Studying Co-evolution in agriculture to inform NLR deployment

Lead Research Organisation: University of Dundee
Department Name: School of Life Sciences

Abstract

Potato is the world's most important non-cereal food crop and production is threatened by pathogens that severely reduce crop yield and quality. The most important pathogen is late blight, the organism that caused the Irish potato famine. Current control methods for late blight in most parts of the world are based mainly on the use of chemical sprays which can be environmentally hazardous and expensive. The realisation that cultivated potatoes could be protected from pathogens such as late blight by the introduction of disease resistance genes from wild species, led to the molecular characterisation of numerous functional plant nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich-repeat resistance genes (NLRs). The deployment patterns of these functional NLRs in potato varieties remain largely unknown, which obstructs effective resistance breeding strategies and pathogen co-evolution studies in an agricultural context.

To this effect we refined a novel tool, referred to as dRenSeq, to detect the presence of characterised NLRs in potatoes. This enables us to track, for the first time, the current, historical and geographical deployment patterns of functional NLRs in varieties and (pre)-breeding material. Through recently established Pathogen enrichment Sequencing (PenSeq) technology, we are in a position to also study the late blight pathogen effector diversity including changes to bonafide avirulence genes which lead to resistance upon detection by NLRs. Therefore, we have now reached a position to study the impact of NLR gene deployment on the cognate pathogen Avr gene diversification.

Our preliminary data suggest that the most commercially valuable potato varieties grown in the UK and US contain a maximum of four already defeated NLRs specific against the late blight pathogen, P. infestans. The distinct patterns of NLR gene deployment in both countries is mirrored by the diversity of the cognate Avr genes in virulent extant US and UK P. infestans genotypes, respectively. Highly relevant for breeding, we identified recently characterised NLRs that remain effective against P. infestans and that already exist in advanced pre-breeding material or even varieties which have been trialed in the Netherlands. Critically, these 'new' resistances have not been used extensively in commercial potato production and have not yet been stacked in varieties. To date, only a limited number of P. infestans isolates exist that can overcome these new NLRs in isolation.

This proposal aims to discover the pathogen adaptation mechanisms that enable different and geographically distinct lineages of P. infestans to overcome host resistance in agriculture. This knowledge will be applied, through breeding programs with our global commercial partners, to produce more durable resistant varieties containing complementary and effective NLR stacks. The combination of effective NLRs will prolong the longevity of individual resistances and reduce the need for chemical applications.

Technical Summary

The most important commercial potato varieties that are currently grown are susceptible to late blight and require repeated applications of chemicals, which could be reduced by introducing more effective resistance gene stacks. This project will develop a new informed strategy for the deployment of effective late blight resistance gene combinations in potato based on studying Phytophthora infestans effector diversity in response to utilised resistances.

We need to know how many distinct resistances, which are typically members of the nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich-repeat resistance genes class (NLRs), are currently being utilised in potato varieties, how the pathogen has adapted to these by co-evolution, and how many effective NLRs remain immediately available for combining through breeding. To this effect, we refined established Resistance gene enrichment Sequencing, RenSeq, and developed a diagnostic form (dRenSeq) to detect the presence of previously characterised NLRs in diploid or tetraploid potato clones. This enables us to track with high accuracy the current, historical and geographical deployment patterns of functional NLRs in varieties and (pre)-breeding material. Through recently established Pathogen enrichment Sequencing (PenSeq), we are in a position to also study the P. infestans effector diversity including changes to bonafide avirulence (Avr) genes which lead to resistance upon detection by NLRs.

Therefore, we have now reached a position to study the impact of NLR gene deployment on the cognate pathogen Avr gene diversification. This knowledge will be applied, through breeding programs with our global commercial partners, to produce more durable resistant varieties containing complementary and effective NLR stacks.

Planned Impact

Who might benefit from this research?
The immediate beneficiaries of this research will include other academic researchers, as described in detail above. Phytophthora infestans dramatically impacts on the cultivation of potato. Currently, P. infestans populations are assessed through evolutionary neutral SSR markers and consequently little is known about the molecular diversity (e.g. effector diversity) within and between existing populations and the molecular diversity of this oomycete around the world.

This project has been developed by the academic partner, the University of Dundee, in collaboration with the commercial companies Greenvale, McCain, and James Hutton Limited. McCain, which has a major investment in potato through ownership of various processed potato products, operates globally. Complimentary to McCain is Greenvale, which is a major producer of fresh potatoes and the UK's largest grower of organic potatoes. James Hutton Limited breeds potatoes for both the fresh and processed market in the UK and globally. These companies will be able to advance any promising potato material established in this project for varietal development suitable for the fresh or processed market.


One of the main outputs of this project will be technical 'know-how' of how to efficiently determine and ultimately track resistance genes in potato varieties. Our approach, which is driven by dRenSeq (Objectives 2-3) and the development of transferable markers (Objective 4), will be applicable to any crop and disease that can be controlled by NLRs.

A second major output relates to the development of an informed strategy for NLR gene stacking and deployment that takes advantage of elucidating the pathogen population diversity (Objective 1). McCain, Greenvale and James Hutton Limited will benefit from the development of an informed NLR stacking and deployment approach. Therefore, this project will provide information, namely characterisation of current cultivars and breeding material for deployed NLRs and markers for functional resistances. These key findings will also benefit all those engaged in potato improvement, including companies that generate varieties for the UK fresh and processed markets. The commercial companies of this project are ideally placed to exploit this information as they are engaged through existing potato breeding programmes with all major national potato producers, enabling ready routes to translate research outcomes to UK industry. In the longer term, breeding in other crop species will benefit from the concepts and technologies developed in this proposal.

How will they benefit from this research?
In the shorter term, potato breeders will have a much improved 'toolbox' for breeding varieties with informed, complimentary resistances to late blight. As more and more functional and effective genes are being identified against other pathogens such as potato cyst nematodes and viruses, the approach developed here will be easily adaptable to new disease resistance traits. This is important not only for pathogens that impact on UK production but also for those countries to which the UK, and Scotland, in particular, exports seeds. The availability of novel resistance genes and diagnostic markers for these genes will allow more rapid development of new resistant varieties.

Stakeholders, including the public and farmers, will benefit from improved environmental conditions through the reduced use of fungicides, and, as eluded above, eventually nematicides and insecticides used to control blight, PCN and aphid vectors of viruses. The public will also benefit from the availability of fresh produce and process products containing less chemical residues.

Publications

10 25 50

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Gartner U (2024) Characterisation and mapping of a Globodera pallida resistance derived from the wild potato species Solanum spegazzinii. in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik

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McLellan H (2022) Exploiting breakdown in nonhost effector-target interactions to boost host disease resistance in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

 
Description The project commenced in December 2019 and was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions imposed in March 2020. However, we have now generated RenSeq data for approximately 700 potato varieties/breeding clones, including the top 50 UK and US varieties. We have provided evidence that breeding has focused on the deployment of the functional disease resistance genes R1, R3a, and R3b, and to a lesser extent R2. These resistances have been overcome, at large, by variations in the pathogen. However, currently, more effective resistances such as R8, Rpi-ber, Rpi-vnt1, and Rpi-blb2 are only present in very few cultivars and breeding clones, providing an opportunity for wider deployment and stacking.

To complement the work on disease resistances and to understand the molecular adaptation by the late blight pathogen, we have generated and analysed PenSeq data for over 150 potato late blight pathogen isolates from the UK, US, Asia, and Europe. The focus of the analysis has revealed presence/absence, sequence and expression polymorphism in key Avr genes.

All potato cultivar-derived RenSeq data have been used to develop and refine NLR-gene specific Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers successfully. Markers for R8, R9a, Rpi-vnt1, Rpi-ber1, and Rpi-blb2 have been assessed by the established breeding consortium and confirmed by the dRenSeq analyses. Furthermore, we have developed new markers for Ry(sto) and Ry(chc) that control PVY, a PLRV resistance gene, and Sen1 that controls potato wart disease.

Screening of F1 and BC offspring from crosses designed to pyramid resistances has identified individuals with at least two complementary and functional NLRs against late blight with PCN and virus resistances. An example of a recently developed late blight potato cultivar at the Hutton with the industrial partner Greenvale includes Carousel. Clones from a 2018 cross with dual PCN and late blight resistances have undergone successful field trials and have entered UK national list trials. This represents a significant advance over traditional breeding that typically requires over 10 years to select suitable clones for cultivar development. Additionally, we successfully implemented AgRenSeq as an association genetics tool to identify further important resistances that already exist in established cultivars. Through this work, we have identified strong candidates controlling wart disease, including the gene Sen1
Exploitation Route Academia: The concept of developing unique and informative markers for key resistance genes based on enrichment sequencing has been well received by academia, and we have received multiple requests from international collaborators to share our computational pipeline for marker development. Furthermore, the development of RenSeq-based association genetics, an approach we refer to as SMRT-AgRenSeq-d due to its combination of association genetics with diagnostic RenSeq for rapid candidate NLR identification, has gained traction and additional funding. We have made the entire computational workflow available in a Snakemake format to promote rapid dissemination.

Industry: The stacking of complimentary NLRs in potato breeding programs, facilitated by dRenSeq for identifying suitable parents and the KASP markers, has been well received in the industry. We presented data at numerous industry events and international meetings, leading to multiple requests for further information and collaborations. For example, industry partners have approached us to develop similar markers for traits unrelated to disease resistance, encompassing various agronomically important traits.

International Potato Centre (CIP): We have established a new collaboration with the International Potato Centre (CIP) in South America and Asia, supported by a GCRF grant from the University of Dundee. In this collaboration, we analyzed the presence of 48 R genes and their variants in CIP germplasm materials of interest for their breeding program. Among the tested genotypes, 23 genes or variants were present, with Gpa2 and Rx being the most frequent, followed by R8, R1, R3b, H1, R3a, R2, Ry(sto), and ELR. Germplasm selections included native landraces, pre-breeding materials, wild species, breeding lines, and released varieties, aiming to link phenotypic disease resistance observations with the presence of known R genes. Breeding lines with stacked resistance genes are expected to serve as valuable progenitors for the potato breeding program.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

URL https://cwi.sasa.gov.uk/spcs-register?variety_id=&variety_name=&attained_class_short_name=&producer_name=Greenvale%20AP&organic=BOTH&sort_1=&sort_2=&sort_3=&page=1
 
Description The data of the project has directly influenced the breeding programs of the potato companies McCain and Greenvale. We have identified and combined effective resistances against diverse pathogens including late blight, PCN and PVY. Further, we are working with the international Potato Centre (CIP) in South America and China and have also been able to positively impact on their breeding activities by informing the selection of suitable parental material in crop improvement programs. The BBSRC award was taken up by a number of media outlets including BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland and various international newspapers. As a consequence of the media coverage, we had questions from the public as well as communications with policymakers concerning our dRenSeq and PenSeq approach and the state of play of potato breeding. Examples of press coverage are detailed below: Radio/Video 1. 2023 October: PotatoLink Podcast: https://potatolink.com.au/resources/tag/Ingo+Hein 2. 2023 July: Royal Society of London; Interview with Prof Brian Cox 3. 2022 October: BBC Radio Scotland - live news 4. 2022 August: BBC Radio Scotland: Out of Doors 5. 2022 July: University of Dundee; Division of Plant Sciences, CPC research video Newspaper: 1. December 2023: Interview The Big Issue - can we safe Maris Piper for Christmas? 2. PotatoLink Magazine: October/November 2023 Issue 10 3. Farming Scotland Magazine, July-August 2023: Unveiling the Future of Potato Crop Production at the UK's Largest Field-Based Event in Dundee - Potatoes in Practice. 4. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/farming/4097146/potato-scientist-says-gene-editing-not-the-only-way/ (2023) 5. http://digital.spudman.com/i/1195920-january-2020/31? 6. https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/17864468.scientists-harness-wild-potatoes-bolster-commercial-spuds/ 7. https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/17860991.scientists-harness-wild-potatoes-bolster-commercial-spuds/ 8. https://www.potatopro.com/news/2019/four-late-blight-resistancy-genes-current-commercial-potato-varieties-already-defeated 9. https://spudsmart.com/scientists-discover-wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/ 10. https://www.farminglife.com/farming-news/wild-spuds-to-stop-threat-of-blight-1-9020072 11. https://www.agf.nl/article/9130881/schotland-oude-aardappelrassen-veel-minder-phytophthora-gevoelig/ 12. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17815436.race-time-keep-humble-scots-tattie-menu/ 13. http://www.stackyard.com/news/2019/07/crop/04_dundee_potatoes.html 14. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/wild-potatoes-help-spuds-resist-deadly-blight-caused-irish-potato-famine-200323
First Year Of Impact 2020
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education
Impact Types Societal

 
Description (ResearchLeaders2025) - Research Leaders 2025 - A Fellowship Programme developing the Next Generation of Agri-Food Research Leaders
Amount € 4,248,000 (EUR)
Funding ID 754380 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 07/2018 
End 07/2023
 
Description EU Research Leader
Amount € 247,860 (EUR)
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 05/2021 
End 05/2023
 
Description Newton Advanced Fellowships 2020 - NAF\R1\201061
Amount £69,000 (GBP)
Funding ID NAF\R1\201061 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 03/2022
 
Description Potato PCN Resistance: Cloning effective resistances against potato cyst nematodes
Amount £476,261 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/X009068/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2023 
End 03/2026
 
Description Royal Society - IEC\R2\192090 - International Exchanges 2019 Cost Share (Russia)
Amount £12,000 (GBP)
Funding ID IEC\R2\192090 - International Exchanges 2019 Cost Share (Russia) 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2019 
End 10/2021
 
Description Transforming Food Production Challenge.
Amount £1,740,000 (GBP)
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2026
 
Title HISS: Snakemake-based workflows for performing SMRT-RenSeq assembly, AgRenSeq and dRenSeq for the discovery of novel plant disease resistance genes 
Description Computational pipeline to conduct RenSeq-based association studies in potato 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Request for further information and collaborations 
URL https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.01.514708v1
 
Description Cambridge joint student 
Organisation University of Cambridge
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Potato expertise on disease resistance
Collaborator Contribution CRISPR CAS
Impact Joint PHD studentship
Start Year 2022
 
Description Collaboration with China Agricultural University 
Organisation China Agricultural University (CAU)
Country China 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am currently supervising a student from the China Agricultural University of Beijing at my laboratory in Dundee and have been appointed an adjunct Professor at CAU in recognition of my research contributions. We have been able to send wild potato accessions from the CPC, in true seed form, to CAU following consultation with SASA and DEFRA.
Collaborator Contribution Material from the CPC is currently being assessed for disease resistances and effector recognition
Impact We already have a number of joint publication involving China Agricultural University, James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee. We have also applied jointly for a Royal Society grant which is currently being reviewed.
Start Year 2019
 
Description FABI South Africa 
Organisation University of Pretoria
Department Microbiology & Plant Pathology Pretoria
Country South Africa 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are helping the team at the University of Pretoria, South Africa with Effector expression systems in plants
Collaborator Contribution Exchange of know-how, vectors, approaches Supervising Master student
Impact Functional effector studies
Start Year 2021
 
Description GCRF partnership with CIP Peru/Africa/Asia 
Organisation International Potato Center
Country Peru 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The University of Dundee is conducting RenSeq targeted enrichment sequencing and the computational analysis. All information is shared and the results will improve international breeding efforts for disease resistance in potato servicing South America, Africa and Asia.
Collaborator Contribution CIP is providing DNA from advanced potato breeding lines and wild species prioritised for disease resistance research.
Impact RenSeq data for wild species and relevant breeding clones. Informed potato breeding
Start Year 2020
 
Description Julius Kuehn Institute PCN work 
Organisation Julius Kuhn Institute
Country Germany 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Input on the genetics of host resistance and life-cycle of PCN
Collaborator Contribution Phenotyping of populations
Impact Meetings and Presentations so far
Start Year 2022
 
Description Potato Late blight resistance in Colombia 
Organisation Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Colciencias)
Country Colombia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Colciencias funded a postdoctoral researcher, Dr Sonia Gomez, who joint my laboratory for one year. We conducted RenSeq and PenSeq analysis for Sonia's home University and characterised a number of resistances against late blight.
Collaborator Contribution DNA was provided from P. infestans isolates and late blight resistant potato varieties.
Impact RenSeq and PenSeq data for material derived from Colombia
Start Year 2020
 
Description Potato Late blight resistance in Colombia 
Organisation University of Medellin
Country Colombia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Colciencias funded a postdoctoral researcher, Dr Sonia Gomez, who joint my laboratory for one year. We conducted RenSeq and PenSeq analysis for Sonia's home University and characterised a number of resistances against late blight.
Collaborator Contribution DNA was provided from P. infestans isolates and late blight resistant potato varieties.
Impact RenSeq and PenSeq data for material derived from Colombia
Start Year 2020
 
Description Royal Society funded project with Vavilov Institute in Russia 
Organisation N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources
Country Russian Federation 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Hosting scientists from Russia
Collaborator Contribution providing plant material for analysis
Impact Exchange of personal and ideas
Start Year 2019
 
Description University of Wageningen - PCN 
Organisation Wageningen University & Research
Department Plant Research International
Country Netherlands 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We hosted a master student as part of a recently established collaboration with WUR on PCN resistance
Collaborator Contribution Wageningen University provided phenotypic disease resistance data and DNA samples for an ongoing collaboration
Impact SMRT-AgRenSeq-d based characterisation of PCN resistance genes.
Start Year 2023
 
Title KASP markers for all currently used major potato disease resistance genes 
Description We have developed KASP markers, based on dRenSeq analysis of over 200 potato varieties, for all major disease resistance genes. These have been successfully introduced in commercial breeding programs. 
IP Reference  
Protection Protection not required
Year Protection Granted 2019
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Advanced Breeding and resistance gene stacking through markers assisted selection.
 
Title dRenSeq analysis for commercial breeding companies 
Description We are currently offering dRenSeq to commercial breeding companies 
IP Reference  
Protection Protection not required
Year Protection Granted 2019
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact interest from industry has grown significantly
 
Description 13th Potato Expo Teng Zhou 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was an invited speaker at the event and illustrated the impact of international collaborations for the potato industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Advanced Higher school visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We hosted 10 advance higher biology pupils from a school in Five and two teachers at the Hutton. We discussed the importance of crop genetics and provided hands on experience in phenotyping and genotyping of plants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Agri-Tech-E invited speaker and panel member 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave an invited presentation at an UK Agri-Tech-E event about potato and our research on disease resistance
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/event/advances-in-breeding-for-agriculture-new-tools-for-new-solutions...
 
Description Arbor RenSeq Webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented our work on RenSeq-based potato improvements and utilisation of the Commonwealth Potato Collection
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2105190255144311567?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_...
 
Description Article in Potato Link 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Article on Potato Research at the Hutton and links to breeding
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://potatolink.com.au/resources/potatolink-magazine-issue-10
 
Description BBC Radio 4 - Farming today interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact BBC Radio 4 - Farming today interview with a focus on potato research and the Commonwealth Potato Collection
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0007qg1
 
Description BBC Radio Scotland out of doors interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact We discussed the importance of the Commonwealth Potato Collection for Research and Crop improvements in light of global threats to potato productions and a growing population.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0019xty
 
Description BBC Scotland today lunchtime programme: potato 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact I presented the work at the Hutton to breed low-input, climate resilient potato varieties.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description British science week - Brilliant Berries 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We participated at an event called Brilliant Berries as part of the British science week. We displayed pathogens of softfruits, extracted DNA from raspberry and engaged with the public about how our research benefits the industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Crop Protection Treater Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact I presented a scientific perspective about current techniques available to select traits and how effectively these can be deployed in new cultivars
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/ahdb-potatoes-crop-protection-treater-group
 
Description Discussing the role of potato for UK and global food security with the Secretary of State for Scotland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact We discussed the importance of potato for food security, current threats and opportunities and the development of IPIC with the Secretary of State for Scotland during a visit to the Hutton.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description EPSO AgT Working group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The EPSO Agricultural Technologies Working Group met in May (online) to discuss the impact of Gene editing technology on research and food security. This was an international meeting with representatives from EU states including the UK (Wales and Scotland). We discussed our response to the European Commission consultation on plants produced by certain new genomic techniques.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://epsoweb.org/working-groups/agricultural-technologies/
 
Description Edinburgh Science Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I gave a presentation (online due to Covid) at the Edinburgh Science Festival about the history of potato as a crop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Engagement with GB potato agronomists and consultants 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussing the current constrains in the potato industry and how science can help addressing those.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Engagement with Industry - Agrico 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We had a detailed scientific discussion about our work and further collaborations/funding has arisen as a consequence
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Engagement with Industry - Albert Bartlett's 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We discussed the possibilities of informed breeding for disease resistance in potatoes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Engagement with Industry - Lubera 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We discussed the use of d-RenSeq for potato breeding for the company with a focus on late blight.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Engagement with Industry - Simplot 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We had a detailed scientific discussion about our work and further collaborations/funding has arisen as a consequence
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Engagement with Stakeholder - Cygnet 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We discussed opportunities for Breeding and using RenSeq with Cygnet
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Engaging with KMC - Danish starch potato cooperative 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We hosted the Danish potato starch cooperative, KMC, at the Hutton and discussed the needs of biotic stress resistance (late blight and PCN in particular).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Farmer engagement and training Ning'an China 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We engaged with farmers to discuss the use of disease resistant potato varieties
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Gatsby school 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We hosted approximately 30 pupils from different local schools at the Hutton. We presented our work in the context of food security and provided opportunities for the pupils to engage with students (Honours, PhD), postdocs and PI's.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Genetic characterisation of disease resistances in potatoes 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We had a meeting with industrial and academic partners about characterising new resistances to protect potato crops.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Hosting AgriTech Pari students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact We hosted 40 students and discussed genetic aspects of potatoes and the CPC
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Interview at the Royal Society London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The interview was focused on new breeding technologies for sustainable crop production with a focus on potatoes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited Presentation at China National Talent Introduction Base 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was invited to present my research at the China National Talent Introduction Base. As a consequence of the presentation, I am currently interviewing potential CSC PhD students.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Invited presentation at SRUC - Edinburgh 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited presentation at SRUC
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Invited presentation at the University of Edinburgh 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited presentation at the University of Edinburgh
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Jenny Ekman Potato Link Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jenny visited the Hutton to write a blog/podcast for the Australian potato link journal that represents the wider potato stakeholders in Australia.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description National and International newspaper articles 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Our research featured in 13 international newspapers and magazines:

• http://digital.spudman.com/i/1195920-january-2020/31?
• https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/17864468.scientists-harness-wild-potatoes-bolster-commercial-spuds/
• https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/17860991.scientists-harness-wild-potatoes-bolster-commercial-spuds/
• https://www.potatopro.com/news/2019/four-late-blight-resistancy-genes-current-commercial-potato-varieties-already-defeated
• https://spudsmart.com/scientists-discover-wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/
• https://www.farminglife.com/farming-news/wild-spuds-to-stop-threat-of-blight-1-9020072
• https://www.agf.nl/article/9130881/schotland-oude-aardappelrassen-veel-minder-phytophthora-gevoelig/
• https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17815436.race-time-keep-humble-scots-tattie-menu/
• http://www.stackyard.com/news/2019/07/crop/04_dundee_potatoes.html
• https://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/wild-potatoes-help-spuds-resist-deadly-blight-caused-irish-potato-famine-200323
• https://potatonewstoday.com/2019/07/25/wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/
• http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2019/07/25/tatties-gone-scientists-discover-wild-potatoes-key-for-stronger-spuds/
• https://www.agriland.co.uk/farming-news/wild-potato-genes-may-be-key-to-stronger-spuds/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Newspaper article - breeding/GM 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview with the Courier Newspaper: Scientist says: gene editing is not the only way.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/farming/4097146/potato-scientist-says-gene-edit...
 
Description Organiser, speaker and facilitator at University of Dundee, Plant Sciences Retreat 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Organiser, speaker and facilitator at University of Dundee, Plant Sciences Retreat
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Organiser, speaker and facilitator for Potato@Hutton workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Organiser, speaker and facilitator for Potato@Hutton workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Plenary Speaker, South African Genetics Society (online) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I was invited by the South African Genetics society to present an overview of my research. I am currently supervising a Master Student from FABI in Pretoria
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Potato strategy meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We had invited an external expert from Industry to discuss options for future strategic research on potatoes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Potatoes in Practice 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We presented the latest developments in potato genetics/markers for disease resistances to a broad audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://pip.hutton.ac.uk/
 
Description Potatoes in Practice 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact approximate 650 people attended Potatoes in Practice in 2022. We presented to the diverse audience research activities on PCN, IPM, late blight and the critical link to breeding and germplasm collections.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://pip.hutton.ac.uk
 
Description Presentation at CIP/CCCAP Beijing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact I participated in a workgroup to discuss sustainable potato production in light of climate change and pathogen threats.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at the European Association for Potato Research, Poland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented our approaches to mining new resistances against potato diseases and integrating research and breeding at the EAPR meeting in Poland.
A number of new collaborations have been developed as a result of this presentation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.eapr.net/conference/2022/21st-eapr-triennial-conference
 
Description Presentation at the World Potato Congress, Ireland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave an invited, oral presentation on our efforts of RenSeq-based crop improvements and development to a diverse audience including potato industry, potato producers, breeders and advisers to governments.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://wpc2022ireland.com
 
Description Presentation to ARIA program Director 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented our research and opportunities to Angie Burnett, The Program Director of ARIA plants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.aria.org.uk/
 
Description Presentation to Industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We discussed the need of industry and the role our Research (RenSeq and dihaploids) can play in supporting industry.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation to potato grower delegation from Canada 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact the discussion focused on the needs of the potato industry in Canada
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presenting Potato Research to CEO of the BBSRC 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We presented potato research to Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, the Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Primary school visit 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We engaged with a local primary school about the work as a plant scientists and our work on potatoes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Royal Highland Show - Potato Research 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact At the Royal Highland Show we presented the diversity of the Commonwealth Potato Collection and showcased the impact of our research on the generation of new potato varieties through breeding.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Royal Society Daffodils project - Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact As part of the Royal Society funded Daffodils project, we visited the Queen Anne High school in Dunfermline and helped pupils to extract DNA from two Daffodil species, quantify the DNA, generate libraries for sequencing and then sequenced and assembled the chloroplast genomes via Oxford Nanopore MinIon sequencing. We helped with the data analysis and summarised the results in a poster.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://royalsociety.org/-/media/grants-schemes-awards/partnership-grants/the-scottish-daffodil-proj...
 
Description SACAPP conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited presentation highlighting RenSeq technology and the impact on breeding.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description SACCAP conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented our work on RenSeq-based potato breeding
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ruralnetwork.scot/council-area/perth-kinross-council?page=6
 
Description Scientific presentation at China Agricultural University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact I presented data related to association genetics and specifically late blight, PCN and Virues
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://cpp.cau.edu.cn/art/2023/11/1/art_24067_995862.html
 
Description Speaker, 8th plant genomics & gene editing congress, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact About 150 participants attended the meeting and I had a number of fruitful discussion after the presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description University of Dundee, Crieff Research Symposium (online) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented the potato research at the School of Life Sciences in Dundee at a virtual event
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Yunan - late blight meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave a presentation about our late blight research at the Yunan (China) late blight meeting
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021