Genomics-led improvement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in mustard rape for economic and environmental sustainability
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Biology
Abstract
The proposed research is a Newton-Bhabha development programme. The overall aim is to transfer and optimize UK expertise in genomics, which is the scientific approach involving analysis in parallel of the complete set of genes of an organism, for improvement of both economic and environmental sustainability of mustard rape (Brassica juncea) in India.
The crop characteristics (traits) that are the focus of the research were defined by the Indian partners in the proposal as the most important challenges faced by the crop in India. There are tolerances to the range of environmental challenges (stresses): diseases and infestations from fungi (causing white rust, stem rot, black spot), viruses (Turnip mosaic virus), pests (aphids and butterflies) and root parasites (broomrape) and conditions of high temperatures, drought and salinity. Of particular importance is that multiple stresses are often encountered simultaneously and interactions and trade-offs between tolerance mechanisms can be expected, necessitating an integrated approach across this broad range of challenges. Included in a broad correlation analysis between the traits will be an assessment of associations with variation in classes of chemicals produced by the plants that are recognised as playing roles in tolerance to environmental stresses. To enable this programme to be undertaken thoroughly and successfully, we have assembled a consortium comprising 39 co-applicant scientists representing 17 institutions.
The approach is to establish a toolkit of technologies to help understand the basis of naturally-occurring tolerances and to enable future work to enhance them. These include the establishment of a platform enabling the association of trait variation in panels of genetically diverse mustard rape varieties with variation of both gene sequences and gene activity (expression) to enable the development of molecular markers to accelerate breeding and identify candidate causative genes for further investigation. Non-GM approaches for improvement beyond the range of existing natural variation will be established for mustard rape, including modernised resources for the traditional approaches of radiation breeding and wide crossing with related species, and the emerging technology of genome editing.
Underpinning the programme is the experience gained in developing the Brassica juncea genomic platform currently used by the University of York and University of Delhi South Campus as part of their current Crop Genomics and Technologies (CGAT) project "Broadening the genetic diversity underpinning seed quality and yield related traits in mustard rape and oilseed rape" will be updated to incorporate emerging genome sequences from B. juncea and its progenitor species. The platform will be used to support the trait-focussed activities of the consortium, modelled on the University of York-led "BBSRC Renewable Industrial Products from rapeseed (RIPR) programme". A particular feature will be the highly integrated nature of the research with expertise contributed by world-leaders in the respective components being shared. UK expertise will be transferred to partners in India for application in mustard rape. The benefits of scientific understanding and ability to improve traits in mustard rape accrue primarily to the Indian members of the consortium. However, they will also be of use for improving the corresponding traits in oilseed rape for cultivation in the UK.
The crop characteristics (traits) that are the focus of the research were defined by the Indian partners in the proposal as the most important challenges faced by the crop in India. There are tolerances to the range of environmental challenges (stresses): diseases and infestations from fungi (causing white rust, stem rot, black spot), viruses (Turnip mosaic virus), pests (aphids and butterflies) and root parasites (broomrape) and conditions of high temperatures, drought and salinity. Of particular importance is that multiple stresses are often encountered simultaneously and interactions and trade-offs between tolerance mechanisms can be expected, necessitating an integrated approach across this broad range of challenges. Included in a broad correlation analysis between the traits will be an assessment of associations with variation in classes of chemicals produced by the plants that are recognised as playing roles in tolerance to environmental stresses. To enable this programme to be undertaken thoroughly and successfully, we have assembled a consortium comprising 39 co-applicant scientists representing 17 institutions.
The approach is to establish a toolkit of technologies to help understand the basis of naturally-occurring tolerances and to enable future work to enhance them. These include the establishment of a platform enabling the association of trait variation in panels of genetically diverse mustard rape varieties with variation of both gene sequences and gene activity (expression) to enable the development of molecular markers to accelerate breeding and identify candidate causative genes for further investigation. Non-GM approaches for improvement beyond the range of existing natural variation will be established for mustard rape, including modernised resources for the traditional approaches of radiation breeding and wide crossing with related species, and the emerging technology of genome editing.
Underpinning the programme is the experience gained in developing the Brassica juncea genomic platform currently used by the University of York and University of Delhi South Campus as part of their current Crop Genomics and Technologies (CGAT) project "Broadening the genetic diversity underpinning seed quality and yield related traits in mustard rape and oilseed rape" will be updated to incorporate emerging genome sequences from B. juncea and its progenitor species. The platform will be used to support the trait-focussed activities of the consortium, modelled on the University of York-led "BBSRC Renewable Industrial Products from rapeseed (RIPR) programme". A particular feature will be the highly integrated nature of the research with expertise contributed by world-leaders in the respective components being shared. UK expertise will be transferred to partners in India for application in mustard rape. The benefits of scientific understanding and ability to improve traits in mustard rape accrue primarily to the Indian members of the consortium. However, they will also be of use for improving the corresponding traits in oilseed rape for cultivation in the UK.
Planned Impact
As the largest oil crop in India, mustard rape has the greatest potential to increase oilseed production overall. It fits well in crop rotations systems and has well-established supply chains from breeders to consumers, making it the obvious oilseed choice for PORI. Stress-related losses are huge. For example, 37% estimated for Alternaria blight in combination with white rust (Bal and Kumar, 2014). Small-scale farmers have limited resources to invest in crop protection, making genetic improvement an attractive approach.
We propose to develop knowledge and plant resources that will underpin the predictive breeding of mustard rape with improved agronomic characters promoting economic development in India by increasing the country's own production of edible oils, and doing so sustainably. Initially this will address the most important biotic and abiotic stresses facing the crop in India. However, the platforms and resources established can be used to address the improvement of any trait in mustard rape, leading to very broad impact. The platforms are extendible to other vegetable and seed brassicas, while modern genomic approaches apply to all crops.
Economic development and improved welfare (including their health and education opportunities) at the farmer level comes from improved crops. The genomic underpinning for a major Indian crop presented here will lead directly to new varieties which can disrupt the paradox of farmers (women and men) as primary producers also having the poorest and most disadvantaged families in society. As many Work packages make clear, even 'standing still' in terms of crop production is an enormous challenge. New disease types (biotic stress) are continuously attacking existing crop varieties, while the increasing lack of fresh water and climate change (abiotic stress) threaten current yields, while, population sizes and food requirements are increasing, and cannot be met with the unsustainable options of more land, water, crop protection chemicals and fertilizer. Changing farming practices threaten the environment and the social structure of India. By delivering understanding and approaches with appropriate training and development, our partnership will lead to new, sustainable, resilient and productive mustard rape crop genetics to alleviate the poor yields and quality for Indian smallholders via our Indian partners.
We propose to develop knowledge and plant resources that will underpin the predictive breeding of mustard rape with improved agronomic characters promoting economic development in India by increasing the country's own production of edible oils, and doing so sustainably. Initially this will address the most important biotic and abiotic stresses facing the crop in India. However, the platforms and resources established can be used to address the improvement of any trait in mustard rape, leading to very broad impact. The platforms are extendible to other vegetable and seed brassicas, while modern genomic approaches apply to all crops.
Economic development and improved welfare (including their health and education opportunities) at the farmer level comes from improved crops. The genomic underpinning for a major Indian crop presented here will lead directly to new varieties which can disrupt the paradox of farmers (women and men) as primary producers also having the poorest and most disadvantaged families in society. As many Work packages make clear, even 'standing still' in terms of crop production is an enormous challenge. New disease types (biotic stress) are continuously attacking existing crop varieties, while the increasing lack of fresh water and climate change (abiotic stress) threaten current yields, while, population sizes and food requirements are increasing, and cannot be met with the unsustainable options of more land, water, crop protection chemicals and fertilizer. Changing farming practices threaten the environment and the social structure of India. By delivering understanding and approaches with appropriate training and development, our partnership will lead to new, sustainable, resilient and productive mustard rape crop genetics to alleviate the poor yields and quality for Indian smallholders via our Indian partners.
Organisations
- University of York (Lead Research Organisation)
- British Council (Collaboration)
- Agricultural Research Centre (Collaboration)
- KWS Group (Collaboration)
- Teagasc (Collaboration)
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (Collaboration)
- International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (Collaboration)
- Plant Impact (Collaboration)
- Felix Cobbold Trust (Collaboration)
- Rothamsted Research (Collaboration)
- John Innes Centre (Collaboration)
- DryGro (Collaboration)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (Collaboration)
- Punjab Aricultural University (Collaboration)
- RSK ADAS Ltd (Collaboration)
- Mansoura University (Collaboration)
- Chadacre Agricultural Trust (Collaboration)
- Elsoms (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Nellist C
(2022)
Turnip mosaic virus, a virus for all seasons
in Annals of Applied Biology
Newbery F
(2020)
Inter-individual genetic variation in the temperature response of Leptosphaeria species pathogenic on oilseed rape
in Plant Pathology
Niu Y
(2024)
A Brassica carinata pan-genome platform for Brassica crop improvement
in Plant Communications
Noel K
(2022)
Influence of Elevated Temperatures on Resistance Against Phoma Stem Canker in Oilseed Rape.
in Frontiers in plant science
Noel K
(2024)
Transcriptomics of temperature-sensitive R gene-mediated resistance identifies a WAKL10 protein interaction network.
in Scientific reports
Richard B
(2021)
Control of crop diseases through Integrated Crop Management to deliver climate-smart farming systems for low- and high-input crop production
in Plant Pathology
Shabana YM
(2022)
Distribution and Biodiversity of Seed-Borne Pathogenic and Toxigenic Fungi of Maize in Egypt and Their Correlations with Weather Variables.
in Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
U Stotz H
(2022)
Communication is key: extracellular vesicles as mediators of infection and defence during host-microbe interactions in animals and plants.
in FEMS microbiology reviews
Description | Economic benefits to UK agricultural industry |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
Impact | It has been estimated that University of Hertfordshire research on oilseed rape has benefitted UK agriculture by £10-20M per annum. Benefits include understanding to improve resistance of oilseed rape crop cultivars against pathogens that cause diseases that cause losses of more than £150M per annum. This information can be exploited by crop breeders and ultimately by agricultural distributors and farmers. Improved understanding of disease epidemics can be used to improve forecasting of the risk of severe epidemics to guide decisions on fungicide timing. The University has also provided five post-doctoral researchers who have entered the agricultural /horticultural industry (Limagrain, Elsoms, LS Plant Breeding, RSK ADAS, Royal Horticultural Society) on completion of their doctorates. |
Description | Research Excellence Framework |
Amount | £1,077,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Research England |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 07/2025 |
Description | UKRI CoA funding to Walsh component of BBSRC Newton-Bhabha Fund (PORI) |
Amount | £5,580 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 09/2021 |
Title | CRIPR transformation of Brassica juncea |
Description | Capability to carry out genetic transformation of Brassica juncea |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | It is still being used to verify impact on new varieties. |
Description | Biochemical characterisation of traits potentially involoved in interaction with pests and pathogens in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) |
Organisation | Punjab Aricultural University |
Country | India |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Rothamsted Research hosted two visiting Scientists form the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU: Dr Sanjula Sharma and Dr Rimaljeet Kaur) for four months from June to October 2019. Rothamsted research provided accommodation, full access to research facilities and instruments, and training in a wide range of analytical procedures relevant to this Newton Bhabha project (See training outcome below) |
Collaborator Contribution | PAU provided staff salary and paid for international travel. Visiting Scientist carried out experiments under the supervision of Rothamsted scientists and generated data that will contribute to the success of this project. Typically they conducted biochemical analyses and analysed resistance to fungal pathogens and Aphids using a Brassica juncea diversity panel composed of 50 cultivar and 88 introgression lines. |
Impact | This collaboration is highly multidisciplinary. During Their stay Dr Sharma and Dr Kaur received training in wide range of experimental procedures ranging from plant cultivation in controlled environment, analytical biochemistry techniques and methods to investigate plant interaction with specific pest insects and fungal pathogens. The analytical methods Dr Sharma and Dr Kaur learned at Rothamsted include: - Cultivation of Brassica Juncea plants in vitro, in CE cabinets and glass house compartments - Extraction of seed oil and total lipids from plant vegetative tissues. - Extraction and derivatisation of plant surface lipids (e.g. cuticular wax) - Analysis of neutrolipid (seed oil and cuticular wax) by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) - Preparation of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAMEs) from plant tissue or lipid extracts. - Extraction and derivatisation of seed phytosterol. - Quantitative and Qualitative analysis of FAMEs, wax and phytosterols using Gas Chromatography (GC-FID) and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) - GC and MS data extraction, curation, formatting and analysis. - Interpretation of lipid mass spectra and molecular species determination. - Determination of sucrose, glucose and fructose content in plant tissue using an enzymatic methods and light spectroscopy. - Rearing of aphids (Lipaphis erysimi) in controlled environment. - Aphid growth kinetics in vitro using leaf disks to evaluate the relative resistance/susceptibility of B. juncea cultivars. - Inoculation of B. juncea plants with fungal pathogens in GH for evaluation of resistance/sensitivity (e.g. Altenaria and Sclerotinia sp) |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on diseases of wheat and maize and food production in Egypt. |
Organisation | Agricultural Research Centre |
Country | Egypt |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The UK team consists of six participants. The PI will oversee the project supervision and management. Another team member oversees the modelling tasks and statistical analysis. Another supports him for the interpretation and model documentation and tutorials as well as data sharing. All researchers will be involved in discussions for mitigation strategies and in the writing of scientific papers. A research office member will help with the UK administrative part of the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Mansoura University will coordinate and manage the Egyptian part of the project. They will help with the data collection and be an active partner in the different virtual meetings during the project. They will also be part of the results dissemination in the Delta area and in the redaction of scientific papers and local recommendations. The President of ARC, will supervise the tasks provided by the different institutes and researchers of ARC involved in the project. The Plant Pathologists of ARC have maintained long-term time series of important crop diseases in Egypt. They provide historical disease data (occurrence/severity, cultivar, governorate as well as yield data on treated and untreated crops) with corresponding weather data and support for the disease model development and validation. Other ARC scientist provide long-term time-series records of wheat and maize crop growth and management data (site latitude and longitude, soil property, crop development, sowing and harvest dates, irrigation, yield) with corresponding weather data for yield model development/calibration. Others from the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate provide weather data. |
Impact | Shabana YM, Ghoneem KM, Rashad YM, Arafat NS, Fitt BDL, Richard B, Qi A (2022). Distribution and biodiversity of seed-borne pathogenic and toxigenic fungi of maize in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Plants 11, 2347 (https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182347). Shabana YM, Rashad YM, Ghoneem KM, Arafat NS, Aseel DG, Qi A, Richard B, Fitt BDL (2021). Biodiversity of pathogenic and toxigenic seed-borne mycoflora of wheat in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Biology 10, 1025. (https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10101025) Presentation of results Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Wheat yellow rust epidemics and climate change in Egypt. 2022 North Central Division of the American Phytopathological Society Meeting, 21-23 June 2022, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Effects of climate change on outbreaks of wheat stripe rust in Egypt. The Ninth International Conference - Climate Change and Sustainable Development Challenges, 6-10 October 2022, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Impact of climate change on wheat yellow rust epidemics in Egypt. Hybrid Webinar on Climate Change and Dryland Resilience, 3-4 Sept 2022, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Collaboration multidisciplinary involving biologists (plant pathologists) and mathematicians (modellers) |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on diseases of wheat and maize and food production in Egypt. |
Organisation | British Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The UK team consists of six participants. The PI will oversee the project supervision and management. Another team member oversees the modelling tasks and statistical analysis. Another supports him for the interpretation and model documentation and tutorials as well as data sharing. All researchers will be involved in discussions for mitigation strategies and in the writing of scientific papers. A research office member will help with the UK administrative part of the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Mansoura University will coordinate and manage the Egyptian part of the project. They will help with the data collection and be an active partner in the different virtual meetings during the project. They will also be part of the results dissemination in the Delta area and in the redaction of scientific papers and local recommendations. The President of ARC, will supervise the tasks provided by the different institutes and researchers of ARC involved in the project. The Plant Pathologists of ARC have maintained long-term time series of important crop diseases in Egypt. They provide historical disease data (occurrence/severity, cultivar, governorate as well as yield data on treated and untreated crops) with corresponding weather data and support for the disease model development and validation. Other ARC scientist provide long-term time-series records of wheat and maize crop growth and management data (site latitude and longitude, soil property, crop development, sowing and harvest dates, irrigation, yield) with corresponding weather data for yield model development/calibration. Others from the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate provide weather data. |
Impact | Shabana YM, Ghoneem KM, Rashad YM, Arafat NS, Fitt BDL, Richard B, Qi A (2022). Distribution and biodiversity of seed-borne pathogenic and toxigenic fungi of maize in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Plants 11, 2347 (https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182347). Shabana YM, Rashad YM, Ghoneem KM, Arafat NS, Aseel DG, Qi A, Richard B, Fitt BDL (2021). Biodiversity of pathogenic and toxigenic seed-borne mycoflora of wheat in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Biology 10, 1025. (https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10101025) Presentation of results Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Wheat yellow rust epidemics and climate change in Egypt. 2022 North Central Division of the American Phytopathological Society Meeting, 21-23 June 2022, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Effects of climate change on outbreaks of wheat stripe rust in Egypt. The Ninth International Conference - Climate Change and Sustainable Development Challenges, 6-10 October 2022, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Impact of climate change on wheat yellow rust epidemics in Egypt. Hybrid Webinar on Climate Change and Dryland Resilience, 3-4 Sept 2022, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Collaboration multidisciplinary involving biologists (plant pathologists) and mathematicians (modellers) |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on diseases of wheat and maize and food production in Egypt. |
Organisation | International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas |
Country | Syrian Arab Republic |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The UK team consists of six participants. The PI will oversee the project supervision and management. Another team member oversees the modelling tasks and statistical analysis. Another supports him for the interpretation and model documentation and tutorials as well as data sharing. All researchers will be involved in discussions for mitigation strategies and in the writing of scientific papers. A research office member will help with the UK administrative part of the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Mansoura University will coordinate and manage the Egyptian part of the project. They will help with the data collection and be an active partner in the different virtual meetings during the project. They will also be part of the results dissemination in the Delta area and in the redaction of scientific papers and local recommendations. The President of ARC, will supervise the tasks provided by the different institutes and researchers of ARC involved in the project. The Plant Pathologists of ARC have maintained long-term time series of important crop diseases in Egypt. They provide historical disease data (occurrence/severity, cultivar, governorate as well as yield data on treated and untreated crops) with corresponding weather data and support for the disease model development and validation. Other ARC scientist provide long-term time-series records of wheat and maize crop growth and management data (site latitude and longitude, soil property, crop development, sowing and harvest dates, irrigation, yield) with corresponding weather data for yield model development/calibration. Others from the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate provide weather data. |
Impact | Shabana YM, Ghoneem KM, Rashad YM, Arafat NS, Fitt BDL, Richard B, Qi A (2022). Distribution and biodiversity of seed-borne pathogenic and toxigenic fungi of maize in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Plants 11, 2347 (https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182347). Shabana YM, Rashad YM, Ghoneem KM, Arafat NS, Aseel DG, Qi A, Richard B, Fitt BDL (2021). Biodiversity of pathogenic and toxigenic seed-borne mycoflora of wheat in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Biology 10, 1025. (https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10101025) Presentation of results Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Wheat yellow rust epidemics and climate change in Egypt. 2022 North Central Division of the American Phytopathological Society Meeting, 21-23 June 2022, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Effects of climate change on outbreaks of wheat stripe rust in Egypt. The Ninth International Conference - Climate Change and Sustainable Development Challenges, 6-10 October 2022, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Impact of climate change on wheat yellow rust epidemics in Egypt. Hybrid Webinar on Climate Change and Dryland Resilience, 3-4 Sept 2022, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Collaboration multidisciplinary involving biologists (plant pathologists) and mathematicians (modellers) |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on diseases of wheat and maize and food production in Egypt. |
Organisation | Mansoura University |
Country | Egypt |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UK team consists of six participants. The PI will oversee the project supervision and management. Another team member oversees the modelling tasks and statistical analysis. Another supports him for the interpretation and model documentation and tutorials as well as data sharing. All researchers will be involved in discussions for mitigation strategies and in the writing of scientific papers. A research office member will help with the UK administrative part of the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Mansoura University will coordinate and manage the Egyptian part of the project. They will help with the data collection and be an active partner in the different virtual meetings during the project. They will also be part of the results dissemination in the Delta area and in the redaction of scientific papers and local recommendations. The President of ARC, will supervise the tasks provided by the different institutes and researchers of ARC involved in the project. The Plant Pathologists of ARC have maintained long-term time series of important crop diseases in Egypt. They provide historical disease data (occurrence/severity, cultivar, governorate as well as yield data on treated and untreated crops) with corresponding weather data and support for the disease model development and validation. Other ARC scientist provide long-term time-series records of wheat and maize crop growth and management data (site latitude and longitude, soil property, crop development, sowing and harvest dates, irrigation, yield) with corresponding weather data for yield model development/calibration. Others from the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate provide weather data. |
Impact | Shabana YM, Ghoneem KM, Rashad YM, Arafat NS, Fitt BDL, Richard B, Qi A (2022). Distribution and biodiversity of seed-borne pathogenic and toxigenic fungi of maize in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Plants 11, 2347 (https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182347). Shabana YM, Rashad YM, Ghoneem KM, Arafat NS, Aseel DG, Qi A, Richard B, Fitt BDL (2021). Biodiversity of pathogenic and toxigenic seed-borne mycoflora of wheat in Egypt and their correlations with weather variables. Biology 10, 1025. (https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10101025) Presentation of results Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Wheat yellow rust epidemics and climate change in Egypt. 2022 North Central Division of the American Phytopathological Society Meeting, 21-23 June 2022, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Effects of climate change on outbreaks of wheat stripe rust in Egypt. The Ninth International Conference - Climate Change and Sustainable Development Challenges, 6-10 October 2022, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Shabana, Y.M., Richard, B., Qi, A., Elkot, A.F., El Orabey, W.M., Elnagar, D.R., Saleh, S.M., Rashad, Y.M., Ghoneem, K.M., Arafat, N.S., Hamwieh, A., Fitt, B.D.L. 2022. Impact of climate change on wheat yellow rust epidemics in Egypt. Hybrid Webinar on Climate Change and Dryland Resilience, 3-4 Sept 2022, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Collaboration multidisciplinary involving biologists (plant pathologists) and mathematicians (modellers) |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Developing adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on diseases of wheat and maize and food production in Egypt. |
Organisation | Mansoura University |
Country | Egypt |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our research team will be responsible for modelling climate change impacts and analysis of data provided by Egyptian partners |
Collaborator Contribution | Egyptian partners will be responsible for experimental work and for dissemination of recommendations to Egyptian government and industry. |
Impact | Multidisciplinary, including statisticians/modellers and plant pathologists/agronomists etc |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Discovery of the genetic basis of partial resistance against Pyrenopeziza brassicae in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) |
Organisation | Rothamsted Research |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our research team has provided the Principal supervisor and second supervisors for this PhD project. The work is mostly done at the University of Hertfordshire. |
Collaborator Contribution | Rothamsted Research (Dr Fred Beaudoin) has provided advice and facilities for parts of this project. |
Impact | The student (Ajisa Ali) has presented the work at UK national (e.g. British Society for Plant Pathology) and international (e.g. Brassica meeting, St Malo, France, July 2018) conferences |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Genetic Control of Lemna growth rate and protein content |
Organisation | DryGro |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Our team is providing the Principal Supervisor and Second Supervisor for this Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange PhD project. The student will spend the first year with the industry partner, based at their field site in Kenya, Africa, then return to the University for the following three years. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners will supervise the work of the student in the first year and attend regular meetings to assess progress throughout the project |
Impact | The project has just started |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Novel pre-breeding germplasm for commercial development of sustainable traits in crops |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The UH team used methods developed in the ERA_CAPs project for reliable screening for resistance which showed wide variation in resistance to the light leaf spot pathogen in a diversity set of Brassica napus cultivars. A total of 195 accessions were tested for resistance against a local population of Pyrenopeziza brassicae. Plants were grown in the glasshouse. Seedlings were spray inoculated with a P. brassicae spore suspension and covered with transparent plastic sheets for incubation at high humidity for 48 hours. The percentage leaf area of sporulation was determined three weeks after inoculation and after another 10 days of incubation at 4C in sealed plastic bags. |
Collaborator Contribution | The John Innes Centre team used associative transcriptomics with the UH phenotype data to identify gene expression markers (GEMs) with expression levels linked to the trait, i.e. quantitative resistance against P. brassicae. Eight GEMs were identified. KWS used these results in their oilseed rape breeding programme. |
Impact | Fell H, Ali AM, Wells R, Mitrousia GK, Woolfenden H, Schoonbeek HJ, Fitt BDL, Ridout CJ, Stotz HU (2023). Novel gene loci associated with susceptibility or cryptic quantitative resistance to Pyrenopeziza brassicae in Brassica napus. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (In Press) Collaboration multi-disciplinary involving plant pathologists and geneticists |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Novel pre-breeding germplasm for commercial development of sustainable traits in crops |
Organisation | John Innes Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The UH team used methods developed in the ERA_CAPs project for reliable screening for resistance which showed wide variation in resistance to the light leaf spot pathogen in a diversity set of Brassica napus cultivars. A total of 195 accessions were tested for resistance against a local population of Pyrenopeziza brassicae. Plants were grown in the glasshouse. Seedlings were spray inoculated with a P. brassicae spore suspension and covered with transparent plastic sheets for incubation at high humidity for 48 hours. The percentage leaf area of sporulation was determined three weeks after inoculation and after another 10 days of incubation at 4C in sealed plastic bags. |
Collaborator Contribution | The John Innes Centre team used associative transcriptomics with the UH phenotype data to identify gene expression markers (GEMs) with expression levels linked to the trait, i.e. quantitative resistance against P. brassicae. Eight GEMs were identified. KWS used these results in their oilseed rape breeding programme. |
Impact | Fell H, Ali AM, Wells R, Mitrousia GK, Woolfenden H, Schoonbeek HJ, Fitt BDL, Ridout CJ, Stotz HU (2023). Novel gene loci associated with susceptibility or cryptic quantitative resistance to Pyrenopeziza brassicae in Brassica napus. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (In Press) Collaboration multi-disciplinary involving plant pathologists and geneticists |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Novel pre-breeding germplasm for commercial development of sustainable traits in crops |
Organisation | KWS Group |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The UH team used methods developed in the ERA_CAPs project for reliable screening for resistance which showed wide variation in resistance to the light leaf spot pathogen in a diversity set of Brassica napus cultivars. A total of 195 accessions were tested for resistance against a local population of Pyrenopeziza brassicae. Plants were grown in the glasshouse. Seedlings were spray inoculated with a P. brassicae spore suspension and covered with transparent plastic sheets for incubation at high humidity for 48 hours. The percentage leaf area of sporulation was determined three weeks after inoculation and after another 10 days of incubation at 4C in sealed plastic bags. |
Collaborator Contribution | The John Innes Centre team used associative transcriptomics with the UH phenotype data to identify gene expression markers (GEMs) with expression levels linked to the trait, i.e. quantitative resistance against P. brassicae. Eight GEMs were identified. KWS used these results in their oilseed rape breeding programme. |
Impact | Fell H, Ali AM, Wells R, Mitrousia GK, Woolfenden H, Schoonbeek HJ, Fitt BDL, Ridout CJ, Stotz HU (2023). Novel gene loci associated with susceptibility or cryptic quantitative resistance to Pyrenopeziza brassicae in Brassica napus. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (In Press) Collaboration multi-disciplinary involving plant pathologists and geneticists |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Population dynamics of Pyrenopeziza brassicae under Irish field conditions |
Organisation | Teagasc |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Our University has provided the Principal and second supervisors for this Walsh PhD project (student Diana Bucur). She is doing the research at the Teagasc Oak Park Research Centre at Carlow, Ireland but registered for a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. |
Collaborator Contribution | The funding for the project comes from the Walsh Foundation at Teagasc. The day-to-day supervision of the work is provided by Dr Stephen Kildea, a scientist based at Teagasc; they also provide the facilities and consumables for doing the work. |
Impact | Diana Bucur has presented results from the project at local and international scientific conferences. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Prof Mirinal Maiti |
Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur |
Country | India |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The training of laboratory staff in CRISPR technique. |
Collaborator Contribution | Carried out knockouts in the FAE gene of Brassica juncea (Indian Mustard) |
Impact | Knockout lines are available |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | The role of oilseed rape leaf wax characteristics in resistance against the light leaf spot pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae |
Organisation | Chadacre Agricultural Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Our Research Team has provided the Principal Supervisor and second supervisors for this MSc by research project (student Heather Fell). The student is based at the University of Hertfordshire for this work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Rothamsted Research (Dr Fred Beaudoin) has provided advice and facilities for parts of the work. The three charities have provided funding for the work. |
Impact | The MSc student has presented the work at UK scientific conferences |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | The role of oilseed rape leaf wax characteristics in resistance against the light leaf spot pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae |
Organisation | Felix Cobbold Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Our Research Team has provided the Principal Supervisor and second supervisors for this MSc by research project (student Heather Fell). The student is based at the University of Hertfordshire for this work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Rothamsted Research (Dr Fred Beaudoin) has provided advice and facilities for parts of the work. The three charities have provided funding for the work. |
Impact | The MSc student has presented the work at UK scientific conferences |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | The role of oilseed rape leaf wax characteristics in resistance against the light leaf spot pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae |
Organisation | Rothamsted Research |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our Research Team has provided the Principal Supervisor and second supervisors for this MSc by research project (student Heather Fell). The student is based at the University of Hertfordshire for this work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Rothamsted Research (Dr Fred Beaudoin) has provided advice and facilities for parts of the work. The three charities have provided funding for the work. |
Impact | The MSc student has presented the work at UK scientific conferences |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Understanding host resistance to improve control of light leaf spot on winter oilseed rape in the UK |
Organisation | RSK ADAS Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Our team is providing the Principle and second supervisors for this Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange Partnership PhD project (student Laura Sapelli). The student will spend one year based at ADAS Boxworth before returning to the University to complete the PhD project. |
Collaborator Contribution | RSK ADAS (industry supervisor Dr Faye Ritchie) is supervising the first year of the project and will continue to attend regular project meetings throughout the project. The Perry Foundation is providing funding (£40000) and will attend meetings annually. |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Understanding interactions between fungal pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) and Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) on Brassica napus (oilseed rape) |
Organisation | Chadacre Agricultural Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Our research team has provided the Principal Supervisor and Second Supervisors for this Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange PhD project . The student (James Fortune) has spent the first year based with ADAS at Boxworth and is now spending the remaining three years doing his PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. |
Collaborator Contribution | The industry partner RSK ADAS supervised the work done by the student (supervisor Dr Faye Ritchie) and regularly attend project meetings to assess progress of the project. The two agricultural charities have provided funding for the project and attend meetings from time to time. |
Impact | The student James Fortune has presented work done in this project at several scientific conferences, both in the UK (eg British Society of Plant Pathology conference, Sept 2019) and overseas (International Society of PLant Pathology Congress, Boston, USA, July 2018). His work is also featuring in a book to be published to celebrate the centenary of the Chadacre Agricultural Trust. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Understanding interactions between fungal pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) and Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) on Brassica napus (oilseed rape) |
Organisation | Felix Cobbold Trust |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Our research team has provided the Principal Supervisor and Second Supervisors for this Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange PhD project . The student (James Fortune) has spent the first year based with ADAS at Boxworth and is now spending the remaining three years doing his PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. |
Collaborator Contribution | The industry partner RSK ADAS supervised the work done by the student (supervisor Dr Faye Ritchie) and regularly attend project meetings to assess progress of the project. The two agricultural charities have provided funding for the project and attend meetings from time to time. |
Impact | The student James Fortune has presented work done in this project at several scientific conferences, both in the UK (eg British Society of Plant Pathology conference, Sept 2019) and overseas (International Society of PLant Pathology Congress, Boston, USA, July 2018). His work is also featuring in a book to be published to celebrate the centenary of the Chadacre Agricultural Trust. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Understanding interactions between fungal pathogens Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) and Pyrenopeziza brassicae (light leaf spot) on Brassica napus (oilseed rape) |
Organisation | RSK ADAS Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Our research team has provided the Principal Supervisor and Second Supervisors for this Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange PhD project . The student (James Fortune) has spent the first year based with ADAS at Boxworth and is now spending the remaining three years doing his PhD at the University of Hertfordshire. |
Collaborator Contribution | The industry partner RSK ADAS supervised the work done by the student (supervisor Dr Faye Ritchie) and regularly attend project meetings to assess progress of the project. The two agricultural charities have provided funding for the project and attend meetings from time to time. |
Impact | The student James Fortune has presented work done in this project at several scientific conferences, both in the UK (eg British Society of Plant Pathology conference, Sept 2019) and overseas (International Society of PLant Pathology Congress, Boston, USA, July 2018). His work is also featuring in a book to be published to celebrate the centenary of the Chadacre Agricultural Trust. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Understanding the impact of low temperature on seed germination in maize |
Organisation | Plant Impact |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Our research team provides the Principal Supervisor and Second Supervisor for this Hertfordshire Knowledge Exchange PhD studentship. The student (Macarena Mellado Sanchez) has been spending the first year of the PhD project with the industry partner (Plant Impact) and will spend the remaining three years at the University. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partner provides an industry PhD supervisor (Matt Audley) and supervises the experimental work for the first year of the project. They contribute to regular project meetings to assess progress. |
Impact | The student presented a paper at an international conference in Spain. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | 15th International Rapeseed Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation # 535 at 15th International Rapeseed Congress from 16th to 19th June 2019 in Berlin: Understanding the genetic and molecular basis of tolerance to sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) and alternaria black spot (ABS) in Brassica juncea by Haitham Sayed, Jon S. West, Bruce D. L. Fitt and Henrik U. Stotz. Met Indian colleagues on the project: Pankaj Sharma from DRMR and Prabhjodh Singh Sandhu and colleagues from PAU. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Attendance at AFCP (Agri-Food Charities Partnership) meetings |
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 | Hosted AFCP meeting at University of Hertfordshire, 16 June 2021. Hybrid meeting, c. 25 attendees in person; c. 100 attendees virtually. Management of diseases and pests of oilseed rape. Attended AFCP student forum, Cranfield University, 30 March 2022. c. 100 attendees in person. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
URL | https://www.afcp.org.uk/ |
Description | Brasscia Research Community Annual Stakeholder Forum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | 24 Nov 2020 J West chaired this online workshop in which members of the Brassica Research Community in the UK presented their research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential Meeting, Bristol, Sept 2019 |
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 | The BSPP presidential meeting was attended by a group of staff/students from the University of Hertfordshire. The event provided an opportunity to present our work as oral presentations and posters. It also gave opportunities to interact with collaborators. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bspp.org.uk/conferences/arms-race-evolution-of-plant-pathogens-and-their-hosts/ |
Description | British Society for Plant Pathology meeting from 2nd to 3rd September 2019 in Bristol |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | BSPP meeting from 2nd to 3rd September 2019 in Bristol; poster presentation: Understanding the genetic and molecular basis of tolerance to sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) and alternaria black spot (ABS) in Brassica juncea by Haitham Sayed, Jon S. West, Bruce D. L. Fitt and Henrik U. Stotz. Sponsored and met Indian colleague on the project Navin Gupta from National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | GCIRC 15th International Rapeseed Congress, Berlin, June 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A group of staff/post-graduate students from the University of Hertfordshire attended this Congress and accompanying workshops. Our work was presented as oral presentations and posters. There were opportunities to interact with collaborators from around the world. I was part of the International Organising Committee and am a UK representative on GCIRC Council. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.irc2019-berlin.com/ |
Description | Management of diseases and pests of oilseed rape |
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 | Agri-Food Charities Partnership forum for industry and academics working with oilseed rape. Attendance more than 100, from all over the world, including China, Australia, Canada and several European countries. Held on 16 June 2021 at University of Hertfordshire. Hybrid event with some attending in person and most from all over the world attending virtually. Provided an opportunity for a series of talks and wide-ranging discussion of the research. Book of Proceedings available on AFCP web-site and Amazon. (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Management-Diseases-Pests-Oilseed-Rape/dp/B09NRBTPRB/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1VHCWPOXQ5FNL&keywords=Management+of+diseases+and+pests+of+oilseed+rape&qid=1645545284&sprefix=management+of+diseases+and+pests+of+oilseed+rape%2Caps%2C49&sr=8-2) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.afcp.org.uk/sites/default/files/Management%20of%20diseases%20and%20pests%20of%20oilseed%... |
Description | Newton PORI India workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | A virtual /online workshop in which results from the PORI project were presented and discussions held |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Trustee Director, Perry Foundation (agricultural charity, especially funding PhD studentships in applied agricultural research) |
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 | Attendance at charity board meetings (e.g. 30 Nov 2021, 5 Dec 2022), interviews for potential PhD students (e.g. 2 Feb 2022, 26 Jan 2023, at Farmers Club, London), attendance at related meetings (e.g. presentations by students to the industry). Main impact of this to to provide trained personnel for the UK agricultural industry, after completion of PhD (about four each year). Destinations have been plant breeding, agricultural consultancy, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Boiard etc. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | UKRI-UP-SIGN GCRF workshop 30th April & 1st May 2019, Swansea University |
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 | The event was a workshop to connect potential UK and Pakistan collaborators and to plan consortia for future GCRF funding calls |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |