Award details

Modification of secondary metabolism in forage crops by biotic and abiotic stresses.

Reference	BBS/E/G/00003390
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Phillip Morris
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
Department	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	172,150
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1999
Duration	24 months

Abstract

Transformed root and shoot cultures of Lotus corniculatus, and transformed root cultures of red and white clover, were previously shown to accumulate phenylpropanoid end products characteristic of the species, genotype and tissue from which they were derived.. These cultures therefore provide ideal experimental systems for both genetic modification of phenylpropanoid metabolism, and for studying regulation of primary and secondary metabolic pathways. The effect of environmental, and other abiotic as well as biotic stresses, on the regulation of secondary metabolism, will be studied, the aim of this work being to gain an understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors which determine the types and distribution of deleterious and beneficial secondary compounds in forage. The influence of abiotic and biotic stresses on the activation of genes of secondary metabolism will be determined in forage species in order to understand the mechanisms by which external stimuli modify carbon partitioning into secondary biochemical pathways. In particular stress induced modification of accumulation of antimetabolites such as oestrogenic isoflavonoids in red clover, condensed tannins in Lotus corniculatus, and flavonoid phytoalexins in red clover, white clover and Lotus plants, will be determined. Their role as possible chemical defence compounds in forage crops will be investigated. Progress in our understanding of the regulation of secondary metabolism in plants in response to environmental and other stresses will contribute to our wider understanding of the relationship between plants and other organisms (RO/1660600 M.K.Theodorou) and may help to explain patterns of herbivore utilisation of forage and the incidence of disease. By evaluating the role of secondary compounds in plant defence under different conditions, we may be able to devise genetic manipulation strategies for improving plant performance and contribute to improvement of raw material quality. Furthermore it is recognised that development of new varieties of crops to tolerate environmental changes may inadvertently introduce unacceptable levels of deleterious components into the crop, such studies may therefore contribute to plant breeding activities.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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