Award details

IWYP Call 2 - Speeding the adjustment of photosynthesis to shade-sun transitions to increase yield potential in the field

Reference	BB/S005072/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Elizabete Carmo-Silva
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Stephen Long, Dr Samuel Taylor
Institution	Lancaster University
Department	Lancaster Environment Centre
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	842,597
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	15/05/2018
End date	14/05/2022
Duration	48 months

Abstract

Improvement of photosynthetic efficiency is a major, and largely untapped, target for achieving the breakthrough sustainable crop yield increases needed to meet future food demand. Efforts to date have focused on increasing efficiency under steady-state (constant) conditions. However, in the field the light environment of every single leaf is constantly changing. A considerable increase in productivity could be achieved by accelerating the speed at which photosynthetic efficiency adapts to the rapidly changing light environment. We recently showed that slow adjustment of photosynthetic efficiency in the wheat flag leaf during shade-sun transitions, also known as photosynthetic induction, could cost 20% of potential carbon uptake over the course of a day. The overall objective of this project is to tap this unrealised potential by accelerating photosynthetic induction through breeding. To do so, we will utilize a high-throughput, leaf level, chlorophyll fluorescence screen to identify genetic variation in speed of photosynthetic induction among 200 wheat lines in the field at CIMMYT. Based on this screen, the 20 best lines will be selected for more detailed analysis to establish the relationship of photosynthetic induction with activation of the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco. To determine the suitability of wheat plants showing fast induction speeds for producing higher grain yields, we will evaluate field productivity of the 20 lines in multiple environments, in collaboration with partners at low and middle income countries. The main direct outcome of this project will be: photosynthetic induction-related traits included for the first time in the wheat breeding pipeline; lines with faster photosynthetic induction backcrossed into elite parents, and the developed high-throughput method for screening which will facilitate early generation selection to accelerate progress towards substantial grain yield increases.

Summary

Not applicable - please refer to the Case for Support.

Impact Summary

Not applicable - please refer to the Case for Support.

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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