ISCF WAVE 1 AGRI TECH - Innovative oxygen- and epigenetics-related assays and marker for Allium seed quality
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
The focus of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of innovative diagnostic assays and molecular marker assays for the improvement of salad onion and leek (Allium spp.) seed quality. The project partners are Tozer Seeds Ltd (Cobham, UK), who sell Allium seeds in the UK and export worldwide, and the Seed Science Lab at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL, Perez/Steinbrecher/Leubner). This multi-disciplinary team will provide a solution to the short shelf-life of seed, a particular issue for onion seeds which are often damaged during storage/transport and thus subject to accelerated ageing. Sowing of damaged seed results in reduced germination and poor seedling establishment, which causes a reduction of healthy produce. Our collaboration aims to employ novel and innovative technologies to deliver superb seed quality.
Technical Summary
Our multi-disciplinary approach uses novel and innovative methods to improve the seed quality of salad onion and leek (Allium). Tozer Seeds Ltd (UK) sell Allium seeds in the UK and exports worldwide. Their collaboration with the seed science lab of Prof Leubner at Royal Holloway University of London will provide novel diagnostic assays and longevity markers to address the challenge of increasing shelf-life. The low longevity of Allium seeds is due to ageing damage during storage/transport (reduces vigour). We will investigate seed oxygen relations, develop novel and fast oxygen-based diagnostic assays for seed ageing to classify the distinct Allium varieties according to seed quality. Differences in the ability to maintain DNA/RNA integrity during ageing will be used to select contrasting varieties to identify gene expression markers. We found that seed ageing is accompanied by epigenetic changes which will be used to establish an innovative diagnostic assay for global DNA methylation.
Planned Impact
At ca. Eur35 billion annual turnover, the seed trade contributes significantly to the global economy (ISF, www.worldseed.org; ESA, www.euroseeds.org). The EU seed market represents 20% of the global seed market and employs ca 50,000 people. The EU is the world's leading exporter in crop seeds, with vegetables comprising 11% of the market share. The UK has a highly successful agri- and horticultural industry which also exports seeds for local primary crop production of fresh vegetables. Excellent seed quality is the key to further increase seed sales for primary crop production, and specifically boosting exports by UK seed companies will foster the economic competitiveness of the UK. The strength of UK based science and companies in the crop seed business makes it a prime focus area for the strategy to utilise novel and innovative agricutural technologies for this goal (UK Government Policy Paper BIS/13/1060). This is especially relevant for high-value vegetable seeds used by farmers for direct sowing and growth of fresh produce for the local supply chain for healthy food. Allium seeds for salad onion and leek production are key products of the British vegetable breeding company Tozer Seeds (Cobham, Surrey). Their Allium seed sales face the challenge that the seeds shelf-life is low due to seed aging and viability loss during postharvest storage and transport in container ships resulting in germination problems. The proposed multi-disciplinary pre-industrial research feasibility study estabishes a collaboration between Tozer Seeds and the renowned UK seed science lab of Prof G Leubner (Royal Holloway University of London, www.seedbiology.eu) to explore and evaluate the commercial potential of novel and innovative diagnostic assays and molecular markers to improve Allium seed quality. Tozer Seeds and other seed companies will benefit from our research economically, especially by boosting export of high-quality crop seeds, and thereby increasing the competitiveness of the UK economy. Our research therefore has direct beneficial economic effects for seed industry in that it aims to increase seed sales.
Beyond this, indirect economic and societal effects include training of the next generation of researchers for the seed industry job market and triggering investment in novel and innovative technologies at seed companies. This project will also train research staff at the interface of fundamental and applied research and thereby produce experts required for the UK job market in seed research and management. Regulators and government bodies will also benefit from evidence-based knowledge. Our research will not only foster global economic competitiveness and the production chain for healthy food, but is also of benefit beyond this in that it contributes to improve public services such as seed bank storage for conservation purposes. Examples for this include Kew's Millenium Seed Bank and horticultural gardens such as RHS Wisley. This project is therefore important for improving quality of life, health, and well-being as it supports preserving biodiversity, botanical gardens, and ecosystem management.
The UK is not self-sufficient in food production (www.foodsecurity.ac.uk). Many domestic and international factors affect food production, prices, security and quality. This became for example evident during the 2008 world food price spike and the subsequent food price rises have affected UK consumers more than those in mainland Europe. Furthermore, the reliance of imported food through trading is becoming increasingly unstable as a food security strategy, as we witness unforeseen destabilisation in developing markets such as Eastern Europe. Clearly this research has impact on fresh vegetable production, and therefore enhances food quality, harvest quantity and consumer health. The supply of affordable, healthy and high-quality fresh vegetables is important to the general public who will therefore directly benefit from our research.
Beyond this, indirect economic and societal effects include training of the next generation of researchers for the seed industry job market and triggering investment in novel and innovative technologies at seed companies. This project will also train research staff at the interface of fundamental and applied research and thereby produce experts required for the UK job market in seed research and management. Regulators and government bodies will also benefit from evidence-based knowledge. Our research will not only foster global economic competitiveness and the production chain for healthy food, but is also of benefit beyond this in that it contributes to improve public services such as seed bank storage for conservation purposes. Examples for this include Kew's Millenium Seed Bank and horticultural gardens such as RHS Wisley. This project is therefore important for improving quality of life, health, and well-being as it supports preserving biodiversity, botanical gardens, and ecosystem management.
The UK is not self-sufficient in food production (www.foodsecurity.ac.uk). Many domestic and international factors affect food production, prices, security and quality. This became for example evident during the 2008 world food price spike and the subsequent food price rises have affected UK consumers more than those in mainland Europe. Furthermore, the reliance of imported food through trading is becoming increasingly unstable as a food security strategy, as we witness unforeseen destabilisation in developing markets such as Eastern Europe. Clearly this research has impact on fresh vegetable production, and therefore enhances food quality, harvest quantity and consumer health. The supply of affordable, healthy and high-quality fresh vegetables is important to the general public who will therefore directly benefit from our research.
Organisations
- Royal Holloway University of London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Palacky University (Collaboration)
- Philipp University of Marburg (Collaboration)
- ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW (Collaboration)
- Tozer Seeds (Collaboration)
- Royal Holloway, University of London (Collaboration)
- Royal Horticultural Society (Collaboration)
- ETHIOPIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Gerhard Leubner (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Hourston JE
(2020)
The effects of high oxygen partial pressure on vegetable Allium seeds with a short shelf-life.
in Planta
Chandler JO
(2020)
Rocket Science: The Effect of Spaceflight on Germination Physiology, Ageing, and Transcriptome of Eruca sativa Seeds.
in Life (Basel, Switzerland)
Fatelnig L
(2024)
Seed priming with gas plasma-activated water in Ethiopia's "orphan" crop tef (Eragrostis tef)
in Planta
Description | The publication by Leubner-Metzger G (2017) "Improving crop seed quality and seedling performance." in IMPACT 7:81-83. Science Impact Ltd, Bristol, UK - www.impact.pub summarises the work and its importance: The Group for Seed Biology and Engineering at the Royal Holloway University of London is conducting world-leading seed and biotechnology research and unearthing important discoveries in the field of seed germination and technology. Leubner's Group is focused on improving crop seed quality and seedling performance, which the researchers are achieving through fundamental and applied research using multidisciplinary approaches, a highly collaborative approach and state-of-the-art equipment and novel methodologies. 'High quality of commercial seed is achieved by a combination of breeding and innovative seed technologies. Seed enhancement technologies such as priming, improve vegetable, flower and sugarbeet seed performance. This leads to rapid germination, enhanced vigour and uniform seedling establishment even upon abiotic stress,' he states. 'Seed treatment technologies refine the seed with added values including coatings and pellets. The pellets aid drilling and may contain additives such as fertilisers and crop protection chemicals and biologicals such as plant hormones, allelochemicals and beneficial microbes.' According to Leubner, high seed quality achieved by breeding and seed technology is the cornerstone for maximum yield potential. Seed priming, which is applied by the seed industry to sugarbeet, flower and vegetable commercial seeds to remove dormancy, enhance germination speed, and to improve seedling uniformity and performance even upon stress, is one modern seed technology used to enhance seed quality. 'While seed priming is positive in improving these seed properties and thereby performance in the field, it is on the other hand connected with additional costs, often compromises seed storability and over-priming can lead to problems in seedling establishment,' Leubner explains. 'The global seed market is characterised by competition between companies based on selling the best seed quality for their customers. Seed companies are therefore interested in further improving their crop-specific seed priming protocols. This requires understanding the underpinning mechanisms. The key objectives of the Group's research are to: understand the underpinning mechanisms of seed vigour to improve seed germination, seedling uniformity and establishment in stressful environments; prevent seed vigour loss and ageing during post-harvest seed storage; develop novel assays for quantifying seed vigour and to enable breeding increased seed vigour and longevity; improve the biomechanical and biochemical properties of natural (endosperm, seed and fruit coats) and artificial (pellets) seed covering layers; and further improve the seed priming technology with novel environmentally friendly methods and additives. This is relevant to the REF2021 Impact Case Study by Steinbrecher & Leubner "Improving Crop Seed Quality through refinement technologies": The impact of Leubner and Steinbrecher´s research has derived from innovative environmental-friendly seed technologies that enhance and refine quality, storability and ageing resilience of crop seeds. High-quality seed is essential for enhanced seedling performance even upon environmental stress and consequently for yield and food supply chain resilience. The beneficiaries are national (e.g. Elsoms & Tozer) and international (e.g. KWS) seed production companies, as well as farmers, consumers, gardeners, and policy makers. The Pan-European Rocket Science initiative has highlighted the necessity to improve seed quality for extra-terrestrial cultivation as an approach to tackling climate emergency and has inspired the next generation. |
Exploitation Route | We have evidence that our Planta 2000 publication is discussed in the seed technology community with regard to oxygen and seed ageing during storage and for novel assays. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education Environment |
Description | BB/R021147/1 - Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Wave1 AgriTech feasibility study with Tozer Seeds: The publication by Leubner-Metzger G (2017) "Improving crop seed quality and seedling performance." in IMPACT 7:81-83. Science Impact Ltd, Bristol, UK - www.impact.pub summarises the work and its importance: The Group for Seed Biology and Engineering at the Royal Holloway University of London is conducting world-leading seed and biotechnology research and unearthing important discoveries in the field of seed germination and technology. Leubner's Group is focused on improving crop seed quality and seedling performance, which the researchers are achieving through fundamental and applied research using multidisciplinary approaches, a highly collaborative approach and state-of-the-art equipment and novel methodologies. 'High quality of commercial seed is achieved by a combination of breeding and innovative seed technologies. Seed enhancement technologies such as priming, improve vegetable, flower and sugarbeet seed performance. This leads to rapid germination, enhanced vigour and uniform seedling establishment even upon abiotic stress,' he states. 'Seed treatment technologies refine the seed with added values including coatings and pellets. The pellets aid drilling and may contain additives such as fertilisers and crop protection chemicals and biologicals such as plant hormones, allelochemicals and beneficial microbes.' According to Leubner, high seed quality achieved by breeding and seed technology is the cornerstone for maximum yield potential. Seed priming, which is applied by the seed industry to sugarbeet, flower and vegetable commercial seeds to remove dormancy, enhance germination speed, and to improve seedling uniformity and performance even upon stress, is one modern seed technology used to enhance seed quality. 'While seed priming is positive in improving these seed properties and thereby performance in the field, it is on the other hand connected with additional costs, often compromises seed storability and over-priming can lead to problems in seedling establishment,' Leubner explains. 'The global seed market is characterised by competition between companies based on selling the best seed quality for their customers. Seed companies are therefore interested in further improving their crop-specific seed priming protocols. This requires understanding the underpinning mechanisms. This project and the collaboration with Tozer Seeds was relevant to the REF2021 Impact Case Study by Steinbrecher & Leubner "Improving Crop Seed Quality through environmentally sustainable technologies to benefit the seed industry and promote food security": The impact of Leubner and Steinbrecher´s research has derived from innovative environmental-friendly seed technologies that enhance and refine quality, storability and ageing resilience of crop seeds. High-quality seed is essential for enhanced seedling performance even upon environmental stress and consequently for yield and food supply chain resilience. The beneficiaries are national (e.g. Elsoms & Tozer) and international (e.g. KWS) seed production companies, as well as farmers, consumers, gardeners, and policy makers. The Pan-European Rocket Science initiative has highlighted the necessity to improve seed quality for extra-terrestrial cultivation as an approach to tackling climate emergency and has inspired the next generation. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | Enabling precision-agriculture in Ethiopia's "orphan" teff crop by seed pelleting and coating (GCRF - International Collaboration Awards with Ethiopian partners) |
Amount | £29,900 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Holloway, University of London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | KWS seed industry: Improving Crop Seed Quality with Gas Plasma Activated Water (EPOWER1) - Leubner, Steinbrecher, Fatelnig. |
Amount | £16,934 (GBP) |
Organisation | KWS Saat |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 07/2021 |
End | 01/2022 |
Description | Morphological Dormancy and Germination of Apiaceae species - MSc Project Blythe Soper |
Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Holloway, University of London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Priming of Morphologically Dormant Vegetable Seeds - MSc Project Lena Fatelnig |
Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Priming of Morphologically Dormant Vegetable Seeds - MSc Project Lena Fatelnig |
Organisation | Royal Holloway, University of London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | Understanding the Food Chain of Teff (Eragostis tef) and the Application of Seed Technology in Teff Farming in Ethiopia - Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Networking |
Amount | £21,767 (GBP) |
Funding ID | GCRFNGR4\1116 |
Organisation | Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2022 |
Title | Expansion of seed and food biomechanics technology platform by a nano indentation device |
Description | A Bruker TS 77 Select Nanoindentation System (ca. £130k) was acquired 2021/22 as capital equipment to expand the seed and food biomechanics technology platform. This is a key expertise of Dr Tina Steinbrecher. Nanoindentation is an established tool to determine mechanical properties of materials, such as hardness and elastic modulus, on a nano- to micrometer length scale. The main advantage of this technique is the high spatial resolution while only a small probe size is required. Nanoindentation has been shown to be a valuable tool to examine even complex biological samples. In recent years the application of nanoindentation methods in the areas of soft tissues and biological materials has increased significantly. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Expansion of generic core technology platforms enable strengthening research. Securing unique staff expertise and expanding capabilities in multidisciplinary cross-cutting technology platforms to address the challenges across the Plant, Seed and Food Supply Chain Security and Sustainability. The vulnerability of food supply chains was exposed by COVID-19 (Garnett et al, Nature Food 1:315-318) and by the Climate Crisis. Food supply chain security and sustainability depends on quality crop seeds (input), environmental-friendly crop production and food processing. |
Title | Expansion of seed technology platform by a commercial-scale seed drum-priming device. |
Description | Innovative crop seed priming technologies to develop knowledge exchange with industry and in strategic collaboration networks. Seed priming is an environmentally-friendly refinement technology which improves seed quality by metabolic activation. High-quality primed seed germinates fast and uniform with enhanced seedling performance and crop establishment even upon stress (heat, chilling, flooding, drought, salinity). Gas-plasma activated water seed priming is a novel environmental-friendly technology developed by us to improve the quality of agricultural and horticultural commercial crop seeds. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Our patent for using gas-plasma activated water for seed priming is being applied to vegetable, sugar beet, and cereal seeds. It provided expanding our company network. |
Title | Strategic Investment by Royal Holloway College into Seed Technology Equipment to support research and impact into Food Supply Chain Resilience (2023) |
Description | Seed Technology specialist equipment include the Multifunctional Seed Priming Cabinet for Protocol Development, the professional Laboratory Seed Dryer, and the Seed/Particle Counter Model. These devices support and expand our innovative seed priming technology with gas plasma activated water (UKRI, GCRF and industry funding) and for developing novel biopriming technologies with biologicals (metabolites and beneficial microorganisms). The Seed Dryer allows seed lot drying in a controlled manner and higher speed as required for industrial applications. Controlled seed drying at defined rate and temperature is important in seed industry to preserve the highest quality. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Seed Technology specialist equipment crucial for our research and impact strategy into sustainable and environmental-friendly seed agri-technologies. The strategic importance of these devices support and expand our innovative seed priming technology with gas plasma activated water (UKRI, GCRF and industry funding) and for developing novel biopriming technologies with biologicals (metabolites and beneficial microorganisms). Controlled seed treatment (priming, drying) is important in seed industry to preserve the highest quality. |
Title | Vegetable seed aging transcriptomes |
Description | Ageing of vegetables seeds during storage is compared on the transcriptome level. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Improves concepts for vegetable seed storage to prevent or reduce seed aging. |
Description | Allium Seed Quality Research with Tozer Seeds Cobham, Surrey, UK |
Organisation | Tozer Seeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Innovation Voucher Allium research on seed ageing and quality of salad onions and leek. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of defined seed batches. |
Impact | Preliminary results on Allium seed quality were used for an AgriTech Catalyst application. This is now a funded project in collaboration with Tozer Seeds: ISCF WAVE1 AGRI TECH (Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund) BB/R021147/1 & TSB132858, 01.2018-03.2919 |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Bioinformatics of wild and crop species seed transcriptomes |
Organisation | Philipp University of Marburg |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Seed experiment conduction, RNA extractions, RNAseq sequencing via service provider, DEG identification and follow-up work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Bioinformatics of RNAseq sequencing raw data via service provider, DEG identification. |
Impact | Interdisciplinary |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Enabling precision-agriculture in Ethiopia's "orphan" teff crop by seed priming and seed pelleting |
Organisation | Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research |
Country | Ethiopia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Enabling precision-agriculture in Ethiopia's "orphan" teff crop by seed pelleting and coating. Prof Gerhard Leubner and Dr Tina Steinbrecher (RHUL), Dr Solomon Chanyalew, Director, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre (DZARC), part of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and Prof Zerihun Tadele (DZARC/EIAR and University of Berne, Switzerland), technician Lena Fatelnig. We did gas-plasma activated water seed priming and seed ageing assays. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Ethiopian partner did seed pelleting as well as field and glasshouse tests of primed seeds. |
Impact | Primed teff seed and manuscript in preparation |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Food Security and Sustainability |
Organisation | Royal Holloway, University of London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr Ivica Petrikova, lecturer in food security in the PIR department. |
Collaborator Contribution | Interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr Ivica Petrikova, lecturer in food security in the PIR department. |
Impact | Interdisciplinary: Biology, Biomaterial Engineering, Politics and International Relations |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Improving vegetable crop seed quality with gas plasma activated water |
Organisation | Tozer Seeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Gas plasma treatment as a novel seed technology to release dormancy and improve germination of vegetable crop seeds |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided vegetable seeds including expensive hybrid seed |
Impact | Vegetable crop seeds primed with gas plasma activated water |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Rocket Science Project Report of the Horticultural Society (RHS) "Rocket Science - Our Voyage of Discovery" |
Organisation | Royal Horticultural Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Rocket Science Project Report of the Horticultural Society (RHS) "Rocket Science - Our Voyage of Discovery" - The RHS report contains our research contribution (p. 23) and interview with me and our collaborator from Tozer Seeds. It reaches >600,000 pupils at UK Schools to excite them about STEM, plants and food security. Our contributions are also detailed in "How to grow a successful space salad - with help from Tim Peake!" - https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/2016-articles/how-to-grow-a-successful-space-salad-with-help-from-tim-peake.aspx |
Collaborator Contribution | Link to Report PDF: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/getmedia/a3385b8e-0eaf-4953-8d90-bc163ff0f982/Final-Rocket-Science-Report-Low-Res |
Impact | https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/getmedia/a3385b8e-0eaf-4953-8d90-bc163ff0f982/Final-Rocket-Science-Report-Low-Res |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Seed and Fruit Morphology |
Organisation | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Diverse projects on seeds and fruits. |
Collaborator Contribution | Expert knowledge in seed and fruit morphology |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Seed hormone profiling |
Organisation | Palacky University |
Country | Czech Republic |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Preparation of seed samples for hormone profiling. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hormone profiling analytics conducted and results received. Placements for PhD students and postdocs. |
Impact | Publications and ongoing future work for publications. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Title | GAS PLASMA ACTIVATED WATER SEED TREATMENT |
Description | The disclosure relates to a seed priming technology which retains seed storage resilience without the need for an additional post-priming treatment. This allows the primed seeds to be stored for longer, whilst still retaining good seed vigour. There is provided a method for priming seeds, the method comprising the steps of imbibing a seed in gas plasma activated water and drying the seed. Seed priming is a process of controlled hydration of a seed which permits pre-germinative metabolic activity to proceed but prevents actual emergence of the radicle. |
IP Reference | WO2021094755 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | Collaborations and services in gas-plasma activated water seed priming treatments with several partners/clients including KWS, other vegetable seed companies and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research. |
Description | GCRF Online Workshop September 2021, Keynote Talk "The roles of "coats" and hormones for crop seed quality, weed emergence and innovative precision agri-technologies" |
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 | Organised Workshop on "Tef (Eragostis tef) and other Ethiopian "orphan" crops, focus on using seed technologies to improve tef seed quality." Talk "The roles of "coats" and hormones for crop seed quality, weed emergence and innovative precision agri-technologies". Interdisciplinary workshop was with UK, Swiss and Ethiopian researchers and practitioners and students. It was a programme bringing together work with crops and weeds, and included also social scientist to discuss Sustainable Development Goals related to the Food Chain. Programme: 12:00UK = 14:00ET Welcome by Meeting Chair Dr Tina Steinbrecher (RHUL) 12:10UK Prof Gerhard Leubner (RHUL) & Dr Said Mohammed Hassen (GCRF Project Lead, Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia) - "The roles of "coats" and hormones for crop seed quality, weed emergence and innovative precision agri-technologies" 12:40UK Dr Solomon Chanyalew Kassa (Director, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, DZARC, Ethiopia) "Tef in Ethiopia - an Overview" 13:00UK Dr Erica Rowan (RHUL) "import and export of cereals and other goods from North Africa" 13:15UK Short break 13:20UK Lena Fatelnig (RHUL) "Tef seed priming and ageing" (RHUL-DZARC results) 13:40UK Dr Solomon Chanyalew Kassa & Coworkers (DZARC) "Tef seed pelleting and field emergence" (RHUL-DZARC results) 14:00UK Dr Stephanie Swarbreck (University of Cambridge, UK) "Exploring tef root and shoot phenotypes to select for improved fied performance" 14:20UK Dr Naomi Nakayama (Imperial College London, UK) "Resilience priming of cereal crops for sustainable agricultural improvement in Ethiopia" 14:40UK Short break 14:50UK Prof Zerihun Tadele (University Berne, Switzerland and DZARC, Ethiopia) "Food security and environmental stress resilience of the Ethiopian cereal crop tef" 15:15UK Discussion of results and collaborations 16:00UK End of meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Rocket Science Project Report - Rocket Science - Our Voyage of Discovery |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Rocket Science Project Report "Rocket Science - Our Voyage of Discovery" Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), contributions and interview, as also detailed in "How to grow a successful space salad - with help from Tim Peake!" - https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/2016-articles/how-to-grow-a-successful-space-salad-with-help-from-tim-peake.aspx https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/getmedia/a3385b8e-0eaf-4953-8d90-bc163ff0f982/Final-Rocket-Science-Report-Low-Res |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/aboutus/newsandevents/news/2016-articles/how-to-grow-a-successful-sp... |
Description | Science Open Day at Royal Holloway University of London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Seed germination setup with different crop seeds to inspire the children about plant science and gardening. Exhibition of seed diversity in structures, sizes, shapes and colours and a seed-plant quiz for the same purpose. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | http://www.rhul.ac.uk |