Award details

204j: Genome analysis at the nucleotide, gene and higher levels of expression in crucifers

Reference	BBS/E/H/00031418
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Graham King
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Warwick
Department	Warwick HRI
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	708,439
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/2000
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Brassica is the closest crop relative of the model dicotyledon species Arabidopsis. The vegetable brassicas represent the most significant sector of the UK vegetable market. The n=9 chromosomes of the C genome of Brassica oleracea are also significant, making up half of the AC genome of oil seed rape B. napus. The harvestable part of each crop type within the vegetable brassicas is distinguished by proliferation of different tissue or organs. Understanding the interaction of genetic and environmental factors affecting the rate and extent of development is of key importance to the horticultural industry in terms of maintenance and modulation of product quality, crop production and scheduling. The significance of replication (typically triplication) of loci in diploid Brassicas compared to Arabidopsis has yet to be elucidated in terms of temporal and developmental functional specificity, allelic redundancy and likely effects on expression of exogenous transgenes. The work focuses on gene families affecting key processes in development including meristem identity and organ proliferation. The work in Brassica oleracea is generic and will be applied to other horticultural crops The work constitutes fundamental research underpinning genetic improvement of vegetable crops, with emphasis on traits affecting quality, and rapid recovery of the unique crop morphologies during introgression of resistance genes within the generic genepool. It addresses the TF priorities under Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, which call for more investment in biotechnology, and the BBSRC response under the Agri-Food directorate for developing new protocols for gene characterisation. Identification of genes affecting key stages of development in vegetable crops. Isolation of plant promoters at defined developmental stages and responsive to environmental cues such as temperature. Markers for use in crop improvement, within introgression programmes between crop types, in recovery of crop type following transformation into rapid cycling brassicas, and selection of desirable alleles which confer stability in terms of prevailing environment. Genes and markers developed in the programme are of direct utility to the Brassica crop improvement community in selective breeding and introgression. Gene and promoter constructs may have direct benefits to crop improvement in conjunction with HRI clean- gene transformation programme. development of large-insert B. oleracea BAC library is being used in range of UK research projects. Isolation of promoters associated with homeotic genes is of direct interest to crop improvement companies.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
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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