Improving wheat resilience through genetics

Nearly two decades of pre-breeding research has been conducted within the Defra-funded Genetic Improvement Networks. Andrew Blake reports on the latest work on wheat.

Improving wheat resilience through genetics

Genetic tweaks helping wheat to use nitrogen more efficiently have been one of the keys to raising yield and quality.

Prof Malcolm Hawkesford, head of the Designing Future Wheat Institute Strategic Programme at Rothamsted Research, says: “Since 2004 we’ve conducted field trials of more than 60 varieties to examine yield, quality and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) at various nitrogen rates.

“This unique dataset has given us insights into genetic and climatic trends including annual variability. For example, we’ve shown how recent higher yielding varieties can better use more N and hence have a higher NUE.”

The Genetic Improvement Networks, or ‘GINs’, were set up to bridge a gap between researchers and plant breeders, once described as a ‘valley of death’, by creating pre-breeding material having new profitable and sustainable characters.

WGIN4, the latest in a series of projects on wheat starting in 2003, aims to improve the resilience of the crop through genetics and targeted trait analysis, explains Rothamsted’s lead scientist, Prof Kim Hammond-Kosack.

“A third of our effort goes on developing new genetic resources,” she says.

This unique dataset has given us insights into genetic and climatic trends including annual variability

PROF MALCOLM HAWKESFORD

Germplasm

“This has involved purifying the Watkins wheat collection, never previously used in commercial wheat breeding, precise sexual crossing, and seed multiplication through generations in glasshouses and then small field plots.

“The new wheat germplasm arising is made available directly

The WGIN is creating wheat pre-breeding material with new profitable and sustainable characters.

from the researchers involved and via the Germplasm Resources Unit at the John Innes Centre.”

The material, free of intellectual property, may be used by all breeders.

Over the years, various methods have been used to place molecular markers on each of wheat’s 21 chromosomes in the new germplasm.

“This gives each genetic stock

WGIN advances

rAphids and BYDV A new bioassay testing wheat germplasm to distinguish between resistance to aphid feeding and resistance to BYDV is being piloted as a service to commercial wheat breeders.

rResistance to multiple pathogens and insect pests A promising new pre-breeding collection, based on a diploid wheat rarely used for modern wheat improvement, is to be evaluated by breeders. rRoot anchorage Varieties and individuals from populations showing strong root anchorage have been identified.

They are likely to be more resistant to lodging and their stronger, deeper root system may contribute to drought tolerance.

rSlug damage Seed of a line from the Watkins collection showing some resistance to slug damage is being distributed to selected farms for testing.

Although not providing funding, AHDB is involved throughout the project as a member of the WGIN management group, attending three meetings a year, with representatives from all UK-based breeding companies, Defra, NIAB and Bristol University.

rSpring drought Chromosomal regions from a drought-tolerant wheat are being introduced to a UK variety for field testing.

rYellow rust resistance Despite the UK/European population changing several times, one Watkins line remains fully resistant.

Subsequent analyses show this highly desirable trait is controlled by one or two dominant genetic loci and could be introduced into commercial wheats.

a unique fingerprint,” says Prof Hammond-Kosack. “These markers are also used for fine mapping the location of genes controlling each desired trait on the different chromosomes.”

The rest of the research effort goes on analysing various traits under four overarching challenges: rResilience: Resistance to slugs, BYDV*, septoria, yellow rust and take-all. rSustainability: Yield stability, spring drought, lodging* and stem anchorage*. rQuality and yield: Grain protein and specific weight*, nitrogen use efficiency and nutrient partitioning as affected by N input and disease*. rEfficiency: Enhancing nitrogen resource efficiency.

The analysis of various desirable crop traits is done by specialised teams or individuals using established and/or newly developed quantitative screening methods to detect variation in each desired trait, says Prof Hammond-Kosack.

“Sometimes the screening is by eye, but often it involves handheld devices, specially designed larger equipment, or analysing images collected by high specification drones.”

It had been hoped that WGIN4 would become more closely involved with the AHDB monitor and strategic farms.

“But farmers don’t have equipment to do small plot trials and WGIN researchers don’t have enough seed of promising lines to undertake field-scale trials,” says Prof HammondKosack. “So, the ‘valley of death’ remains but has shifted location.

WGIN-driven advances welcomed

JDefra should be commended for thinking ‘long term’ with all the GIN programmes, says Nicholas Bird, winter wheat research lead at KWS UK.

He says: “Breeding an improved wheat variety takes at least 10 years from the initial cross to farmers’ fields.

“Introducing novel genetic regions can double that. This is where long-standing investment in academic research with industrial involvement can really start to make a difference.

“The WGIN programme is a fine example of this; the industry welcomes the current research findings and is deploying them in breeding programmes.

“Given this year’s difficult growing conditions, which mirror 2020, the research into drought tolerance and rooting is timely; it should help future varieties cope with lower rainfall once the relevant genetic regions are deployed.”

Managing pests and diseases with fewer control options, either through legislation or reduced biological activity, is another area where WGIN can help, says Mr Bird.

“Research into novel germplasm collections showing promise against resistance in septoria, yellow rust, slugs and aphids should allow faster and more effective deployment into mainstream breeding activities.”

The work on nitrogen response has been positive for breeders, allowing them to show how they have been selecting varieties better placed to make use of that nutrient, he adds. “Using predictive breeding strategies means further advances should be possible.”

Results

“The Rothamsted stand at Cereals, JIC annual Plant Breeder days and the annual stakeholder meeting [currently held online] are great ways to see how we evaluate the new traits, see the latest results, and meet the WGIN scientists.” rTopics marked * are new for WGIN4. About WGIN4

rMarch 2018 – March 2023 (to be extended by one year due to Covid-19) rTotal: £1,698,677: Rothamsted Research, £995,050; John Innes Centre, £645,995. Subcontractors: Arbor Biosciences, Michigan, USA (DNA-RNA capture technologies), £28,452; Dovetail Genomes, San Diego, California USA, £14,332; Bristol University + Affymetrix, £13,056; NIAB – yellow rust wheat seedling screen, £1,790. rFor more information, visit wgin.org.uk

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Agchem store is fit for the future

Reducing the risk of pollution from spraying operations is a primary consideration when building or upgrading an agchem store. Jane Carley looks at one new development.

Bradford Farming is developing a new spray store at the heart of Bradford Estates, Shropshire, designed to service 2,000 hectares of arable land currently transitioning into a more sustainable system, with livestock, reduced cultivations and cover crops recently introduced.

The farmland is situated in the Shropshire Middle Severn surface water catchment and with salads, potatoes and cereals in its nine-year rotation, loss to water of crop protection products, nitrates and phosphates is of concern.

Partnership

A new partnership, Bradford Farming was established after a strategic review in 2019 and has brought the management of the farming business back in-house after a period in contract farming agreements.

Operations are centred at Woodlands Farm near Weston-Under-Lizard and carried out by four full-time staff, supported by harvest students.

Farms director Oliver Scott has pioneered a new machinery policy, with most of the fleet leased on short-term agreements for straightforward updating as technology advances. However, with liquid fertiliser as well as chemicals generating a yearround spraying workload, there is one notable exception.

Sprayer

He says: “We have bought a 6,000-litre, 36-metre boom Horsch Leeb trailed sprayer and JCB Fastrac 4220, plus an 18,000-litre Philip Watkins bowser.

“The sprayer will be stored, filled and washed down in a purpose-designed building, which will also house the chemicals.”

Funding from Severn Trent’s Steps scheme has been used to cover some of the costs of the spray store development and Mr Scott is looking at further projects to reduce the impact of

The sprayer will be stored, filled and washed down in a purposedesigned building

OLIVER SCOTT

Oliver Scott

A new spray store is part of a programme of developments by Bradford Farming in Shropshire which has recently taken its 2,000ha back in hand.

The sprayer is supported by an 18,000-litre Philip Watkins bowser.

Agchem store is fit for the future

PICTURES: PAUL CARLEY

Agchem store floor plan

JThe store features racking for chemical packs and IBCs for easy access at filling, a bunded floor draining to a tank which is then piped to the biofilter and the water inlet.

Washdown

Empty chemical packs will be stored outside in a covered skip, and the area behind this has been earmarked for a second washdown for use with the boom open.

Water runoff tank under skip Covered skip

Biofilter

Sprayer fill pipe Personnel door

Water tank

PPE

Racking for chemicals plus chemical IBCs

Additional racking

Health and safety notice board and chemical stock whiteboard

Roller shutter door Personnel door

Funding

JSevern Trent’s Steps scheme now offers up to £30,0001 match funding for farms in pesticide catchments wishing to upgrade their sprayer washdown and pesticide handling area.

The funding can be used to cover part of the cost of constructing a bunded washdown pad, roofing (or to roof an existing washdown area) and biobed or biofilter. The washdown area can be sited in a dedicated building which may also be used for pesticide storage.

Farms in the catchments can now apply for the funding at any time and will then receive a visit from an expert adviser to help plan the project. 1Where work is completed within six months.

Other water companies offering grant funding for spray filling area projects include: rSouthern Water southernwater.co.uk rThames Water thameswater.co.uk rAnglian Water anglianwater.co.uk

Grants for rainwater harvesting are also available under the Government’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

the estate’s agricultural activities on the environment.

The 18x10 metre steel structure will have extensive racking for chemical packs and IBCs, with the convenient location speeding up filling and reducing risks of spills when moving products from a separate store. A bunded X

MANUFACTURERS OF ON-FLOOR CROP STORAGE & DRYING EQUIPMENT SINCE 1974

 Hardwood & softwood floors for

combinable crops

 Air ducts for storage up to 4.0m  High level internal fan housing

Unique folded mesh design, exclusive to Challow Products, produces a near flush surface with minimal sweeping between crops

CHALLOW PRODUCTS (A trading division of Severn Valley Woodworks Ltd) Unit 7, Old Sawmills Road, Faringdon, Oxfordshire. SN7 7DS TEL: 01367 240091

While most of the machinery is leased, a large spraying workload has necessitated the purchase of a 6,000-litre Horsch Leeb sprayer and JCB Fastrac 4220.

concrete floor slopes to a drain at the rear, which is connected to a biofilter. Filtered water is then pumped to a holding tank for storage until it can be irrigated onto farmland.

A covered skip is being fabricated to accommodate empty spray packs for recycling, keeping rainwater out while freeing up space in the store.

“We have earmarked land at the rear of the store for a 36m wide washdown area for use with the spray boom open, so we can carry out all sprayer washing in one place and safely collect the liquid,” he says.

Spray water is currently piped from the mains, but Mr Scott is exploring the possibility of reusing filtered washings and harvesting rainwater from the roof areas of new buildings at Woodlands Farm, which include a large machinery store.

“With a growing population in the local area, demand for mains water will increase, and it makes sense for us to recycle water where possible.

“I would be keen to tap into expertise from Severn Trent to develop the washdown area to ‘best practice’ standards and we would then happily make it available for other farmers to visit. At the moment there is no defined standard to follow, so we are reliant on input from our construction contractors. For example, the store building would have been better with insulation, to avoid having to drain down the sprayer ahead of freezing conditions.”

Software

Store management is co-ordinated by arable manager Doug McCowan using web-based Muddy Boots software to give access to the team as a whole and linked to invoicing in the farm office.

All filling and mixing is carried out at the store, with the filled sprayer travelling out to the field where it is supported by the Watkins bowser.

The 18,000-litre unit, carried on a triaxle with flotation tyres, has been specified with a hydraulic jack for levelling to ensure complete emptying and has a molasses tank fitted to the front of the frame. Large lockers accommodate chemical packs and equipment.

“In combination with the 6,000-litre sprayer, this gives plenty of capacity for a day’s work,” says Mr Scott.

“We may also add a 150-litre induction hopper so the bowser operator can pre-mix to save time in busy periods.”

Demand for mains water will increase, and it makes sense for us to recycle water where possible

OLIVER SCOTT Chemical store construction

rThe Health and Safety Executive’s Agriculture Information Sheet No 16 (available to download from hse.gov.uk) offers detailed advice on siting and designing chemical stores.

This includes guidance on purpose-built stores, storage inside a larger building – which may also house the sprayer (Bradford Estates’ building is an example), converting a structure, such as a shipping container, or small-scale storage inside cabinets or chests.