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15-IWYP -Wider and faster: high-throughout phenotypic exploration of novel genetic variation for breeding high biomass and yield in wheat

Reference	BB/N021061/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Erik Murchie
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Elizabete Carmo-Silva, Professor Ian Dodd, Professor Keith Edwards, Dr Michael Foulkes, Professor Ian King, Professor Julie King, Professor Tracy Lawson, Professor Martin Parry, Dr Kevin Pyke, Professor Christine Raines
Institution	University of Nottingham
Department	Sch of Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,010,158
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/04/2016
End date	30/09/2019
Duration	42 months

Abstract

Wheat's distant relatives provide a vast resource of genetic variation for potentially all agronomically important traits, including photosynthesis. However, only a fraction of the genetic variation available has been exploited in breeding programmes. The main reason for this has been the inability to detect and characterise genetic material (introgressions) from a wheat relative. However, in the BBSRC funded Wheat Improvement Strategic Programme (WISP), the Universities of Nottingham (UoN) and Bristol (UoB) in collaboration with Affymetrix, have developed an array (based on SNP markers) composed of 35,000 markers polymorphic between elite wheat and the ancestral and distant relatives we are working with. This technology, in combination with molecular cytogenetics, is for the first time enabling large-scale, high throughput production and detection of introgressed chromosome segments into the wheat genome. This genetic variation provides a focus for screening for improvement in a vital trait: leaf photosynthesis which in this case means the efficiency with which crop plants convert solar radiation into biomass and yield across a range of key environments. Promising properties have been identified in wild relatives and introgressed lines but the rate of screening for this complex trait must be speeded up. In a UK consortium (Nottingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Lancaster), we will operate a phenotyping cascade to move from high-throughput but low resolution (hundreds of wheat plants per day) to a lower throughput but biologically detailed physiological analysis of selected candidate lines. This will be fed to the field IWYPHUB analysis platform in CIMMYT, Mexico for final confirmation and genetic analysis to inform breeding. To do this we will utilise gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence alongside advanced genotyping tools in wild types and back crossed lines.

Summary

With the global population set to reach nine billion by 2050, there is an urgent need to increase food production by at least 60%. Wheat production has plateaued in many areas of the world due to a lack of novel genetic variation for agronomically important traits compounded by the effects of climate change. The lack of genetic variation in modern wheat is a direct consequence of significant genetic bottlenecks during its evolution. As a result, the amount of genetic variation for agronomically important traits available in wild ancestors and landraces of wheat is significantly greater than in present day elite varieties. In contrast to modern wheat, its distant relatives provide a vast resource of genetic variation for potentially all agronomically important traits, including photosynthesis. However, only a fraction of the genetic variation available has been exploited in breeding programmes. There is now recognition that improved grain yields of major crops require enhanced total dry weight production which must arise mostly from an improvement of radiation-use efficiency (RUE). Raising RUE requires a higher leaf and canopy photosynthesis rate and this remains an important target to underpin future yield progress. There is compelling evidence that C3 photosynthesis is not optimized for high biomass and moreover there is unrealized genetic potential. The fastest way to raise photosynthesis by genetic improvement in wheat is to seek existing variation in relevant traits that can be used for breeding and pre-breeding. This may represent new variation in photosynthesis that was either lost from the wheat genome during breeding or never present. Traits include (1) properties of Rubisco (2) regulation of Rubisco activity, (3) photoprotective processes (4) electron transport/ RuBP regeneration (5) photorespiration (6) canopy structure and distribution of photosynthesis and pigments (7) internal leaf and chloroplast morphology (8) stomatal responses (to soil and atmospheric water) and leaf water use efficiency. objective of the programme at Nottingham is to transfer small chromosome segments from related species which carry a target gene but lack any deleterious genes, into wheat. In this project we will generate, using wide crosses, landraces and existing cultivars, lines with substantial variation in their photosynthetic properties and use high throughput screening techniques to identify progeny with enhanced photosynthetic capacity and efficiency. We will investigate the genetic basis of the photosynthetic variation and with the IWYP HUB integrate these discoveries into a pre-breeding and breeding strategy. The programme will bring together a multi-disciplinary research team: UoN (wide crossing, wheat physiology, photosynthesis phenotyping), (UoB: Genetic marker analysis), University of Essex (UoE: novel photosynthesis phenotyping, Calvin cycle engineering), Lancaster University Environment Centre (LEC: whole plant carbon gain and water use, Rubisco engineering), CIMMYT (field phenotyping and genotyping).

Impact Summary

Our project clearly meets the International Wheat Yield Partnership's objectives of a transformational programme to enhance biomass production and yield in wheat and thus lead to large breakthroughs in genetic yield potential to improve food production in as short a timeframe as possible. To achieve this, we will coordinate key centres of excellence to create a 'UK virtual crop photosynthesis hub' for high throughput screening and analysis. We will meet all requirements o in particular uncovering new genetic variation in relatives and ancestors of wheat, novel optimized smart screens for photosynthesis. Short term: we will enhance capacity of IWYP hub, donating new introgression material with traits geared toward genetically conferred higher biomass and yield contributing toward the focus on genomic selection. Medium term: we will provide novel high biomass material with both a genetic and a physiological basis that will provide the breakthrough in genetic yield potential required. Long term: The genetic and physiological support provided will enable markers to be used for selection in the prebreeding and breeding phases to move toward farmer delivery.

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Crop Science, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) [2015]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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