Genetic Resources to Address Crop Loss from Insects and Insect Borne Disease
Lead Research Organisation:
John Innes Centre
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Insects and insect-borne plant disease impose very significant stresses on food crops and forage crops in the developing world. This is an important factor in terms of food insecurity in a number of regions. This deliverable will provide genetic data and resources to address two entomological questions in the developing world. In the first, one virus of an African forage grass appears to be transmitted by a number of different insects (better genetic information will allow for better understanding and therefore management). In the second, one insect appears to be adapted to be a pest of many different African and Asian crops, including maize and sweet potato (better genetic information will allow an understanding of this unusual polyphagy and ultimately better management)
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- John Innes Centre (Lead Research Organisation)
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) (Collaboration)
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) (Collaboration)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (Collaboration)
- CGIAR (Collaboration)
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Collaboration)
Publications
Al-Subhi A
(2017)
Classification of a new phytoplasmas subgroup 16SrII-W associated with Crotalaria witches' broom diseases in Oman based on multigene sequence analysis.
in BMC microbiology
| Description | The Hogenhout team (JIC) visited BecA, Kenyatta University, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IIAT) and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss opportunities for collaborations, particularly how to help with solving Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum; elephant grass) crop losses caused by the insect-borne Napier grass stunt phytoplasma (NGSP). The Hogenhout lab found that a specific phytoplasma virulence protein (named SAP11) is responsible for the induction of proliferation symptoms (witch's brooms) via interaction with specific transcription factors that are conserved among dicot and monocot plant species (Pecher et al., 2019, Biorxiv). The SAP11 sequence was found to be also present in the genome of NGSP. Finally, the Hogenhout lab has established contacts with Jean Dedieu Ayabagabo (University of Rwanda), Sita Ghimire (BecA, Nairobi, Kenya) and Chris Jones (ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). |
| Exploitation Route | It is possible to use the information for the identification of Napier grass varieties/lines that are less susceptible to phytoplasma and its insect vectors and that are likely to show less symptoms when infected with this bacterium. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education |
| Description | Phytoplasmas can cause dramatic losses of crops, trees, ornamentals and wild flora worldwide. Research findings of my lab have provided new insights into how phytoplasmas induce symptoms in crops and how these symptoms contribute to the spread of these pathogens via insect transmission. I have shared my expertise of phytoplasmas with colleagues worldwide, including developing countries. The knowledge generated in my lab has generated knowledge and strategies on how to improve crop resistance to |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | Aphid |
| Organisation | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We sequenced and assembled the genome of the banana aphid, which is a big pest on banana in Kenya. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The ICIPE partners provided banana aphid samples for sequencing. |
| Impact | Genome sequences of banana aphid and other aphid species will be compared. There is an agreement of how to write this up for a publication. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Engaged with German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDIV) |
| Organisation | German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Enabled PhD student at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) to be engaged with our GCRF-funded project to study Napier grass stunt phytoplasma |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collected Napier grass with phytoplasma symptoms and potential insect vectors from fields near small farmers village |
| Impact | Materials are being processed for sequencing |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Engaged with colleagues at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) |
| Organisation | International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Involved colleague at ICIPE in the GCRF-funded project to study Napier grass stunt phytoplasma |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided plant and insect materials for sequencing |
| Impact | Materials are being processed |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Formal collaboration with BecA, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Organisation | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We provide information on phytoplasma effectors and how they interact with plant targets. This will help the identification of resistance in Napier grass and other crops susceptible to phytoplasmas. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The BecA team provided information on Napier grass germ plasm and genomics resources that will be mined for phytoplasma effector targets and polymorphisms in these targets that lead to insusceptibility to phytoplasma effectors. |
| Impact | Two members of the Hogenhout group (a research assistant and PhD student) have visited BecA and ICIPE for several days. They joined a symposium and presented talks about their researcj in this symposium. They exchanged knowledge and resources. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Formal collaboration with CGIAR |
| Organisation | CGIAR |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We sequence the genome and transcriptome of the banana aphid, an economically important pest of banana in Africa, Asia and Australia |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided frozen aphids for genome and transcriptome sequencing |
| Impact | Provided the full genome sequence to the collaborator |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Formal research collaboration with Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My group provides aphid genomics information to the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | CAAS contributed aphid samples and transgenic wheat to achieve plant-mediated RNAi of aphids to the project |
| Impact | We sequenced the genomes of many wheat-colonizing aphid species. The genomes have been assembled. Annotation pipeline for the genomes is under construction. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Formal research collaboration with SIPPE, CAS, Shanghai, China |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Department | Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My group provides knowledge, resources and materials, and (genome/gene) sequence information of various species of aphids. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Huang's group provides information on insect transformation methods, insect sex determination genes, baculovirus and insect cell-based expression systems. |
| Impact | We excnahed visits and attended (CEPAMS) meetings to discuss research progress. Qun Liu, Yazhou Chen and Weijie Huang, former postdoctoral researchers and PhD students at SIPPE, are currently postdoctoral researchers in the Hogenhout group. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Partnership award with University of Liverpool, UK. |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Department | School of Veterinary Science Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provide information on vector-borne diseases of plants. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide information of vector-borne diseases of humans and animals. |
| Impact | We won a US Partnering Award: Vector-borne diseases in the UK & US: common threats and shared solutions" and co-organized visits of US colleagues to the UK (Dec 2016) and UK group members to the University of California, Davis (Oct 2017). We applied for a GCRF VBD network grant together; the pre-proposal for this was selected for submission of a full proposal, and we were invited for an interview with BBSRC based on our full proposal submission. The proposal was ranked 5th out 12 proposals, and only the top 3 were funded. Finally, we co-organized the Vector-Borne Diseases in the UK meetings, 3-4 Dec 2018 hosted at the JIC. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Title | METHODS OF INCREASING BIOTIC STRESS RESISTANCE IN PLANTS |
| Description | The invention relates to methods of increasing biotic stress resistance in a plant as well as plants with increased biotic stress resistance and methods of screening plants for the beneficial phenotype |
| IP Reference | WO2021048272 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2021 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Obtained new knowledge of how to obtain plants, including crops, with increased resistance to aphids and possibly other related sap-sucking insects that transmit a diverse plant pathogens, including a broad range of viruses, phytoplasmas, liberibacters and Xylella fastidiosa. |
| Description | AgroSight |
| 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 | Hosted and discussed potential research project on phytoplasma pathogens of oil palms in Columbia with Mayke Santos, AgroSIght, Cambridge, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | BecA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | GCRF project discussions with Sita Ghimire (BecA, Nairobi, Kenya) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | CONNECTED |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Attended and participated in network discussions of CONNECTED UK Launch conference, Bristol, UK (hosted by Gary Foster, Neil Boonham and Nicola Spence), 29-31 Jan '18. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Organized and hosted a conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Member of organizing committee and host of Vector-Borne Disease in the UK 2018, JIC, Norwich, UK, 3-4 Dec 2018. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Participated summerschool, Pwani University, Kenya |
| 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 | Co-organized a two-day course as part of the two-week AfriPlantSci summerschool for ±25 professionals and students from research institutes and university in Kenya and several other countries in sub-saharan Africa. Two PhD students of my team participated in the organization of the summerschool. Protocols we taught in the course were shared and are being used in current projects of the course participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Phillipines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Communicated and wrote proposal for the Newton Afgham Programme with Karen Alviar, National Institute of Molecular Biology (BIOTECH), University of the Philippines, Los Banos. The objective was to investigate effector proteins of the cassava phytoplasma disease (CPD), which has caused massive outbreaks in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the application was considered to have eligibility problems for unclear reasons. An appeal letter was submitted (Jun 2017), but this did not help. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | UK-US VBD network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | UK-US Vector-borne disease network meeting, University of California, Davis, 15-17 Oct 2017. Co-organized UK-US VBD network meeting with Matthew Baylis (University of Liverpool, UK) at the University of California, Davis, USA. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |