Public Funding for Ragt Seeds Limited

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

Commercial production of wheat crops in the UK is currently highly dependent on timely applications of fungicides to optimise yield and the development of improved varieties by plant breeders with resilience to diseases and abiotic stresses. With recent advances in genetic marker technology, the bottleneck in predictive agronomy and wheat breeding is now in the ability to conduct field-based discovery and evaluation of traits (phenotyping) which are currently laborious, time consuming and inefficient. The project will develop canopy sensor phenomics platforms, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging systems, which will allow a high throughput and detailed evaluation of crop performance (i.e., early detection of biotic and abiotic stress). The high-throughput canopy sensors (ground-based and aerial) will be tested as decision tools and provide a step change in the efficiency of wheat predictive agronomy and breeding and a basis for improving wheat for UK farmers.

We aim to improve the sustainability of the high-protein co-product used for animal-feed, Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS), by using triticale as a biofuel feedstock. As well as having a favourable amino acid profile compared with wheat, recent research shows that triticale can out-perform wheat on high-yielding land with reduced nitrogen fertiliser requirements and improved environmental credentials. Triticale has never before been used as a UK biofuel feedstock, so we will: 1) Demonstrate cost & environmental benefits of triticale over wheat across contrasting environments; 2) Evaluate grain, alcohol & DDGS quality in the lab; 3) Optimise protein output; 4) Demonstrate market utility by processing triticale in a commercial plant. This project engages the whole supply chain including breeders, agronomy & research companies and a biofuel processor.

Take-all is one of the most important fungal diseases of UK winter wheat, with up to half the crop being affected with losses costing farmers up to £60m per annum. The disease causes root system damage, resulting in reduced water and nitrogen uptake, which impacts on both yield and quality. Current control measures are not 100% effective and include cultural practices and chemical control. Previous work at Rothamsted Research has shown that the varieties Avalon and Cadenza show differences in the amount of the take-all fungus left behind in the soil after harvest. This influences the inoculum available for infection of a second wheat crop. The genetic loci controlling this trait have been identified and the aim of this project is to utilise these results in developing varieties which resist take-all build up (TAB). The 1st objective will be to assess a further range of UK varieties and lines from the partners with respect to this take-all build-up phenotype. The 2nd objective will be to map the genetic loci further, using more lines from the Avalon x Cadenza WGIN mapping population. From this analysis we aim to map this trait more finely in order to give us diagnostic markers for use in marker-assisted selection (MAS). During this project, we will have selected varieties and advanced material for direct use in the market place which show this reduced TAB phenotype, giving added value to material currently entering registration. Development of UK varieties carrying this unique trait will benefit not only our companies, but also wheat productivity by increasing yields by up to 1.9m tonnes pa.

Arbuscular mycorrhizas are an ancient symbiosis between land plants and fungi in which the fungal partner provides the plant with inorganic nutrients from the soil in return for carbon fixed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. In addition there is increasing evidence that mycorrhizal fungi induce broad spectrum resistance against pathogens, so suppression of these associations by breeding and management practices may have lost the benefits of this symbiosis. Currently commercial wheat varieties have been selected to have very high yield potential and adequate disease resistance when grown in modern high intensive, short rotation systems. Positive selection for the ability to form a mycorrhizal association is therefore unlikely to occur. The project is investigating the differential responses of wheat cultivars to mycorrhizal colonisation that could provide a new source of resistance to pathogens. Once differential responses to mycorrhizal colonisation have been indentified, the genetic elements controlling responses will be genetically marked to enable the trait to be introduced into commercial germplasm.