Characterization of wheat yellow rust pathogenicity
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: Contracts Office
Abstract
Partial resistance is typically multigenic and characterised genetically as QTLs. The mechanisms of partial resistance are only just beginning to emerge. We will dissect partial resistance of crop species focusing on wheat yellow rust. We will identify and characterise resistance to wheat yellow rust by screening diverse potential sources of resistance, including materials generated and organized through WISP (synthetic wheat lines, wild emmer, alien species), global cereal collections, and mutant lines to provide new sources of partial/durable resistance against yellow rust. High density mapping populations will be generated and the genetic basis of enhanced resistance will be determined. In addition, molecular markers will be developed to enable plant breeders to select advantageous alleles. The results from this objective will enable more rapid deployment of partial resistance in agriculture.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Cristobal Uauy (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Alemu S
(2021)
Genome-wide association mapping identifies yellow rust resistance loci in Ethiopian durum wheat germplasm
in PLOS ONE
Allen AM
(2013)
Discovery and development of exome-based, co-dominant single nucleotide polymorphism markers in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).
in Plant biotechnology journal
Avni R
(2014)
Functional characterization of GPC-1 genes in hexaploid wheat.
in Planta
Bansal M
(2020)
Aegilops umbellulata introgression carrying leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes Lr76 and Yr70 located to 9.47-Mb region on 5DS telomeric end through a combination of chromosome sorting and sequencing.
in TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik
Bansal M
(2021)
A robust KASP marker for selection of four pairs of linked leaf rust and stripe rust resistance genes introgressed on chromosome arm 5DS from different wheat genomes.
in Molecular biology reports
Bevan MW
(2013)
Genomics reveals new landscapes for crop improvement.
in Genome biology
Bryant RR
(2014)
A change in temperature modulates defence to yellow (stripe) rust in wheat line UC1041 independently of resistance gene Yr36.
in BMC plant biology
Dobon A
(2016)
The host-pathogen interaction between wheat and yellow rust induces temporally coordinated waves of gene expression.
in BMC genomics
Getie B
(2016)
Identification and mapping of resistance to stem rust in the European winter wheat cultivars Spark and Rialto
in Molecular Breeding
| Description | We have shown the effectiveness of a partial resistance gene (Yr36) to UK isolates of yellow rust under field conditions. This knowledge has paved the way for breeders to introduce this resistance (which is thought to be durable) into UK varieties. We have fine mapped a major resistance gene (Yr15) which is of great importance in UK agriculture. We have developed SNP-based markers to accelerate the transfer of this gene into UK germplasm and improve the efficiency of marker assisted selection. We have discovered the emergence of new yellow rust lineages in the UK. These new isolates represent a wider range of genetic diversity than that present in the UK in the past 25 years. We have developed a new method to perform RNAseq directly from yellow-rust infected wheat leaves collected in the field (Field Pathogenomics). This has been done in collaboration with NIAB and TGAC and is opening new avenues for pathogen diagnostics directly from the field. We have cloned three major resistance genes (Yr7, Yr5, YrSP) and have developed perfect markers for breeders to deploy. |
| Exploitation Route | We are currently working with industrial partners to develop low-cost reliable assays to improve the time of detection of new pathogen isolates. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | The develop of new near-diagnostic markers for the Yr15 resistance gene are currently being deployed by two commercial breeders and have been recently published. The knowledge gained from our Yr36 work has also made it an alternative gene for use in UK and is currently being pursued. The new marker data for Yr5 will be invaluable for deployment in UK and worldwide. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | UK Global Food Security Science Advisory Board |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/ |
| Description | Workshop on Soft Skills, BGRI Meeting |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Workshop on Soft Skills, BGRI Meeting |
| Description | Newton Institutional Links Grant |
| Amount | £299,973 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Newton Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Strategic Training Award for Research Skills |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2018 |
| End | 02/2020 |
| Title | Wheat Expression |
| Description | The majority of RNA-seq expression studies in plants remain underutilised and inaccessible due to the use of disparate transcriptome references and the lack of skills and resources to analyse and visualise this data. We have developed expVIP, an expression Visualisation and Integration Platform, which allows easy analysis of RNA-seq data combined with an intuitive and interactive interface. Users can analyse public and user-specified datasets with minimal bioinformatics knowledge using the expVIP virtual machine. This generates a custom web browser to visualise, sort and filter the RNA-seq data and provides outputs for differential gene expression analysis. We demonstrate expVIP's suitability for polyploid crops and evaluate its performance across a range of biologically-relevant scenarios. To exemplify its use in crop research we developed a flexible wheat expression browser (www.wheat-expression.com) which can be expanded with user-generated data in a local virtual machine environment. The open-access expVIP platform will facilitate the analysis of gene expression data from a wide variety of species by enabling the easy integration, visualisation and comparison of RNA-seq data across experiments. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This database provides open access to over 400 RNAseq studies in wheat and the underlying algorithms are all available to adapt to any species with a reference genome. Over 11,000 sessions from >5,000 and >50,000 pageviews |
| URL | http://www.wheat-expression.com |
| Title | Wheat Training |
| Description | This website provides background information and practical resources to help both budding wheat scientists as well as researchers looking to expand their work into wheat. There is a need to improve crops to feed the world's growing population with the backdrop of climate change. Translation of fundamental plant biology research (e.g. from Arabidopsis thaliana) into crops such as wheat provides a potential route to deal with this challenge. However learning even simple tasks such as growing and crossing wheat plants requires time and effort, while material and methods sections in published articles are often short and cannot substitute teaching aids. This is also true for more complex topics such as the genomics aspect of wheat. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | >4,500 sessions from >2,700 users |
| URL | http://www.wheat-training.com/ |
| Description | A meeting between CIMMYT and DFW funded by BMGF to discuss collaboration projects |
| Organisation | International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) |
| Country | Mexico |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I organised a meeting funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation brought together members of the BBSRC's coordinated wheat programme (Designing Future Wheat) with members of CIMMYT (who breed wheat for the resource poor in the developing world), discuss potential opportunities for interaction. These opportunities are taken forward by writing proposals for Newton , GCRF or IWYP funding calls |
| Collaborator Contribution | See above |
| Impact | This interaction is still ongoing between members of BBSRC's coordinated wheat programme (Designing Future Wheat) and researchers within CIMMYT with proposals being written for IWYP and Newton calls |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Bayer |
| Organisation | Bayer |
| Department | Bayer CropScience Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Wheat genetics and genomics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Wheat breeding and molecular knowledge |
| Impact | joint projects |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | KWS |
| Organisation | KWS UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Genetics and genomics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Breeder know how and germplasm |
| Impact | joint projects |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Limagrain |
| Organisation | Limagrain |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Genetics and genomics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Germplasm and breeder know-how |
| Impact | Phd Studentship, field trails, among others |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Punjab Agricultural University |
| Organisation | Punjab Aricultural University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Know how on wheat genomics and genetics, training. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Gernplasm, local knowledge |
| Impact | Have helped partners implement marker technology. |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | RAGT |
| Organisation | RAGT Seeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Genetics and genomics |
| Collaborator Contribution | Wheat germplasm and know how |
| Impact | Shared projects |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Title | GENES ASSOCIATED WITH RESISTANCE TO WHEAT YELLOW RUST |
| Description | The invention relates to genes associated with disease resistance in plants. According to an aspect of the invention is provided an isolated nucleic acid encoding a nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) polypeptide comprising a zinc-finger BED domain, wherein expression of the NLR polypeptide in a plant confers or enhances resistance of the plant to a fungus, for example wheat yellow (stripe) rust fungus Puccinia striiformisi f. sp. tritici. |
| IP Reference | WO2019197408 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Wheat yellow rust resistance genes. |
| Description | Australian, UK scientists solve 30-year wheat rust genetics puzzle |
| 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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Australian, UK scientists solve 30-year wheat rust genetics puzzle |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/uos-aus082418.php |
| Description | Daily Mail Online |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Genetic make-up of wheat has been decoded for the first time: Scientists say it could lead to low allergy varieties and crops that need less water |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6068177/Genetic-make-wheat-decoded-time.html |
| Description | Discussion Norman Lamb, MP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Discussion Norman Lamb, MP |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Discussion with Gov Office Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Discussion with Gov Office Science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | JIC Open day |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | JIC Open Day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for International Development. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for International Development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Rachel Lambert, Senior Livelihoods Adviser, Agriculture Research DFID |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Rachel Lambert, Senior Livelihoods Adviser, Agriculture Research DFID |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | • EPSO-EC Conference at EXPO Milano |
| 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 | EU meeting on new breeding technologies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |