Research supported by the Felix Cobbold Trust includes the following examples. Information on progress with any research or details of results can be obtained from the research leaders at the relevant research centre, not from the Trust.
Project: Developing methods to assess sugar beet pulp composition
Research leaders Matthew Stevenson, University of Reading, Industrial Placement Student under the supervision of Dr Belinda Townsend at Rothamsted Research - Broom's Barn.
Objectives of research To develop new assays for sugar beet using antibodies for detecting various cell wall components, which can be correlated with gene activity identifying markers to produce sugar beet with call walls whose properties make them more efficient for bioprocessing.
To provide extensive training opportunities for a biological sciences student develop the applied agricultural research skills.
Project: Improved management of light leaf spot in brassicas by exploiting resistance and understanding pathogen variation
Research leaders Prof Bruce D L Fitt, University of Hertfordshire. Dr Peter Gladders, ADAS Boxworth. Contact via b.fitt@herts.ac.uk
Objectives of research Light leaf spot has become an increasingly important problem on brassica crops in East Anglia and other parts of England in the last few years and now accounts for losses of £150M per year, despite use of fungicides, on oilseed rape crops in England, according to CropMonitor survey results. There are also losses on vegetable brassica crops, especially Brussels sprouts. This project exploits new information to improve brassica resistance against the light leaf spot pathogen Pyrenopeziza brassicae; the work will be of considerable benefit to agriculture in East Anglia and other parts of the UK.
(i) Project aim: To improve management of light leaf spot in brassicas by exploiting resistance and understanding variation in Pyrenopeziza brassicae, cause of light leaf spot
(ii) Project objective(s): 1. To identify variation in UK isolates of the light leaf spot pathogen P. 1. brassicae from oilseed rape and vegetable brassicas. 2. To investigate potential spread between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and 2. vegetable (B. oleracea) brassica crops (and vice versa). 3. To develop a differential set of B. napus/B. oleracea cultivars to identify 3. races of P. brassicae. 4. To identify sources of resistance in B. napus and B. oleracea for breeders. 5. To determine interactions between cultivar resistance, fungicide use and 5. yield/quality at field sites in England and Scotland.
Project: Genes that influence the cell wall structure of sugar beet roots
Research leader Belinda Townsend, Broom’s Barn Research Centre, supervising Troy Warman, Hertford University. Contact via belinda.townsend@bbsrc.ac.uk
Background Sugar beet is an attractive feedstock for bioprocessing to produce novel by-products, and ideally second-generation biofuel production by using waste pulp instead of extracted juice. This will become an important part of sustainably managing a reduced reliance on fossil fuels for transport and industrial products. Diversifying the market opportunities for sugar beet, will help to secure the future of this crop for the East of England.
The waste pulp generated as a result of sugar extraction from whole roots, is mostly dried for sale as a high-energy animal feed. Pulp contains some residual sugar but is mostly composed of the cell walls of the plant - a mixture of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectin – which are made up of a complex network of different sugars, which could be further exploited. The research used molecular genetics and biochemical approaches to identify key genes that impact the structure of the cell wall in sugar beet roots. Breeding targets can then be set to produce beet for sustainable and efficient bioprocessing.
The methods used in this research have been established as part of an earlier pump-priming project funded by The Chadacre Agricultural Trust in 2008.
Objectives of research 1. To understand the key genetic factors determining the structure and 1. composition of the cell wall in sugar beet roots – a potentially valuable 1. source of hydrocarbon feedstock for industrial processing. 2. To process tissue harvested from sugar beet roots grown in the field, for 2. analysis of gene expression and cell wall properties during development. 3. By tracking the genetic control of cell wall development, the research aims to 3. identify genes and markers that can be used by breeders to produce sugar 3. beet with cell walls whose properties make them more efficient for 3. bioprocessing applications. 4. To provide extensive training opportunities for a biological sciences student 4. to develop the applied agricultural research skills that will contribute 4. towards enhancing the utility of sugar beet crops in the future.
Project: The effect of landscape composition and cropping on the distribution and productivity of grey partridges on farmland in East Anglia
Research leader Dr Roger Draycott, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. Contact via rdraycott@gct.org.uk
Background Numbers of wild grey partridges have declined over the last 30 years for a number of well-documented reasons. However, populations do exist in some regions, particularly East Anglia. The grey partridge is now subject to a Biodiversity Action Plan, with the aim of halting the decline and restoring their previous range. Although still a gamebird, the primary motivation for the farmers in the project is for conservation; to restore the fortunes of an iconic farmland bird. The proposed research project will allow land managers to fine-tune habitats to provide maximum benefit to grey partridges and other wildlife.
Aims and Objectives 1. The aim of the study is to record locations of breeding pairs and family 1. coveys on a range of farms and explore the relationship between population 1. distribution and characteristics of crop 2. To collect new data to supplement existing long-term bird count datasets 2. and undertake spatial analyses within a Geographical Information System 2. (GIS) to relate measures of grey partridge population dynamics to a number 2. of landscape features at a range of sites in East Anglia.
The results provided information to farmers on how crop and habitat management may influence wild grey partridge numbers with potential additional benefits to other wildlife.
Project: Characterisation of a novel regulator in priming of plant defence against fungal and oomycete pathogens
Research leaders Dr Jurriaan Ton and Professor John Lucas, supervising Estrella Luna, PhD student. Rothamsted Research. Contact via jurriaan.ton@rothamsted.ac.uk
Background Environmental stimuli can sensitise the natural plant immune system so that it responds more quickly and effectively to subsequent attack by pathogens or insects. This so called priming of defence provides long-lasting and broad-spectrum protection against diseases and pests without major costs on commercially important traits, such as plant growth and seed set. A better understanding of the regulation of defence priming is required to fully exploit this natural plant immunity in disease control. Recently we have discovered a novel regulatory gene involved in the induction of priming by the chemical defence activator beta aminobutyric acid (BABA). This gene, called IMPAIRED IN BABA-INDUCED IMMUNITY1 (IBI1), encodes a protein (IBI1) involved in defence signalling.
Objectives of research The proposed project will focus on the biochemical characterisation of the IBI1 protein and its signalling role in plant defence against microbial pathogens. The research will provide novel insights into how plants regulate their immune system in response to threats in their natural environment. Since BABA-induced defence priming has been demonstrated to be effective against major crop diseases, such as potato late blight, the knowledge generated in this project will also provide new tools and approaches to improve the efficiency of sustainable crop protection against disease.
Project: Gamma Ray Sensing of Soil Properties
Research leaders Dr Thomas Mayr, Dr Ron Corstanje, Dr Jack Hannan, Cranfield University. Contact via t.mayr@cranfield.ac.uk
Background Cranfield University has one of the largest soil sample collections in the UK, providing a unique opportunity to establish the relationships between g-ray emissions and soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties.
Soil will emit Gamma (g) radiation as all soils contain small concentrations of stable isotopes. In soils, airborne g-ray spectrometry has been used mainly for high resolution mapping of soil properties such as soil clay or Mg content, but also an effective input for remote mapping of soil types.
Real time measurements of key soil properties such as soil organic matter, soil nutrient content, texture and other properties can be used to be more precise in fertilizer usage, optimum sowing density and other inputs needed for agricultural production, and to more accurately predict crop yields.
Objectives of research The objective of this research is to develop g-ray spectroscopy as an effective way to determine soil properties in real time ‘on the go’. This will require us to establish a mechanistic, process based understanding on which to base statistical models of inference of g-ray spectrometry signal from soils.
1. To establish a mechanistic basis in the relationships of g-ray spectrometry 1. signal with physical and chemical soil properties. 2. To assess the influence of field conditions such as soil water and other 2. environmental factors on the relationships of g-ray spectrometry signal with 2. soil properties. 3. Validation of the models relating g-ray spectrometry signal to soil properties.
