PHOTOWHEAT: Exploiting variation in stomatal dynamics and ear photosynthesis to optimise wheat productivity.
Lead Research Organisation:
National Institute of Agricultural Botany
Department Name: Centre for Research
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
It has been estimated that increases of 50% will be required in the yield of grain crops such as wheat and rice if food supply is to meet the demands of the increases in the world population. There is clearly an urgent need to develop crop plants that yield higher outputs per unit area of land, without having to increase inputs of fertiliser or water. The overall aim of this research proposal is to use novel screening techniques to screen a wheat MAGIC population for 1) enhanced photosynthesis in wheat flag leaves and ears and (2) improved speed of stomatal responses to dynamic changes in the environment. Using thermal imaging we will assess variation in stomatal responsiveness to changes in light, temperature and water status in order to determine wheat lines that can optimize stomatal behaviour for leaf/canopy temperature optimal photosynthesis. Using chlorophyll fluorescence we will determine photosynthetic rates and capacity in the flag and ears in a wheat MAGIC population. A detailed physiological screening protocol will produce key trait that will be used for QTL analysis. Flag and ear photosynthesis and canopy temperature will be also be evaluated in field trials on selected lines. Results from both the laboratory and field studies will be used to identify and select HIFs for further analysis. A major outcome of this work will be production of HIFs for gene identification and future breeding programmes.
Planned Impact
The project contributes to the Food Security Strategic Priority of the BBSRC. A key impact delivered through conventional breeding programmes will be improvements in wheat varieties better adapted to different environments. Varieties with greater levels of productivity and water use efficiency will help meet essential targets in food security and sustainable food production in the UK and worldwide. The research addresses environmental sustainability of crop production through use of novel high-throughput photosynthetic phenotyping combined with genetic mapping to identify markers that can be applied in practical wheat breeding programmes.
Better understanding of the control of stomatal dynamics, canopy temperatures and the role of ear photosynthesis in plant carbon gain will accelerate the development and manipulation of plants for more efficient photosynthesis, the process that ultimately drives productivity per unit cultivated land area. Breeding programmes that incorporate project findings will be better placed to develop varieties with improved stomatal dynamics, and thus increased water use efficiency and greater carbon gain per unit of resource (water, land, nutrients) input. This contributes to the sustainability of food production. The main non-academic beneficiaries of this research will be the agri-biotech sector and commercial breeders, and in particular the agri-businesses that have programmes to increase yield of crop plants. The importance of the work is illustrated by our Industrial Partnership Award with Bayer CropScience (BCS). (As part of their contribution to this project BCS will also conduct field trials to evaluate their potential for future breeding programmes.) This demonstrates the real potential for commercialization from this research. The findings will also be important for policy-makers interested in developing novel strategies to achieve food security, as well as the public who will benefit from food security and better agricultural use of water resources.
The project will benefit the professional career development of the RAs. The RAs will be trained in a wide range of research skills, including gaining scientific practical skills in plant physiology and communication skills through the dissemination of the research. The RAs will also be encouraged to develop their entrepreneurial skills through interactions with the industrial partner, BCS. Many of the skills, such as data handling and analysis, independent planning and communication of results are transferable to other employment sectors. They will have the benefit of the excellent intellectual environment of a university with close ties with industry as well as the experience of working with partners at NIAB and BCS.
One of the main challenges for crop improvement programmes is identifying genetic targets that have significant and predictable impact on yield. This research will lead to a greater understanding of stomatal dynamics and limitations to photosynthesis (via control of CO2 diffusion and leaf/canopy temperatures) and consequently productivity. It will quantify the role and contribution of ear photosynthesis to yield, which will help prioritise this trait as a potential breeding target. The identification of loci or even genes that control ear/leaf photosynthesis and stomatal dynamics should lead to the development of markers to assist selections. By using the established MAGIC population we will contribute substantially to the growing body of phenotypic and genotypic data describing these lines, enabling future work that can include modelling genotype x phenotype interactions and system biology network models. Findings that contribute to our fundamental understanding of leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic regulation can be applied to other species, and ultimately, translation of this research to other crops will benefit the UK and global economy and food security.
Better understanding of the control of stomatal dynamics, canopy temperatures and the role of ear photosynthesis in plant carbon gain will accelerate the development and manipulation of plants for more efficient photosynthesis, the process that ultimately drives productivity per unit cultivated land area. Breeding programmes that incorporate project findings will be better placed to develop varieties with improved stomatal dynamics, and thus increased water use efficiency and greater carbon gain per unit of resource (water, land, nutrients) input. This contributes to the sustainability of food production. The main non-academic beneficiaries of this research will be the agri-biotech sector and commercial breeders, and in particular the agri-businesses that have programmes to increase yield of crop plants. The importance of the work is illustrated by our Industrial Partnership Award with Bayer CropScience (BCS). (As part of their contribution to this project BCS will also conduct field trials to evaluate their potential for future breeding programmes.) This demonstrates the real potential for commercialization from this research. The findings will also be important for policy-makers interested in developing novel strategies to achieve food security, as well as the public who will benefit from food security and better agricultural use of water resources.
The project will benefit the professional career development of the RAs. The RAs will be trained in a wide range of research skills, including gaining scientific practical skills in plant physiology and communication skills through the dissemination of the research. The RAs will also be encouraged to develop their entrepreneurial skills through interactions with the industrial partner, BCS. Many of the skills, such as data handling and analysis, independent planning and communication of results are transferable to other employment sectors. They will have the benefit of the excellent intellectual environment of a university with close ties with industry as well as the experience of working with partners at NIAB and BCS.
One of the main challenges for crop improvement programmes is identifying genetic targets that have significant and predictable impact on yield. This research will lead to a greater understanding of stomatal dynamics and limitations to photosynthesis (via control of CO2 diffusion and leaf/canopy temperatures) and consequently productivity. It will quantify the role and contribution of ear photosynthesis to yield, which will help prioritise this trait as a potential breeding target. The identification of loci or even genes that control ear/leaf photosynthesis and stomatal dynamics should lead to the development of markers to assist selections. By using the established MAGIC population we will contribute substantially to the growing body of phenotypic and genotypic data describing these lines, enabling future work that can include modelling genotype x phenotype interactions and system biology network models. Findings that contribute to our fundamental understanding of leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic regulation can be applied to other species, and ultimately, translation of this research to other crops will benefit the UK and global economy and food security.
Publications
Adamski N
(2019)
A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in wheat
Matthews JSA
(2018)
Acclimation to Fluctuating Light Impacts the Rapidity of Response and Diurnal Rhythm of Stomatal Conductance.
in Plant physiology
Faralli M
(2019)
Genotypic, Developmental and Environmental Effects on the Rapidity of gs in Wheat: Impacts on Carbon Gain and Water-Use Efficiency.
in Frontiers in plant science
Jamali SH
(2019)
Insights into deployment of DNA markers in plant variety protection and registration.
in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
Zanella CM
(2023)
Longer epidermal cells underlie a quantitative source of variation in wheat flag leaf size.
in The New phytologist
Murchie E
(2018)
Measuring the dynamic photosynthome
in Annals of Botany
Faralli M
(2020)
Natural genetic variation in photosynthesis: an untapped resource to increase crop yield potential?
in The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
Iwaya LH
(2023)
On the privacy of mental health apps: An empirical investigation and its implications for app development.
in Empirical software engineering
Simkin AJ
(2020)
Photosynthesis in non-foliar tissues: implications for yield.
in The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
Lawson T
(2019)
Speedy stomata, photosynthesis and plant water use efficiency.
in The New phytologist
Description | (1) All of the key traits measured, which represent components of photosynthetic efficiency, differ between the 8 varieties used for the NIAB MAGIC popualtion. This has a potential impact on improving wheat photosyhthetic efficiency. |
Exploitation Route | The results, information and resources generated will be used by the Industrial partner in this BBSRC IPA project, within their wheat breeding programme. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink |
Description | Genetic markers for wheat leaf size traits provided to wheat breeding comminity |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Facing Forwards - understanding epidermal development in cereals |
Amount | £175,679 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/Y00129X/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2023 |
End | 11/2026 |
Description | NIAB-ESSEX collaboration on wheat 8-parent MAGIC |
Organisation | University of Essex |
Department | School of Biological Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Establishing a partnership between NIAB and University of Essex, resulting in the submission of a joint application to the BBSRC-IPA scheme |
Collaborator Contribution | Establishing a partnership between NIAB and University of Essex, resulting in the submission of a joint application to the BBSRC-IPA scheme |
Impact | Joint submission of a BSBRC-IPA project to BBSRC. Submission funded by BBSRC-IPA: BB/N01698X/1 (NIAB), (BB/N016831/1, Essex) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | UB Collaboration |
Organisation | University of Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Have undertaken meetings with the collaborative partner to explore ideas for future research |
Collaborator Contribution | Have undertaken meetings with NIAB to explore ideas for future research |
Impact | Draft grant proposal written |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Breeders' day presentation |
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 | Presentations and discussons with the UK cereal wheat breeding community |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Chairing a session at the Annual SEB meeting 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Co-chairing an SEB session on Stomata and photosynthetic regulation of water use efficiency at the annual SEB meeting in Seville. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.sebiology.org/events/event/seb-seville-2019/programme/plant-biology#stomatal |
Description | Lecture for University of Cambridge MPhil course 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | lecture for the 2023 Cambridge University MPhil course, UK. ~30 international students, which sparked interest in placement rotations at NIAB in related areas |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | MAGIC 2019 talk James Cockram |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk title: Wheat MAGIC research at NIAB purpose: disseminate results outcomes: interactions and disucssions with peers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | NIAB-EMR talk |
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 | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk at NIAB-EMR, March, 2017: overview of my research at NIAB-Cambridge. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Nominated and selected as Co-chair of the GRC CO2 assimilation, USA 2019, and Chair of GRC on the next conference in Italy May 2021 |
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 | Nominated and selected by peer to be the co-chair for the 2019 conference, and chair for the 2021 GRC conference on CO2 assimilation. https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/ https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2021/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.grc.org/co2-assimilation-in-plants-from-genome-to-biome-conference/2019/ |
Description | PHOTOWHEAT IWC 2019 poster 2, Michele Faralli |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | poster title: Unravelling the genetic control of stomatal dynamics in bread wheat purpose: disseminate results outcomes: discussions and interactions with peers and intersted parties |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | PHOTOWHEAT IWC 2019 poster Michele Faralli |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster title: Spike photosynthetic contribution to grain weight and source-limitation over the grain filling stage in UK wheat lines with contrasting yield components purpose; disseminate results outcomes: interactions with peers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Photowheat Landmark article, 2017 |
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 | Article describing the photowheat project activities for the Landmark magazine, that targets UK crop growers and breeders. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Poster title "Spike photosynthetic contribution to grain weight and source-limitation during grain filling" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the International Wheat Congress, Saskatoon, Canada |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Poster title: "Unravelling the genetic control of stomatal dynamics in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation at the International Wheat Congress, Saskatoon, Canada |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2019 |
Description | oral presentation for Nottingham University undergrad student visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation outlining current NIAB work on MAGIC resources to a visit of ~50 undergrad students from Nottingham University. Outcomes: questions and discussions from the students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |