotland |
| 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 | We discussed the importance of potato for food security, current threats and opportunities and the development of IPIC with the Secretary of State for Scotland during a visit to the Hutton. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | EPSO AgT Working group |
| 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 | The EPSO Agricultural Technologies Working Group met in May (online) to discuss the impact of Gene editing technology on research and food security. This was an international meeting with representatives from EU states including the UK (Wales and Scotland). We discussed our response to the European Commission consultation on plants produced by certain new genomic techniques. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://epsoweb.org/working-groups/agricultural-technologies/ |
| Description | EPSO Agricultural Technologies Working Group member |
| 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 part of the EPSO working group on Agricultural Technology, we have writen responses to the ECJ ruling on CRISP/CAS9 and distributed this to policy makers and the members of EPSO |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| URL | https://epsoweb.org/working-groups/agricultural-technologies/ |
| Description | Edinburgh Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a presentation (online due to Covid) at the Edinburgh Science Festival about the history of potato as a crop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Engagement with GB potato agronomists and consultants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussing the current constrains in the potato industry and how science can help addressing those. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Engagement with Stakeholder - Cygnet |
| 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 | We discussed opportunities for Breeding and using RenSeq with Cygnet |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Engaging with KMC - Danish starch potato cooperative |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We hosted the Danish potato starch cooperative, KMC, at the Hutton and discussed the needs of biotic stress resistance (late blight and PCN in particular). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Fascination of Plants Days |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Display of wild potato species and explaining the cloning of disease resistance genes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.hutton.ac.uk/events/fascination-plants-day-0 |
| Description | Foreign Expert at Potato/Pathogen workshop in Chongqing, China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Foreign Expert at Potato/Pathogen workshop in Chongqing, China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Gatsby school |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We hosted approximately 30 pupils from different local schools at the Hutton. We presented our work in the context of food security and provided opportunities for the pupils to engage with students (Honours, PhD), postdocs and PI's. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Genetic characterisation of disease resistances in potatoes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We had a meeting with industrial and academic partners about characterising new resistances to protect potato crops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited Keynote speaker at EAPE meeting, Warnemuende, Germany |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote speaker on potato disease resistance at EAPR meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.potatopro.com/potato-conferences-tradeshows/19th-joint-meeting-eapr-section-'breeding-va... |
| Description | Invited Plenary Speaker: China Potato Conference, Enshi, China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Plenary Speaker, China Potato Conference, Enshi, China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited Presentation at China National Talent Introduction Base |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present my research at the China National Talent Introduction Base. As a consequence of the presentation, I am currently interviewing potential CSC PhD students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Invited Speaker (COST ACTION SUSTAIN, FA1208; Wageningen, The Netherlands) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk at the workshop Pathogen-Informed Crop Improvement describing our RenSeq approach and the use of effectors in the search for host and non-host resistance. Following the meeting we hosted a student from Wageningen at our lab to apply RenSeq to RLP and RLK-like sequences. We successfully mapped a novel PRR receptor to LG9. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited Speaker at the opening of a research facility at ZARI Zambia |
| 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 | I was invited to present our work at the opening of a new research facility at ZARI in Zambia. Subsequently, I have been advising students on research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited Speaker; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China |
| 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 | Invited Speaker; Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China - this was a workshop to identify collaborations between CAAS and UK institutes (JHI, CEH). We have prepared a joint project proposal on potato and late blight resistance |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited Speaker; Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), Wuhan, China |
| 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 | Invited Speaker; Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), Wuhan, China. This workshop was part of an appointment as a 'high end foreign expert' and is relevant to host and non-host resistances. Future project for potato crop protections were discussed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited Speaker; National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited Presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited Speaker; Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan, China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Speaker; Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan, China This invitation had arisen after the Sino-Scottish workshop. The main purpose was to discuss late blight resistance and breeding from a commercial prospective |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited Visit to Wuhan Huazhong Agricultural University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | As part of the 'High-End Foreign Recruitment program' in China, I was invited to visit the Huazhong Agricultural University for one week and gave formal presentations as well as workshops. I am involved in the Co-supervision of a PhD student who is working on late blight resistance. We have now used RenSeq to fine-map this resistance to LG9 alongside a novel PVY resistance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited presentation at SRUC - Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at SRUC |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited presentation at the University of Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation at the University of Edinburgh |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited presentation: Fourth Sino-Europe Symposium on Potato in Dingxi, China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation: Fourth Sino-Europe Symposium on Potato in Dingxi, China |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Invited speaker at IPK Germany |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Katie Baker visited IPK Gatersleben and gave a talk on the genetic work done in our group. Following the talk she had detailed discussion with Marco Pellino and Jonathan Brassac about RenSeq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited speaker to International Workshop on Potato Quantitative Traits: Genetic Analysis and Perspectives (October 14-16, 2014 at Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China) |
| 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 | The feasibility of joint PhD studentships is currently being discussed as part of a wider UK-China network. We are most likely receiving a PhD student from Wuhan University to explore effector recognition in Solanaceae plants and also to learn RenSeq technology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Key Note Speaker; European Society of Nematology, Braga, Portugal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Key Note Speaker; I highlighted the importance of using effectors to characterise non-host and host resistance and introduced target enrichment approaches such as PathSeq and RenSeq. I had requests now for collaborations and developing similar approaches for various plant/pathogens. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.esn-online.org |
| Description | MPMI presenter and session moderator |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | MPMI presenter (flash talk) and session moderator |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | National and International newspaper articles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our research featured in 13 international newspapers and magazines: • http://digital.spudman.com/i/1195920-january-2020/31? • https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/17864468.scientists-harness-wild-potatoes-bolster-commercial-spuds/ • https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/17860991.scientists-harness-wild-potatoes-bolster-commercial-spuds/ • https://www.potatopro.com/news/2019/four-late-blight-resistancy-genes-current-commercial-potato-varieties-already-defeated • https://spudsmart.com/scientists-discover-wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/ • https://www.farminglife.com/farming-news/wild-spuds-to-stop-threat-of-blight-1-9020072 • https://www.agf.nl/article/9130881/schotland-oude-aardappelrassen-veel-minder-phytophthora-gevoelig/ • https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17815436.race-time-keep-humble-scots-tattie-menu/ • http://www.stackyard.com/news/2019/07/crop/04_dundee_potatoes.html • https://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/wild-potatoes-help-spuds-resist-deadly-blight-caused-irish-potato-famine-200323 • https://potatonewstoday.com/2019/07/25/wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/ • http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2019/07/25/tatties-gone-scientists-discover-wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/ • https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/wild-potato-genes-may-be-key-to-stronger-spuds/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Newspaper article - breeding/GM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with the Courier Newspaper: Scientist says: gene editing is not the only way. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/farming/4097146/potato-scientist-says-gene-edit... |
| Description | OMGN meeting in Norwich |
| 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 | We presented data relevant to the non-host grant as well as RenSeq technology and established a collaboration with Wageningen University. Known late blight resistance genes were sent to us as a consequence. The possibility to adapt RenSeq technology to pathogen effectors and plant pattern recognising receptors are being explored. We have agreed to host a scientist from Wagening to establish an enrichment for plant pattern recognising receptors |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2014 |
| URL | http://omgn.org/ |
| Description | Organiser, speaker and facilitator at University of Dundee, Plant Sciences Retreat |
| 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 | Organiser, speaker and facilitator at University of Dundee, Plant Sciences Retreat |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Organiser, speaker and facilitator for Potato@Hutton workshop |
| 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 | Organiser, speaker and facilitator for Potato@Hutton workshop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Plenary Speaker, South African Genetics Society (online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by the South African Genetics society to present an overview of my research. I am currently supervising a Master Student from FABI in Pretoria |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Potato strategy meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We had invited an external expert from Industry to discuss options for future strategic research on potatoes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Potatoes in Practice |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | approximate 650 people attended Potatoes in Practice in 2022. We presented to the diverse audience research activities on PCN, IPM, late blight and the critical link to breeding and germplasm collections. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://pip.hutton.ac.uk |
| Description | Potatoes in Practise |
| 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 | We had a display of the Commonwealth Potato Collection and introduced the concept of dRenSeq as a new breeding tool |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.hutton.ac.uk/events/potatoes-practice-2017 |
| Description | Presentation at Durham University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to Durham University to present our work on potato as part of the University's effort on Crop Protection |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Presentation at SLU Sweden |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I visited SLU Alnarp, Sweden to conduct a VIVA of a PhD student. I was invited to present our work at the University during a seminar. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Presentation at the European Association for Potato Research, Poland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented our approaches to mining new resistances against potato diseases and integrating research and breeding at the EAPR meeting in Poland. A number of new collaborations have been developed as a result of this presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.eapr.net/conference/2022/21st-eapr-triennial-conference |
| Description | Presentation at the World Potato Congress, Ireland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave an invited, oral presentation on our efforts of RenSeq-based crop improvements and development to a diverse audience including potato industry, potato producers, breeders and advisers to governments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://wpc2022ireland.com |
| Description | Presenting Potato Research to CEO of the BBSRC |
| 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 | We presented potato research to Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, the Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Royal Highland Show |
| 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 | We presented at the Royal Highland Show the impact of disease resistance breeding in potato as a consequence of the Irish potato famine. We had on display heritage potato cultivars grown during the time of the famine (Lumper, Pink Fir Apple, Skerry Blue), current potato cultivars (Maris Piper, King Edward and Maris Piper) and wild potato species (S. verrucosum, S. polyadenium and S. bulbocastanum) with novel resistances. In addition, we had information about each cultivars in respect to the R genes that they contained (or lacked) as established through dRenSeq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.hutton.ac.uk/news/hutton-science-show-royal-highland-show |
| Description | Royal Highland Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We displayed dRenSeq technology and the impact of disease resistance gene deployment in potato cultivars since the early 1800. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.royalhighlandshow.org |
| Description | Royal Society Daffodils project - Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | As part of the Royal Society funded Daffodils project, we visited the Queen Anne High school in Dunfermline and helped pupils to extract DNA from two Daffodil species, quantify the DNA, generate libraries for sequencing and then sequenced and assembled the chloroplast genomes via Oxford Nanopore MinIon sequencing. We helped with the data analysis and summarised the results in a poster. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/-/media/grants-schemes-awards/partnership-grants/the-scottish-daffodil-proj... |
| Description | SACAPP conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation highlighting RenSeq technology and the impact on breeding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | SACCAP conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented our work on RenSeq-based potato breeding |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ruralnetwork.scot/council-area/perth-kinross-council?page=6 |
| Description | Selected Speaker and Organiser; UK-China Workshop, Dundee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of Potato in Practise, we had organised a Sino-Scotland workshop specifically focused on potato and potato diseases/resistances |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Selected Speaker; EAPR meeting; Dundee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Selected Speaker at European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) Pathology & Pests Section |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://eaprpathology2016.webarchive.hutton.ac.uk |
| Description | Selected Speaker; Plant Science Scotland PI meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a gathering of PI from Scotland that are engaged in Plant Sciences. The scope was to establish further links between Institutes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Speaker, 8th plant genomics & gene editing congress, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | About 150 participants attended the meeting and I had a number of fruitful discussion after the presentation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Street food |
| 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 | dRenSeq technology in plants and CPC wild potato species |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.dundeesciencecentre.org.uk/local/events/event.php?eventgroupID=202&categoryID=10 |
| Description | Teaching (University of Dundee) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave a 2 hour tutorial about modern genetics with a focus on utilising next-generation sequencing technology |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | University of Dundee, Crieff Research Symposium (online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented the potato research at the School of Life Sciences in Dundee at a virtual event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Yunan - late blight meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a presentation about our late blight research at the Yunan (China) late blight meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |