Chenopodium quinoa as a model for studying cross-talk between abiotic and biotic stress defence mechanism of plants
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Interdisciplinary Bioscience DTP
Abstract
Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa) is a highly nutritious crop native to the Andes with remarkable capacity for growing in marginal climates across 70 different countries. Quinoa has adapted for growth on nutrient-poor or highly saline soils across an altitudinal gradient of 4000m and withstands temperature fluctuations of over 40 degrees. The quinoa germplasm has over 6000 accessions and represents an invaluable genetic resource for investigating the underlying mechanisms of its hardiness. Climatic changes and expansion of crop species to new areas brings new pathogen threats and there is an ever-greater need for investigating how plants perceive and respond to biotic and abiotic stresses applied in combination. Using quinoa, the model pathogen Pseudomonas syringae and salt stress the relationships between biotic and abiotic stress defence pathways will be unravelled. Genetic, physiological and biochemical techniques will characterise quinoa's stress responses at multiple levels: morphologically, and via cellular and molecular components. To strengthen the depth of characterisation and widen the applicability of this research several agroecologically distinct quinoa varieties native to Bolivia will be tested. The biotic stress tolerance of quinoa, namely quinoa's immunity has never been fully characterised before and this project aims to establish a toolbox for interrogating plant-pathogen
interactions in quinoa. This will be increasingly relevant considering the demand for expansion of nutritious crop species to new areas and for the optimisation of productivity on sub-optimal land in a changing climate.
BBSRC priority areas:
Sustainably enhancing agricultural production
Food, nutrition and health
interactions in quinoa. This will be increasingly relevant considering the demand for expansion of nutritious crop species to new areas and for the optimisation of productivity on sub-optimal land in a changing climate.
BBSRC priority areas:
Sustainably enhancing agricultural production
Food, nutrition and health
People |
ORCID iD |
| Gail Preston (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Wanda Scrafton (Student) |
| Description | OXFORD-INIAF Material Transfer Agreement and collaboration for the characterisation of native Bolivian quinoa and canuhua varieties of differential stress response mechanisms |
| Organisation | Government of Bolivia |
| Department | INIAF National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation Santa Cruz |
| Country | Bolivia, Plurinational State of |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Breakdown of milestones: Summer 2018: I planned and carried out a research visit to Bolivia to establish contact with The National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF) of Bolivia about future collaboration for characterising native quinoa varieties in my developing experimental system at the Plant Sciences Department of University of Oxford. Autumn 2018: I liaised the coordination of a co-designed Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) in English and Spanish for signing by University of Oxford Research Services and INIAF with input from my supervisor Prof Gail Preston and point of contact at INIAF Ing. José Campero Marañón Spring 2019: the MTA got signed by both parties and INIAF experts organised the selection and preparation of germplasm based on the experimental goals of my PhD Summer 2019: I undertook a second research visit to INIAF to acquire the selected 30 native quinoa and 4 native kaniwa varieties Autumn 2019: I undertook first screening of 50% of the acquired germplasm for growth in Oxford Greenhouses and amenity in my experimental system Spring 2020: I aim to secure growing space at Reading for the propagation of the collection and continuation of screening for differential stress tolerance at Oxford |
| Collaborator Contribution | The National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF), of Bolivia are providing a research group at the University of Oxford with access to their native germplasm bank, a unique and hugely valuable but underutilised resource. Beyond the materials provided they also provide me with the most detailed knowledge unattainable in the UK which includes access to ancestral field-based knowledge too through their department and country-wide personal. Together we established a scientific research collaboration for the novel characterisation of Bolivian quinoa and cañahua varieties using the halophytic pathosystem I've established through my BBSRC PhD. The agreement aims to perform the quantitative characterization of the defences (tolerances to abiotic and biotic stresses) of varieties of quinoa and cañahua with probabilities of possessing superior properties in the face of climate change. Based on this, their adaptation to new lands, sustainable use and conservation of Bolivia's native resources by the INIAF will be facilitated, while also levering valuable molecular insights on the basic defence system of plants to help other crop systems. The collaboration also opens an exchange of knowledge and experiences between people of both nations, for example students and researchers from universities such as the Technical University of Oruro (UTO), the Greater University of San Andrés (UMSA), the Greater University of San Simón (UMSS) and the University of Oxford. |
| Impact | First time native quinoa and canuhua varieties from Bolivia have been obtained for research in the UK First collaboration between the Department of Plant Sciences at Oxford and the Toralapa germplasm bank of INIAF Opened communication channels and knowledge exchange between our research group and INIAF, with potential for future exchange of researchers Multi-disciplinary between fundamental scientists in our research group of Prof Gail Preston, and geneticists (Dr Felix Marza), agricultural engineers (Ing. José Campero Marañón) , agronomists and germplasm curators (various, incl: Nancy Huanca Alanoca, Wilson Garcia Galarza) and agricultural policy makers in Bolivia who are personnel of INIAF |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Bolivian Embassy and SOAS University presentation (London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at SOAS University with the Bolivian Embassy, London : "Bolivian Quinoa, an Opportunity for Scientific Investigation and Global Food Security" in front of an audience of ~20 comprising a mixed ages, cultural and educational backgrounds which sparked a 30 minute panel debate afterwards and follow up questions in person about my work at Oxford. I also got follow up invitations to Bolivian ambassadors Christmas reunion the same year, to a select group to meet the Vicepresident of Bolivia (spring 2019) and to present my work in the first Anglo-Bolivian academic conference of its kind in La Paz, Bolivia (summer 2019), which was supported by the British Embassy in Bolivia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/boliviaenuk/status/976893923904942082/photo/1 |
| Description | Presentation and panelist for 2019 Anglo-Bolivian Conference: Bolivia At The Crossroads |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | One of four selected presenters to speak on the topic "DESARROLLO AGRARIO Y CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO" (agricultural development and climate change) to an audience of students, academics, general public and online viewers from Bolivia and England. Presentation of work in Spanish to raise awareness of scientific collaborations with Oxford and the productivity of such relationships in the sector of agricultural development and climate change consequences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDVYT4Nux04 |
| Description | Research update presentation for SCI Horticultural society (Plumpton) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Research update presentation for the SCI Horticultural society at their AGM following a Travel Grant they'd awarded me in 2017 to show what overseas travel can inspire and the importance of giving young people such opportunities. I presented alongside and before several previous winners of the award, several recent recipients of the award and also to the wider members of the Society. They continue to invite me to meetings and help promote my research activities via Twitter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.soci.org/events/horticulture-group-agm-2018-and-david-miller-travel-bursary-award-presen... |