Award details

(A) Development of new varieties of forage and amenity species for the United Kingdom

Reference	JRE10809
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Athole Marshall
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Mr David Hides, Dr John Valentine
Institution	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
Department	Plant Genetics and Breeding
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	58,886
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/03/1999
End date	01/09/1999
Duration	6 months

Abstract

IGER adopts an integrated multidisciplinary approach to research with developments in molecular and genetic technologies primarily funded through CSG feeding into plant programmes funded by MAFF and commercial partners (grasses and legumes Germinal Holdings and oats Semundo). IGER has successful plant breeding programmes in forage and amenity grasses, forage legumes and oats with over 35 varieties on the UK National and Recommended lists. The production of seed is a key phase in the development of improved plant varieties for sustainable agricultural systems, and to enable genetic material with novel traits to be incorporated into large-scale proof of principle studies. It involves the multiplication of the small quantities of seed of new varieties produced by the breeder (approx. 200 gms) to large quantities (500 kg to 2 tonnes) that can be used either for further research both within and outside IGER or for further multiplication for commercial exploitation by our commercial partner. This is achieved over several generations of seed multiplication and is a critical phase in variety development as mistakes or problems at this stage can jeopardise many years of careful plant breeding, leading to considerable waste of resources, prevent varieties being commercially successful and damage links with our commercial partners. The initial generations of seed multiplication are therefore vital to this process, requiring specialised machines suited for these species. The equipment must be reliable, accurate and robust yet easily cleaned to remove possible contaminants. At present we use two combines that are both over 18 years old, which are difficult to maintain, clean and so avoid contamination and which are therefore inefficient. Both of these machines require replacement if the current rate of variety development is to be maintained and to meet the commitment of IGER to research leading to the development of enhanced germplasm benign and sustainable systems of food production.

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	Joint Research Equipment Initiative 1998 (JE3) [1998]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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