Symptomless infection of barley; resistance breeding and integrated crop protection strategies (SIBLINGS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Hertfordshire
Department Name: Health and Human Sciences RI
Abstract
This project addresses the TSB criteria novel approaches to address pests, diseases, disease vectors and weeds and development of durable pest-and disease-resistant crop varieties . We will deliver more effective control of a serious and problematic pathogen of barley through understanding its entire life cycle, rather than just the visible disease syptoms which have been used previously to identify infection. The project will use new knowledge about the symptomless rhynchosporium infection of barley to develop new varieties that are more durable to rhynchosporium infection and therefore protected against yield loss to this pathogen. Various sources of host plant resistance will be assessed for efficacy so that the best ones are prioritised. The introgression of an alien resistance gene offers the opportunity of introducing a novel resistance mechanism that, backed up by the marker tools and ability to pyramid with other durable resistance genes, will enjoy a much greater useful variety lifespan in widespread use. Novel molecular and microscopy methods using tagged pathogen isolates will be used to generate knowledge of resistance mechanisms so that appropriate combinations of natural resistance sources can be brought together in optimum combinations. The project will also help develop crop protection strategies which are strategically well directed for increased yield response and risk reduction. Their enhanced effectiveness will be based on an understanding of the way different resistance genes in varieties work and using appropriate fungicides in more intelligent, integrated programmes. The proposal therefore represents a novel approach to both breeding for durable resistance and more effective crop protection with existing chemicals, whilst informing discovery strategies. The durable resistance sources will be developed in new barley varieties and overall we will deliver more effective control of a serious and problematic pathogen of barley through understanding its entire lifecycle rather than just the visible symptoms which have been used previously.
Organisations
- University of Hertfordshire (Lead Research Organisation)
- Wageningen University & Research (Collaboration)
- KWS UK (Collaboration)
- ETH Zurich (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Rothamsted Research (Collaboration)
- DuPont (Collaboration)
- Perry Foundation (Collaboration)
- Mansoura University (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Bruce Fitt (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Navarro-Quezada A
(2011)
Rhynchosporium genomics - a strategy towards understanding host specialisation.
Jellis G J
(2021)
Management of diseases and pests of oilseed rape
| Description | Research funded through this grant has led to a better understanding of resistance operating against the pathogen causing rhynchosporium leaf blotch of barley |
| Exploitation Route | The findings can be used by the breeding company KWS which breeds barley cultivars for the UK market |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | UK farmers benefited greatly from the results of this project, both in the short-term and in the long-term. In the short-term, advice from this project was used to improve decisions about application and timing of fungicides to control rhynchosporium on UK barley crops, with a substantial yield benefit. The agricultural distributor partner in the project estimated that the benefit from the project was worth £6.5M per annum to the UK agricultural industry, with a £2.7M increase in its own profits. In the long-term, the improved understanding about operation of resistance against R. commune, initially by KWS and ultimately by all UK barley breeders, will decrease the need to apply fungicide sprays on barley crops whilst maintaining or increasing yields, with a benefit for the whole industry. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Economic benefits to UK agricultural industry |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| Impact | It has been estimated that University of Hertfordshire research on oilseed rape has benefitted UK agriculture by £10-20M per annum. Benefits include understanding to improve resistance of oilseed rape crop cultivars against pathogens that cause diseases that cause losses of more than £150M per annum. This information can be exploited by crop breeders and ultimately by agricultural distributors and farmers. Improved understanding of disease epidemics can be used to improve forecasting of the risk of severe epidemics to guide decisions on fungicide timing. The University has also provided five post-doctoral researchers who have entered the agricultural /horticultural industry (Limagrain, Elsoms, LS Plant Breeding, RSK ADAS, Royal Horticultural Society) on completion of their doctorates. |
| Description | Impacts of climate change on wheat and maize diseases in Egypt |
| Organisation | Mansoura University |
| Country | Egypt |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research team will model impacts of climate change on some wheat and maize diseases in Egypt. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Egyptian partners will provide historical and new disease, crop growth and weather data |
| Impact | No outputs yet. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving mathematicians/crop modellers at the University of Hertfordshire and biologists in Egypt |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Mechanisms of resistance against apoplastic pathogens |
| Organisation | Wageningen University & Research |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Improved understanding of mechanisms of crop resistance against apoplastic pathogens |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Pierre de Wit from the University of Wageningen contributed to the initiation of the research and writing up the research paper. |
| Impact | Publication of an opinion article. Stotz HU, Mitrousia GK, de Wit, PJGM, Fitt BDL (2014). Effector-triggered defence against apoplastic fungal pathogens. Trends in Plant Science 19, 491-500. Presentation of the work at international conferences: 16th International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 6-10 July 2014, Rhodes, Greece; the 11th Conference of the European Foundation for Plant Pathology, 8 - 13 September 2014, Kraków, Poland |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Resistance against the barley leaf blotch pathogen Rhynchosporium commune |
| Organisation | DuPont |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Work on control of Rhynchosporium commune on barley; contribution of expertise on this disease and understanding of its epidemiology |
| Collaborator Contribution | James Hutton Institute (Prof Adrian Newton, Dr Mark Looseley) has provided barley genetic/genomic information. KWS has provided access to barley breeding lines, Agrii and DuPont have provided practical expertise on use of fungicides to control the disease as part of a TSB project (SIBLINGS) |
| Impact | Journal paper and conference papers. Looseley ME, Newton AC, Atkins SD, Fitt BDL, Fraaije BA, Thomas WTB, Keith R, Macaulay M, Lynott J, Harrap D (2012). Genetic basis of control of Rhynchosporium secalis infection and symptom expression in barley. Euphytica 184, 47-56.Newton AC, Fitt BDL, Atkins SD, Walters DR, Daniell TJ (2010). Pathogenesis, parasitism and mutualism in the trophic space of microbe-plant interactions. Trends in Microbiology 18, 365-373.Atkins SD, Fitt BDL, Fraaije B, Harvey S, Lynott J, Newton AC (2010). The epidemiological importance of asymptomatic infection of winter barley by Rhynchosporium secalis and its consequences for crop protection and breeding. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010, 81-86. |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Resistance against the barley leaf blotch pathogen Rhynchosporium commune |
| Organisation | KWS UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Work on control of Rhynchosporium commune on barley; contribution of expertise on this disease and understanding of its epidemiology |
| Collaborator Contribution | James Hutton Institute (Prof Adrian Newton, Dr Mark Looseley) has provided barley genetic/genomic information. KWS has provided access to barley breeding lines, Agrii and DuPont have provided practical expertise on use of fungicides to control the disease as part of a TSB project (SIBLINGS) |
| Impact | Journal paper and conference papers. Looseley ME, Newton AC, Atkins SD, Fitt BDL, Fraaije BA, Thomas WTB, Keith R, Macaulay M, Lynott J, Harrap D (2012). Genetic basis of control of Rhynchosporium secalis infection and symptom expression in barley. Euphytica 184, 47-56.Newton AC, Fitt BDL, Atkins SD, Walters DR, Daniell TJ (2010). Pathogenesis, parasitism and mutualism in the trophic space of microbe-plant interactions. Trends in Microbiology 18, 365-373.Atkins SD, Fitt BDL, Fraaije B, Harvey S, Lynott J, Newton AC (2010). The epidemiological importance of asymptomatic infection of winter barley by Rhynchosporium secalis and its consequences for crop protection and breeding. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010, 81-86. |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Rhynchosporium species on grasses |
| Organisation | ETH Zurich |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided main supervision for PhD project on Rhynchosporium on grasses (Kevin King); this PhD project resulted in several papers published in international journals. The PhD was awarded in 2013. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Perry Foundation provided funding. University of Nottingham (Dr Paul Dyer) provided expertise in fungal genetics. Rothamsted (Prof Jon West) provided access to lab facilities. ETH-Zurich (Prof Bruce McDonald's group) provided expertise in evolutionary genetics. |
| Impact | Refereed and conference papers.King KM, West JS, Fitt BDL, Dyer PS (2014). Differences in MAT gene distribution and expression between Rhynchosporium species on grasses. Plant Pathology (pub-on-line; Doi: 10.1111/ppa.12265). King KM, West JS, Brunner PC, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2013) Evolutionary relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and other Rhynchosporium species on grasses. PLoS ONE 8: e72536. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072536.King KM, West JS, Steffanson TS, McDonald BA, Knogge W, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Both mating types are present in Rhychosporium commune, R. agropyri and R. secalis populations. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, Dundee, Scotland, 27-29 June 2011 (pub-on-line).King KM, West JS, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Development of typical and atypical Rhynchosporium lesions on different grass hosts. Aspects of Applied Biology 106, Crop Protection in Southern Britain, 137-142.Penselin D, Münsterkötter M, Kirsten S, Felder M, Taudien S, Platzer M, Ashelford K, Paskiewicz KH, Harrison RJ, Hughes DJ, Wolf T, Shelest E, Graap J, Hoffmann J, Wenzel1 C, Wöltje N, King KM, Fitt BDL, Güldener U, Avrova A, Knogge W (2016). Comparative genomics to explore phylogenetic relationship, cryptic sexual potential and host specificity of Rhynchosporium species on grasses. BMC Genomics 17:953. DOI 10.1186/s12864-016-3299-5 |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Rhynchosporium species on grasses |
| Organisation | Perry Foundation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Provided main supervision for PhD project on Rhynchosporium on grasses (Kevin King); this PhD project resulted in several papers published in international journals. The PhD was awarded in 2013. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Perry Foundation provided funding. University of Nottingham (Dr Paul Dyer) provided expertise in fungal genetics. Rothamsted (Prof Jon West) provided access to lab facilities. ETH-Zurich (Prof Bruce McDonald's group) provided expertise in evolutionary genetics. |
| Impact | Refereed and conference papers.King KM, West JS, Fitt BDL, Dyer PS (2014). Differences in MAT gene distribution and expression between Rhynchosporium species on grasses. Plant Pathology (pub-on-line; Doi: 10.1111/ppa.12265). King KM, West JS, Brunner PC, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2013) Evolutionary relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and other Rhynchosporium species on grasses. PLoS ONE 8: e72536. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072536.King KM, West JS, Steffanson TS, McDonald BA, Knogge W, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Both mating types are present in Rhychosporium commune, R. agropyri and R. secalis populations. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, Dundee, Scotland, 27-29 June 2011 (pub-on-line).King KM, West JS, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Development of typical and atypical Rhynchosporium lesions on different grass hosts. Aspects of Applied Biology 106, Crop Protection in Southern Britain, 137-142.Penselin D, Münsterkötter M, Kirsten S, Felder M, Taudien S, Platzer M, Ashelford K, Paskiewicz KH, Harrison RJ, Hughes DJ, Wolf T, Shelest E, Graap J, Hoffmann J, Wenzel1 C, Wöltje N, King KM, Fitt BDL, Güldener U, Avrova A, Knogge W (2016). Comparative genomics to explore phylogenetic relationship, cryptic sexual potential and host specificity of Rhynchosporium species on grasses. BMC Genomics 17:953. DOI 10.1186/s12864-016-3299-5 |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Rhynchosporium species on grasses |
| Organisation | Rothamsted Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided main supervision for PhD project on Rhynchosporium on grasses (Kevin King); this PhD project resulted in several papers published in international journals. The PhD was awarded in 2013. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Perry Foundation provided funding. University of Nottingham (Dr Paul Dyer) provided expertise in fungal genetics. Rothamsted (Prof Jon West) provided access to lab facilities. ETH-Zurich (Prof Bruce McDonald's group) provided expertise in evolutionary genetics. |
| Impact | Refereed and conference papers.King KM, West JS, Fitt BDL, Dyer PS (2014). Differences in MAT gene distribution and expression between Rhynchosporium species on grasses. Plant Pathology (pub-on-line; Doi: 10.1111/ppa.12265). King KM, West JS, Brunner PC, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2013) Evolutionary relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and other Rhynchosporium species on grasses. PLoS ONE 8: e72536. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072536.King KM, West JS, Steffanson TS, McDonald BA, Knogge W, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Both mating types are present in Rhychosporium commune, R. agropyri and R. secalis populations. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, Dundee, Scotland, 27-29 June 2011 (pub-on-line).King KM, West JS, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Development of typical and atypical Rhynchosporium lesions on different grass hosts. Aspects of Applied Biology 106, Crop Protection in Southern Britain, 137-142.Penselin D, Münsterkötter M, Kirsten S, Felder M, Taudien S, Platzer M, Ashelford K, Paskiewicz KH, Harrison RJ, Hughes DJ, Wolf T, Shelest E, Graap J, Hoffmann J, Wenzel1 C, Wöltje N, King KM, Fitt BDL, Güldener U, Avrova A, Knogge W (2016). Comparative genomics to explore phylogenetic relationship, cryptic sexual potential and host specificity of Rhynchosporium species on grasses. BMC Genomics 17:953. DOI 10.1186/s12864-016-3299-5 |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Rhynchosporium species on grasses |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided main supervision for PhD project on Rhynchosporium on grasses (Kevin King); this PhD project resulted in several papers published in international journals. The PhD was awarded in 2013. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Perry Foundation provided funding. University of Nottingham (Dr Paul Dyer) provided expertise in fungal genetics. Rothamsted (Prof Jon West) provided access to lab facilities. ETH-Zurich (Prof Bruce McDonald's group) provided expertise in evolutionary genetics. |
| Impact | Refereed and conference papers.King KM, West JS, Fitt BDL, Dyer PS (2014). Differences in MAT gene distribution and expression between Rhynchosporium species on grasses. Plant Pathology (pub-on-line; Doi: 10.1111/ppa.12265). King KM, West JS, Brunner PC, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2013) Evolutionary relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and other Rhynchosporium species on grasses. PLoS ONE 8: e72536. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072536.King KM, West JS, Steffanson TS, McDonald BA, Knogge W, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Both mating types are present in Rhychosporium commune, R. agropyri and R. secalis populations. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, Dundee, Scotland, 27-29 June 2011 (pub-on-line).King KM, West JS, Dyer PS, Fitt BDL (2011). Development of typical and atypical Rhynchosporium lesions on different grass hosts. Aspects of Applied Biology 106, Crop Protection in Southern Britain, 137-142.Penselin D, Münsterkötter M, Kirsten S, Felder M, Taudien S, Platzer M, Ashelford K, Paskiewicz KH, Harrison RJ, Hughes DJ, Wolf T, Shelest E, Graap J, Hoffmann J, Wenzel1 C, Wöltje N, King KM, Fitt BDL, Güldener U, Avrova A, Knogge W (2016). Comparative genomics to explore phylogenetic relationship, cryptic sexual potential and host specificity of Rhynchosporium species on grasses. BMC Genomics 17:953. DOI 10.1186/s12864-016-3299-5 |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Coordination of UK Government 2015 spending for work on animal and plant diseases |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was an advisory panel aimed at a coordinated bid to Treasury for work on plant and animal diseases across Government departments in the 2015 Government spending round. Intended to brief civil servants and government ministers across different government departments. Produced document for coordination of funding bids across government departments. After the meeting, impacts of research on control of plant and animal diseases will be discussed in 2015 government spending round. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | 2014 Cereals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talked to farmers, policy makers, researchers who visited the demonstration plots and the HGCA stand; This increased the awareness of public of the importance of control diseases on oilseed rape. After the Cereals event, contacted by farmers asking for advice on control of diseases in their crops |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | British Society for Plant Pathology conference, Warwick, Dec 2018 |
| 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 | Attended British Society of Plant Pathology presidential conference, Warwick, with staff and post-graduate students from our group. Posters and oral presentations were made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Cereals 2013 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talked to farmers, policy makers, researchers who visited the demonstration plots and the HGCA stand; This increased the awareness of public of the importance of control diseases on oilseed rape. After the Cereals event, contacted by farmers asking for advice on control of diseases in their crops; Contacted by HGCA to produce topic sheets on control oilseed rape diseases. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.cerealsevent.co.uk/ |
| Description | Genetic Improvement Network Workshop |
| 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 | Talk on Oilseed Rape Genetic Improvement Network at Workshop for stakeholders of all GINs, organised by Defra, Feb 22 "016, Norwich |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | International Congress of Plant Pathology, Boston, USA, July/Aug 2018 |
| 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 | This was an international conference. Attended with other staff and post-grad students from our group. Presented work as posters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stand at Cereals 2017, Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire |
| 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 | Presented research at University of Hertfordshire stand at this event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Stand at Cereals' 2018, Duxford, Cambs |
| 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 | Participated in University of Hertfordshire stand at Cereals' 2018, June 13-14 2018. Event attended by 1000s of farmers and other members of the agricultural industry, mostly from the UK but some from overseas |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at career event at UH |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The talk encouraged students to think a career in plant pathology Contacted by individuals to consider doing a research degree (e.g. MSc, PhD) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Talk. Arable crop disease control, climate change and food security. 30 Sept 2016; Hawkesbury Institute, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Visit to Hawkesbury Institute to discuss collaboration which is now occurring |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk; Arable crop disease control, climate change and food security. 28 Sept 2016; University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar at University of Western Australia which we visited to discuss collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talks to U3A science groups in Watford and Hemel Hempstead, Herts, Sept/Oct 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talks about arable crop diseases, climate change and food security to U3A science groups in Watford (60 participants) and Hemel Hempstead (40 participants). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |