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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.

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.

RD-2004-2492 Investigating wheat functionality through breeding and end use (FQS23).
The completion of this project will better equip wheat breeders with the necessary tools to improve the quality of UK grown wheat, thus reducing the milling and baking industries' reliance on imports. It will also improve millers' ability to specify quality requirements for specific end uses.

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-2004-2957 The incorporation of important traits underlying sustainable development of the oat crop through combining 'conventional' phenotypic selection with molecular marker technologies (OATLINK).
The project aims to incorporate important traits underlying sustainable development of the oat crop through combining 'conventional' phenotypic selection with molecular marker technologies.

RD-2004-2976 Identification of genetic markers for lodging resistance in wheat.
This project aims to identify QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci) for stem and anchorage strength, which breeders could use to effect a step improvement in lodging resistance.

RD-2004-2979 Genetic Reduction of Energy use and Emissions of Nitrogen in cereal production GREEN grain (LK0959).
To improve the value of UK wheat for ethanol production and non-ruminant feeding, and to reduce costs of growing wheat for these and other markets.

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.