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Crop Research

Cereal plant breeding and genetic traits

These ongoing projects relate to the work that HGCA has commissioned in relation to breeding and genetic traits in cereals and oilseeds.

Click on the titles for an upshot of the problem to be addressed, the aims, the approach and the benefits to the industry. Also will be attached the latest information in the form of Annual Project Reports (APRs) or Interim Reports.

Cereals

RD-2004-2956 Improved Resistance to Septoria in Superior Varieties (IMPRESSIV).
To apply new knowledge of the genetics of resistance to septoria to improve methods of selecting wheat varieties with greater resistance to septoria, enabling wheat breeders to improve the effectiveness of breeding for resistance to septoria tritici blotch. This will lead to the production of a steady supply of wheat varieties which have good resistance to septoria and are well-adapted to UK conditions.

RD-2004-3043 Association Genetics of Elite UK Barleys.
The aim of the project is to use molecular markers to genetically fingerprint elite UK barleys.

RD-2004-3128 Understanding evolution and selection of azole resistance mechanisms to septoria leaf blotch in the UK [LK0976]
To understand the genetic basis and evolution of resistance to azoles in the M. graminicola population and to use this knowledge to develop robust strategies to maintain the effectiveness of this important group of chemicals in crop protection.

RD-2005-3196 An integrated approach to stabilising Hagberg falling number in wheat: screens, genes and understanding (SA 326)
The aim of this programme is the delivery of screening systems and molecular markers that will lead to the development of new varieties of bread wheat with stable HFN and bread-making quality under variable weather conditions.

RD-2005-3233 Improving water use efficiency and drought tolerance in UK winter wheats
This project proposes to address breeders' short/medium term pre-competitive needs by providing the means for selection for water use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance.

RD-2006-3278 Delivery of Ppd1 tools and novel allelic effects useful to UK/EU wheat improvement
This project will help develop a pre-breeding platform at NIAB for the delivery of traits arising from academic research in pre-competitive UK varieties that can be accessed by commercial breeders.

RD-2005-3180 Nutritional quality of wheat for poultry; examination of factors responsible for variability (LK 0980)
Examines the importance of specific characteristics of wheat in the context of nutritional value to poultry and the environmental impact of poultry operations, in order to provide growers with guidance as to what constitutes wheat of optimum nutritional value.

RD-2006-3279 The potential to control insects and other organisms antagonistic to wheat by the up regulation of Hydroxamic acids 
To investigate the potential of the hydroxamic acids for pest control against insects, in particular aphids, and other antagonistic organisms in wheat.

RD-2008-3543 Exploiting novel genes to improve resource use efficiency in wheat
Project aims improve resource use efficiency (RUE) and reduce green house gas emissions by developing more tightly linked genetic markers and physiological understanding for Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) that increase yield without increasing lodging risk or the crop’s requirement for inputs.

RD-2008-3556 Harnessing new technologies for sustainable oat production and utilasation 
Project aims to employ state-of-the-art DNA marker technologies to develop marker toolkits associated with key traits that will increase the sustainable production and utilisation of oats appropriate for human and livestock consumption in the UK.

Oilseeds

RD-2004-3116 Breeding oilseed rape with a low requirement for nitrogen fertiliser (SAPPIO 00323) [LK 0979] 
This project aims to improve the viability of UK oilseed rape for biodiesel and food production by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, nitrate leaching and financial costs associated with growing the crop.

RD-2007-3356: Reducing the carbon footprint of the lubricants industry by the subsitution of mineral oil with rapeseed oil (LK0843) 
This project aims to investigate methods of reducing the oil PUFA content in oilseed rape varieties without substantially reducing cold tolerance and yield. Use this knowledge to develop a closed supply chain to extensively substitute fossil-derived oil for the lubricants industry.