Abstract
The UK government is committed to a more sustainable agriculture. Wheat is grown on a larger area and is more valuable than any other arable crop in the UK. The overall aim of this project is to generate pre-breeding material carrying novel traits to the UK breeding companies and to deliver accessible technologies thereby ensuring the means are available to produce new, improved varieties. An integrated scientific 'core' which combines underpinning molecular markers, genetic and genomic research, together with novel trait identification, are being pursued to achieve this goal. The generation and improving of specific resources and tools will include - Production of Near Isogenic lines (NILs) to permit detailed analysis of the physiological and molecular basis of key traits within a fixed genetic background - Further development of the Avalon x Cadenza mapping population to map new traits of interest - Detailed characterisation of the Paragon gamma and EMS mutagenised populations to associate chromosome regions and / or gene sequences to specific traits - Exploring specific traits of interest using the newly available AE Watkins collection as well as the Gediflux collection of historically important NW European wheats - Creating a new mapping population to assist the water use efficiency study and two further mapping populations to align the WGIN core project with the international wheat genome sequencing effort Targeted traits - Crop adaptation for climate proofing with special reference to determining the vernalisation requirements of elite genotype - Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) XXX - Characterisation of Quality QTLs linked to NUE which occur independent of total protein content in the harvested grain - A detailed exploration of the mechanisms underlying genotype variation drought tolerance and crop water use efficiency - Identification of wheat germplasm which confers either tissue based resistance to Take-all disease and / or ability to restrict soil inoculum build up in 1st wheat situations - Introgression of extreme resistance to Septoria leaf blotch from Triticum monococcum into hexaploid wheat - Exploring the Interconnections between the three soil based traits - Archiving of grain at low temperature from the main trait experiments over the 5 years to permit others to investigate key traits The procurement of one or more sub-contactor projects to enrich the research done within the network The project will be managed by a team including representatives of the key UK research groups and breeders. They ensure the project and its outputs are communicated to the wider scientific and end user communities, via a web site, a newsletter, a stakeholder forum, focused meetings and peer reviewed publications. The WGIN will collaborate with equivalent operations overseas to ensure the programme is internationally competitive.
United Kingdom