Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high protein forage legume which can be grown across the UK. Its usage has declined in recent years due to susceptibility to Sclerotinia and stem nematode, soil borne pathogens for which there is no chemical control. This project will apply molecular techniques to introgress resistance to Sclerotinia and stem nematode into elite red clover germplasm and advance this material to a stage where it can be multiplied for commercial production. Significant advances have been made in the development of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties with high levels of water soluble carbohydrate (HSG), a trait which has been shown to improve protein utilisation by ruminants by up to 24%. However HSG is associated with a lower than acceptable seed yield which makes seed crops of HSG varieties a less valuable crop for seed producers to grow than other grass varieties which limits its uptake "on-farm". Molecular markers associated with improved seed yield will be used to develop improved HSG germplasm that will be evaluated for forage yield and quality as well as seed yield in small plots and in field plots in the commercial seed growing areas of the UK. From these tests, lines with the best combination of agronomic and reproductive traits will be advanced for larger scale evaluation and commercial development.

Lupins, as a high protein, high energy, nitrogen-fixing grain legume, are the only UK crop with a protein and oil composition that can effectively compete with imported soya and provide a comparable UK-grown vegetable protein source for farmed animals. Through innovative approaches to breeding, agronomy, feed processing and nutrition we will develop the market for yellow and narrow leaf lupins as sustainable protein sources for UK agriculture and aquaculture. We will employ three approaches focussing on: Germplasm Improvement and Variety Testing; Agronomy; and Livestock. The Livestock workpackage will comprise three strands: poultry; aquaculture; and ruminants. The project will develop ways to overcome technical and economic barriers and provide incentives for lupin use in terrestrial and aquatic farm animal production.

This project will utilise modern marker assisted breeding methods to develop lines of oat resistant to crown rust and mildew fungal diseases safeguarding the use of this important crop. Innovative aspects include the genetic dissection of resistance mechanisms identified in certain oat genotypes and the use of syntenic relationships with a model plant species to identify genes and markers associated with resistance. Following introgression of the resistance genes into elite germplasm the resulting lines will be tested in the field for pathogen resistance and agronomic performance. The project addresses concerns raised by 91/414/EEC that inexpensive triazole fungicides currently used in oats will be deregistered. Development of genetic resistance offers the only economically viable solution in oats to prevent losses in crop yield and quality due to these diseases which are becoming more prevalent in the UK due to global climate change. Economic benefits include the maintenance and enhancement of the UK oat area, a crop with significant benefits to producers of healthy food products, animal feed manufacturers and industrial processors, while the use of environmentally damaging fungicides will be rendered unnecessary. The project brings together the major UK company producing and marketing oat seed (Senova Ltd), the major UK institute engaged in arable crop evaluation and crop pathology (NIAB), the major UK oat breeding and genetics research organisation (IBERS, Aberystwyth) and a large farmer member based organisation engaged in crop evaluation and technology transfer (TAG) in a consortium which has the skills and commercial experience to deliver the project outcomes.

There is a close link between the rotational intensity of OSR, reduced yield and the presence of novel pathogens. Results clearly demonstrate Koch’s postulates for both Olpidium brassicae and Pyrenochaeta sp, and the impact of Pyrenochaeta sp on growth of oilseed rape. This project brings together novel molecular pathogen detection methodology with industry led variety screening, agronomic research and knowledge transfer capability. Specific activities in the technical approach include a combination of sampling of commercial and, field trials (both variety and fungicide/biological control agent) with appropriate sampling, assessment and data collection, and lab based qPCR analysis of samples. This project builds on existing primary research but covers areas not previously investigated. Innovative aspects will include the assessment of varietal tolerance to novel soil pathogens to unlock yield improvements of OSR. The control work will provide detail of techniques to alleviate the problem.Recent development of qPCR detection methods will facilitate this project enabling direct comparisons of pathogen levels in roots. The project builds on existing expertise to develop novel plant breeding and agronomy based solutions (opening up new markets) to address the emerging issue. These routes are suitable for developing a new robust IPM based strategy for dealing with these novel pathogens and increasing oilseed rape yields.