Award details

A simple, genome-editable technology for inducing steeper, deeper root growth in crops

Reference	BB/S018824/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Stefan Kepinski
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Wendy Harwood
Institution	University of Leeds
Department	Ctr for Plant Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	200,784
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/09/2019
End date	28/02/2022
Duration	30 months

Abstract

unavailable

Summary

This project builds directly on a BBSRC grant and PhD project that resulted in the discovery of a single, dominant point mutation in a gene regulating root growth angle causing more vertical lateral roots in the model plant Arabidopsis. This mutation is in a region of the gene that is conserved across many plant species and has the potential to be used to alter root architectures of many important crops. Root traits have a direct bearing on crop productivity via water and nutrient uptake making them an ideal high-value target for breeding/ biotechnological approaches to crop improvement. It is known that steeper roots improve water and nitrogen uptake in crop species, potentially increasing yields from lower input farming and under sub-optimal climate and soil conditions. This project will translate our findings into wheat as a proof of concept study in crops. Obtaining this proof of concept will provide vital data for patent filing and subsequent commercial exploitation.

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Crop Science, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Follow-On Fund (FOF) [2004-2015]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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