VISITOR GUIDE 2016

1VISITOR GUIDE 2016

CONTENTSIntroduction 1

Promoting the power of plant genetic innovation 2

In the glasshouse 3

Temperate crops 3

Tropical crops 6

Genetically modified crops 9

In the field 10

Herbage and forage 11

Field demonstration map 14

Field exhibits (continued) 16

Herbage and forage (continued) 16

Cover crops 17

Environmental mixes 18

Wheat Genetic Diversity 20

Boxes 23

Willow and miscanthus 24

Sophi Taylor Garden 26

Partners and Exhibitors 27

NIAB 29

NIAB Innovation Farm is a unique physical showcase of agricultural and horticulturalactivity, with particular focus on plant genetic improvement, working with academicsand industry to utilise, develop or produce plant-derived or plant-based materials.

Our central objective is to show how plant resources and crop genetic improvementcan help address the major global challenges of sustainable use of resources,climate change, food security and provision of high quality food to enhance healthand nutrition.

THE FOUR CHALLENGES

Agriculture and food production face enormous challenges in the years ahead.NIAB Innovation Farm demonstrates how crop genetic improvements can addressthe issues of:

INTRODUCTION

Food securityThe need to increase global food supplies through sustainablemanagement of resources to keep pace with the demands of agrowing world population; to provide food that is affordablenutritious and safe.

Sustainable resourcesAgriculture and food production face enormous challenges in theyears ahead. Solutions must be achieved using less land and feweror less expensive resources; including for example water, nutrientand crop protection amendments, agronomic management (such assoil preparation) and pre or post harvest crop processing.

Climate changeUnknown changes in weather patterns and seasonal temperatureswill impact on both crops and other organisms that interact withthem, such as new or altered levels of pests and diseases. Growerswill have to understand and deal with these biotic and abioticfactors to maintain production of existing crops or perhaps toswitch to new ones.

Health and nutritionConcerns over food safety and the need for more variety and morehealthy nutritious food have driven innovation in quality standards.The demands of both consumers and the food and drink processorshave led to many changes in recent years. Innovation is needed toprovide nutritional security on top of food security; through forexample, higher or more balanced nutrient content, reduced toxins,improved digestibility and a longer growing season for key crops.

32

In the context of these Key Challenges, our exhibits and events considerprogress in improving:

• Crop or final product yield

• Crop, food Product quality

• Disease susceptibility or resistance

• Importance or impact of seasonality

• Diversity and biodiversity

• Aspects of performance

• Resource use efficiency

• Ecosystem services

Why get involved with NIAB Innovation Farm?

• Genetic innovation, and translation into practice, is key to addressingsocietal challenges

• One-stop-shop for understanding and demonstrating innovation

• Proven platform with wide engagement

• Industry, policy maker and grower audiences

• Easy access to experts (research to industry)

• Source of collaborators

How to get involved with NIAB Innovation Farm

• Provide a plant genetic innovation for a field or glasshouse exhibit

• Sponsor a specialist themed event

• Register as a delegate to attend an event

• Use our facilities to host an event

To discuss these opportunities or research and innovation e-maillydia.smith@niab.com

PROMOTING THE POWER OFPLANT GENETIC INNOVATION

VISITOR GUIDE 2016

TEMPERATE CROPS

STRAWBERRY (Fragaria x ananassa)

Variety: Malling™ Centenary

Funders: East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club (EMSBC),AHDB Horticulture, private companies

Supplier: NIAB EMR

The national programme for strawberry breeding has been based at East Malling since1983 and has successfully released 39 varieties. Malling™ Centenary was released in2012 and showed significantly improved flavour. It is a June fruiting variety with goodoverall fruit quality; firm, attractive, regular shaped berries, with good flavour. Brix andshelf life scores are good and berries appear to retain their gloss and shine afterstorage. In strawberry variety trials, it achieves good scores for appearance, flavour,firmness and shelf life.

SOYA (Glycine max)

Supplier: Sean Morris

Originally from East Asia, with early evidence of domestication in China dating toaround 9,000 years ago, soya is now widely cultivated, particularly in Brazil and theUnited States. Locally adapted soya cultivars are collected by gene banks for use inbreeding new soya varieties; collected for physical characteristics and potential fordisease resistance. Breeding by this supplier focused on development of a variety thatis better adapted to the cool UK climate, one of the key issues with potentialcultivation of soya in the UK.

GROWING MEDIA TESTING

Amateur and professional growers have seen considerable development of growingmedia in recent years, especially peat-free or reduced-peat content. NIAB EMRundertakes media testing research to quantify new products and their utility on arange of species. Plant growth is tested in a range of conditions. NIAB InnovationFarm is demonstrating five types of growing media using pansies, pak choi andchinese celery.

IN THE GLASSHOUSE

54 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

TRAINING A NEW GENERATION OF PLANT SCIENTISTSCOMREC – EU-funded Marie Curie ITN project led by Birmingham University

The global population is predicted to reach nine billion by 2050. It is anticipated thatfood production needs to increase by at least 50% to meet the demand arising fromthis increase in population. This will require a sustained improvement in crop yield.The nature of this challenge is exacerbated by the likely impact of climate change.These factors combine to make food security one of the key challenges for thiscentury.

To deliver improvement and sustainability in crop production it will be necessary toharness broad spectrum approaches and crop improvement will be crucial and a majorpart in the delivery of this. Despite the central role played by meiosis (cell division) incrop production we are remarkably ignorant as to how the process is controlled incrop species. For example, it is not known why recombination in cereals and foragegrasses is skewed towards the ends of the chromosomes such that an estimated 30-50% of genes rarely, if ever, recombine; thereby limiting the genetic variation that isavailable to plant breeders.

Over the past 15 years, many studies in Arabidopsis, by the COMREC consortium andothers, have provided both insights into the control of meiosis in plants and generatedtools to analyse this process in crop species. This demonstration shows tomatoes andbarley from the COMREC Project. This project aims to translate this knowledge,training a new generation of young scientists who will gain the expertise tounderstand and develop strategies to modify recombination in crops. A fullconference will be hosted at NIAB Innovation Farm in 2017.

BARLEY (Hordeum vulgare)

Partner: James Hutton Institute

The Oregon Wolfe Barley (OWB) population is a resource for understanding theimportance and use of genetic diversity in barley. The population was developed atthe Oregon State University from a cross between two morphological marker stocksthat were vital for genetic mapping before molecular DNA markers. The populationsegregates for a range of characters including ear structure and colour but there is alimit to the number of characters that can be scored in any one plant unlike thenumber of markers now available with the molecular genetic fingerprinting nowpossible in this crop.

COMREC researchers are interested in developing means of changing the patterns ofinheritance shown by barley that can be a problem for breeders. For instance, in thispopulation plants that have naked (unhulled) grains often also have short awns due tothe position of the genes that determine these characters. They also want to changethese inherited relationships by influencing the patterns of recombination thatunderpin them.

TOMATOES (Lycopersicon esculentum)

This crop is being considered by COMREC partners; in particular Rijk Zwaan isinterested to determine whether alterations in the patterns of recombination at meiosiscan lead to more varieties with a range of morphological and nutritional attributes. Arange of varieties are seen here to demonstrate the type of attributes beingconsidered.

Variety: RUGANTINO RZ Partner: Rijk Zwaan

A beef tomato of the ‘Cuor di Bue’ division, that translates as ‘ox heart’. This varietyhas good resistance to Tomato Mosaic Virus (TMV), resistance to strains 0,1,2; Fulviafulva (ex Cladosporium fulvum) (FF); Fusarium (wilting disease) (FWD); Fusarium (footrot) (FFR); Stemphylium botryosum f. sp. lycopersici (SB); and some Verticillium spp.(V).It has an average fruit weight of 200-250 g.

Variety: MONTENEGRO (74-669 RZ)

Traditional Spanish style greenback beef tomato; its fruit is harvested at the pink starstage. It has good resistance to TMV, FF, FWD, ST and V. It has an average fruit weightof 180-230g.

Variety: HIBACHI RZ

A fine truss tomato bearing pink fruit, it has good resistance to TMV, tomato spottedwilt virus (TSW), FF, FWD, FFR, and V. It has an average fruit weight of 100g.

Variety: LYTERNO RZ

A fine truss which starts producing fruit early, this variety has a high lycopene content,with an average fruit size of 100-110g. It has resistance to TMV, FF, FWD, FFR and V.

Variety: CONFETTO RZ

A red blocky plum variety with small fruits (averaging 14-16g) and resistant to TMV,FWD and SB.

Variety: PARESO (72-126 RZ)

A red blocky plum variety with small fruits (averaging 14-16g) and resistant to TMV,FWD and SB.

Variety: SECURITAS (72-625 RZ F1)

A red beef variety with fruits averaging 260-270g in weight and good resistance toTMV, FF, FFR, and V.

Variety: 72-192 RZ

A deep red coloured cherry tomato, with fruits averaging 18/20g in weight andresistance to TMV, FWD, and V.

Variety: 72-245 RZ

A red fruited variety, averaging 100g in fruit weight and resistance to TMV, FF, FWD,FFR, and V.

Variety: PAPELETTO RZ (72-165)

A red blocky variety with fruits averaging 45-50g in weight and good resistance toTMV, FWD, FFR and V.

76 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

TROPICAL CROPSNIAB Innovation Farm provides a venue for demonstrating research and innovation intropical crops and will concentrate especially on crops in parts of Asia and Africa thatare subject to heat, drought and concomitant food shortages. Utilisation of diverseplant genetic resources, including ancestral parents of crop plants are themes ofparticular importance.

INTERNATIONAL MAIZE AND WHEAT IMPROVEMENT CENTRE (CIMMYT)

CIMMYT is a member of the CGIAR consortium of 15 agricultural research centres, andleads the CGIAR Research Programs on Maize and Wheat. It holds a large germplasmbank, with over 27,000 unique seed collections of maize. CIMMYT develops anddeploys maize germplasm with high yield, stress resilience and nutritional quality. Theproduct development team focuses on developing germplasm with tolerance todrought, heat, poor soil fertility, waterlogging, acidity, diseases, insect-pests andparasitic weeds, in partnership with an array of public and private institutions.

The CIMMYT maize bank includes the world’s largest collection of maize landraces –varieties developed by farmers over decades, centuries or even millennia – along withsamples of maize’s wild relatives, teosinte and Tripsacum, and of improved varieties.

MAIZE (Zea mays)

Accessions: Toluca 8786, Salpor x Cacahuacintle, Tlax 88 Pool 3a Tol, CompuestoCacahuacintle, Mexi 314, Toluca 8889, Poblac 920 C3, Pool 1a Tol, Mexi55, Comp. Conico Palomero Tol, Pool 7a Batan

TEOSINTE (Zea mays subsp. mexicana and Zea mays subsp. parviglumis)

Accessions: MGB-Cl 20, MGB-Cl 19, JSG 319, T.K.R. 93-2, W.S. 92-11,W.S.T. 85-3, K 69-14, B 72-1, W 71-1

Teosinte is native to Northern America and Mexico. It is the primary genetic relative ofmaize which was first domesticated from teosinte approximately 10,000 years ago.During the process of domestication, changes in phenotype occurred, resulting indramatic differences between maize and teosinte.

To date, many important developmental genes that contribute to the maize phenotypeas well as genes that were potentially selected for during domestication have beenidentified.

One of the major breeding goals undertaken at CIMMYT is to utilise genetic diversity inthe teosinte collection to improve cultivated maize accessions. The samples on displayare from Z. mays subspecies mexicana and parviglumis. Generally, the subsp. mexicanagrows in high mountainous places and is usually short in habit. Subsp. parviglumisgrows in lowland parts of Mexico and is generally taller – up to five metres.

FOXTAIL MILLET (Setaria italica)

Accessions: SIT0075 (India), SIT0197 (China), SIT0298 (Nepal), SIT0627 (Spain)

Partners: University of Cambridge, European Research Council, BBSRC, Royal Society

Suppliers: ICRISAT, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPKGatersleben), National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (Japan), AndrésTeira Brión

Millet is one of the most drought-tolerant of all staple food crops, often able to grow inareas subject to both prolonged water shortage and poor fertility. Consequently it isimportant to understand its potential for improvement and how the influence of selectionprocesses since domestication has influenced genetic diversity, development and use.

Foxtail millet originated in northern China around 10,000 years ago. It is well-adapted tosemi-arid climates and has a short summer growing season. It is an important staple inEast and South Asia, and widely grown elsewhere as a fodder crop and for the birdseedmarket. It shows wide variation in time to flowering, and the recent completion of itssequenced genome is enabling characterisation of the genetic network that regulates thisimportant trait.

PROSO (BROOMCORN) MILLET (Panicum miliaceum)

Partners: University of Cambridge, European Research Council, BBSRC, Royal Society

Suppliers: USDA-ARS GRIN, Vavilov Research Institute

Lines: MIL-16 Mongolia, MIL-17 Mongolia, MIL-18 Mongolia, MIL-4 Kyrgyzstan,MIL-48 Russia, MIL-67 NE China.

Broomcorn millet has the highest water-use efficiency and shortest growing season of anyof the world's cereals. It originated in the foothills of northern China some 10,000 yearsago. Its ecological tolerance made it an ideal pioneering crop in the harsh climate ofCentral Asia. It crossed through the Inner Asian mountains and routes that later becamethe 'Silk Roads' to reach Europe, where it complements winter cereals as a short-seasonsummer crop.

GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea)

Suppliers: ICRISAT

Lines: ICG 6033, 7794, 7898, 10884

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is aninternational non-profit organisation that undertakes scientific research for development.Groundnut is one of the six mandate crops being considered by ICRISAT (the others aresorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, chickpea and pigeonpea). Groundnut is grown on 22million ha worldwide, primarily in developing countries. This species has benefited fromICRISAT developed breeding materials with the release of 138 improved cultivars.Drought tolerance as well as improved resistance to bacterial wilt is providing positivebenefits to growers.

Ignored for nearly half a century in Asia and Africa, new research – much of it involvingfarmer groups working in isolated rural areas – is prompting a re-examination of thepriority accorded to this important food and forage crop. Rich in protein and edible oil,groundnut is central to the financial and nutritional well-being of hundreds of millions offarmers and consumers across the semi-arid tropics. Nutrition experts point out thatgroundnut provides over 30 essential nutrients and is an excellent source of niacin, fibreand vitamin E.

98 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

TROPICAL VINE (Cryptolepis sanguinolenta)

Partner: University of Ghana

Description: Tropical vine produces compounds in its roots that have anti-malarialproperties. Many previous treatments have failed in recent years due todevelopment of resistance by the causal organism. In 2015 an estimated214 million cases of malaria globally, led to 438,000 deaths 90% of whichoccur in Sub-Saharan Africa – and 70% of deaths are children under five.

The vine is difficult to propagate through seed. This exhibit is part of athree month project undertaken by a visiting Fellow from the Universityof Ghana, carrying out tissue culture tests to investigate alternativepropagation methods.

COCOYAMS (Araceae)

Description: From the family Araceae, Cocoyams are grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions, particularly in West Africa. Cocoyams store well; thecorms are high in starch (typically 25% wet weight), and althoughextremely acrid when raw, are used commonly as soup thickeners.Increased exploitation of cocoyams as a food resource will be partlydependent on successful selection of high yielding lines and germplasmexchange between producing countries to increase the genetic base.

HENNA (Lawsonia inermis)

Supplier: Kings Seeds

Description: As a dye crop, Henna contains lawsone, a reddish-orange dye that hasbeen used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, and fingernails, as well asfabrics including silk, wool, and leather and is also used in temporarytattooing. It is also associated with beneficial treatment of dandruff andother scalp conditions.

SWEET POTATO (Ipomea batatas)

Description: Sweet potato is a member of the Convolvulacae family, and grows as anherbaceous perennial vine. It is thought to have originated in eitherCentral or South America, but the largest producer now is China.Although its leaves and shoots are also edible, most sweet potatoes aregrown for their tuberous roots, which are a source of complexcarbohydrates (it has a lower glycaemic index than potato), as well asdietary fibre and vitamin A.

ALOE VERA

Description: Aloe vera plants use Crassulcaean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which is anadaptation to high temperature and low water levels. The CAM pathwayallows the plant to close its stomata during the day (when at the highestrisk from excessive water loss). CO2 is taken up by leaves during thenight, stored as Crassulacean Acid, and then fed into the photosynthesisreaction in the day when it is light. This crop has been the subject ofresearch at the University of Cambridge Plant Sciences department. It isused in many cosmetic and skin care products due to its beneficialproperties.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS

WHEAT (Triticum aestivum)Partners: NIAB, BBSRC, Fera

This project is investigating the interactions of hexaploid wheat with the ergot fungusClaviceps purpurea. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis of ergot sclerotia size frominoculated field trials at NIAB suggested that the Reduced Height loci (Rht) onchromosomes 4B and 4D were implicated in reducing ergot sclerotia size, suggesting thatthe giberellic acid pathway was involved. Rht mutants have defective DELLA proteinsmeaning they are insensitive to GA and it has been postulated that somehow this hamperedthe ability of the fungus to colonise the floral tissue as effectively. To follow this up atransgenic approach was used, with the NIAB transformation team producing wheatexpressing the GA2Ox gene specifically in ovule tissue (which acts to rid tissues of activeGAs) and has positive preliminary results.

Partners: NIAB, University of Sheffield

NIAB, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, is attempting to reduce crop waterloss by producing transgenic wheat with fewer stomata. Stomata are microscopic pores onthe leaves of plants through which gas exchange occurs between the plant internalenvironment and the surrounding air. CO2 is taken in for photosynthesis through stomata,whilst water is lost. The laboratory in Sheffield has already demonstrated that reducingstomata number is an effective approach to improving water-use efficiency using the modelplant Arabidopsis thaliana. NIAB is now investigating whether this will hold true in a cerealcrop by determining whether it is possible to reduce water loss, whilst maintaining seedyield and quality.

Partners: NIAB, Wageningen University and Research CentreFunder: EU ITN Marie Curie EID PhD MAX-CROP

This project is investigating the potential to use non-host resistance in barley as a source ofdurable resistance to wheat powdery mildew Blumeria graminis f. sp. triticeae (BGT) inhexaploid wheat. Two barley genes (coding for receptor-like kinases) have been shown toconfer resistance to BGT in a transient assay. These two genes have been isolated andtransformed into hexaploid wheat to investigate whether they can be used as a durablesource of resistance in wheat to BGT. GM lines have been tested for their response to BGTand have shown a reduction of established microcolonies. These preliminary results will becorrelated with transgene expression studies.

Partners: NIAB, Wageningen University and Research CentreFunder: Marie Curie 7th Framework Programme

Use of CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutagenesis to remove immunogenic epitopes from alpha-gliadin genes in order to render bread wheat consumption safer for people suffering fromcoeliac disease. Wheat grains contain gluten proteins. Among them, alpha-gliadin proteinsare encoded by large gene families located on the short arm of chromosomes 6A, 6B and6D. Fragments of these proteins can be recognised as antigens by the human immune-system after wheat consumption. This reaction can lead to destruction of the small intestine,which is commonly known as Coeliac Disease.

To tackle this issue, the modern wheat cv Fielder has been transformed with CRISPR/Cas9constructs customised to specifically cut the alpha-gliadin genes. This process aims to alterthe alpha-gliadin gene sequences in order to modify the protein fragments and thusprevent their recognition by the human immune-system.

IN THE FIELD

1110 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

A plan of the field exhibits and demonstration plots is shown on pages 14 and 15

CHIA (Salvia hispanica)

Partner: Fairking Ltd

Description: Chia is an edible seed that comes from the plant Salvia hispanica, usuallygrown in Central and South America and dating back to Mayan and Azteccultures. Chia seeds are now recognised to have several probioticattributes to improve human nutrition and health. They are a concentratedsource of omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, antioxidants,and calcium.

GRASS PEA (Lathyrus sativus)

Supplier: NIAB, JIC, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, BenchBio

Description: Grass pea offers an excellent opportunity for sustainable agriculture andfood security; it is a legume and performs well in marginal soils or underharsh climatic conditions. It is grown for seed and fodder production inmany countries, including large parts of India, Europe and China. It is a lowinput crop, a cheap source of protein and is particularly tolerant todrought, water logging, and moderate alkalinity.

However, grass pea can cause a devastating disease called neurolathyrism,believed to be due to its content of beta-N-oxalyl-l-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP). This neurological disorder is irreversibleand occurs when people are dependent on the crop as a major foodsource. Grass pea can also inhibit growth in animals when used as feed.This project is using germplasm and existing mutant populations as novelresources for the rapid identification of mutations offering improved cropcharacteristics via a non-GM route. The objective of this ‘detox’ project isto develop modern genomics tools and resources for rapid domesticationof grass pea to remove ODAP and provide a non-toxic, stress tolerantlegume for food and fodder. It is also investigating why grass pea hasimproved stress tolerance compared to other legumes, with the objectiveof using this fundamental insight to improve stress tolerance in UKlegumes, such as pea.

SOYA WITH MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

Partners: NIAB, Legume Technology Ltd and PlantWorks Ltd

Varieties: Brunensis and Naya, supplied by Soya UK Ltd

Description: Legumes such as soya (Glycine max) are normally planted with rhizobiumbacterial inoculum. However, pilot studies show they are may also respondpositively to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi (rootgrow™). Mycorrhizalfungi are well documented in their ability to unlock and transportphosphorus and water into plants, and have increasingly been associatedwith significant effects of transporting nitrogen and zinc to the plant host.Mycorrhizal fungi can develop an effective secondary root system able toefficiently liberate and transport soil nutrients to the host root system,whilst offering improved soil stability and increased resistance to stressand disease.

HERBAGE AND FORAGE

FESTULOLIUM

Partner: IBERS

Festulolium is a hybrid resulting from a cross between perennial ryegrass lines and arange of related Festuca species, producing a grass with stress resistant characteristics.The hybrid crop provides better agricultural grasslands and a range of importantenvironmental benefits; including, more efficient water and nutrient use than currentryegrass cultivars; effective long-term carbon sequestration; good soil hydrology andflood control; and enhanced soil stabilisation.

ITALIAN RYEGRASS X GLAUCOUS FESCUE(Lolium multiflorum x Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens)

Developed for productive forage with greater drought resilience than Italian Ryegrass,especially in the second year. The hybrid combination has been shown to enhanceruminant nutrition and nitrogen utilisation and reduce environmentally damaging diffusenitrogen pollution by livestock. The fescue species, which are native to upland grasslandsin Mediterranean regions, are thought to have evolved protein protective measuresagainst high temperatures equivalent to those found in the rumen. This characteristic mayassist in the stabilisation of protein within the grass. Once ingested as forage the proteinis less readily degraded in the rumen and ‘escapes’ to the intestine where it is availablefor conversion into animal protein.

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS X GLAUCOUS FESCUE(Lolium perenne x Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens)

A hybrid combination with good drought tolerance and ruminant nutrition; it is very hightillering and prostrate, with deep root systems that may increase carbon sequestration.

ITALIAN RYEGRASS X ATLAS FESCUE (Lolium multiflorum x Festuca mairei)

Combines the high forage yield and quality of Italian Ryegrass with the fescue’s toleranceto extreme drought. The combination of fescue and ryegrass provides high forage yieldswith good dry matter digestibility and water soluble carbohydrate content.

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS X ATLAS FESCUE (Lolium perenne x Festuca mairei)

A prostrate Festulolium that resembles Lolium perenne x Festuca arundinacea var.glaucescens in growth habit, forage quality, and yield. A useful alternative, and mayprove more effective, to the Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens equivalent undercertain environmental conditions. The hybrid is expected to be highly resilient to variousstresses and persistent and tolerant to extreme drought.

HERBAGE SEED PRODUCTION

Supplier: Germinal Holdings

Funder: Herbage Technical Levy Fund, National Farmers Union (NFU)

UK herbage seed production supplies a growing demand for UK sourced forage mixturesand amenity grasses. Good margins can be achieved, with the added advantage of twocrops from a single sowing, additional value in grazing and hay crops, and theopportunity to use different herbicide chemistry on some of the difficult weeds in thearable rotation. NIAB TAG carries out a unique programme of agronomy research fundedby the voluntary Herbage Technical Levy and the NFU. The plots demonstrate some ofthe research findings that have now been translated to commercial crops: AberChoice,AberGain and AberNile.

1312 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

REED CANARY GRASS (Phalaris arundinacea)

Supplier: Oakbank Game & Conservation Ltd

This tall, perennial bunchgrass (Phalaris arundinacea) commonly forms extensivesingle-species stands along the margins of lakes and streams and in wet open areas.It has a wide distribution in Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America.Although drought-tolerant, it prefers abundant water and can even be grown as anaquatic plant. It grows well on poor soils and could be used to improve soil qualityand biodiversity at brownfield sites. It can be cultivated as a hay crop or for forage,can be turned into bricks or pellets for burning in biomass power stations, andprovides fibres for use in pulp and paper-making processes.

KNAPWEED (Centaurea nigra and Centaurea scabiosa)

Supplier: John Bingham, NIAB

There are two species of knapweed common in the UK: Centaurea nigra (Black orCommon knapweed) and C. scabiosa (Greater knapweed). Both are perennials, re-growing from a woody root crown. They have an important role in ecosystem servicesthrough provision of mid to late summer food for key pollinators such as honey bees,solitary bees, butterflies, bumble bees and hoverflies once pollen and nectar fromother wild flowering species and crops are no longer available. In this collaborativeproject between plant breeder/farmer John Bingham and NIAB we are seeking tounderstand the relative influence of plant genetic resources compared to climatic andenvironmental conditions; this addresses the observation that many knapweed plantshave been observed to flower much earlier than expected. This species addresses apotential ‘hungry gap’ for pollinators. The resulting seed heads also attractgoldfinches and other seed feeding birds in the autumn.

KINGS OPERATION POLLINATOR

Partners: Kings Game and Conservation Crops, Syngenta, Campaign for theFarmed Environment

This mix has been developed to boost habitats in perennial field margins or fallowland, with a mix of wild flowers developed specifically to attract and benefitpollinating insects and farmland birds. The mix includes: crimson clover, red clover,phacelia, native corn flower, native corn marigold and native corn chamomile, andwas designed to provide a prolonged flowering period and sustained supply of food,bridging the hungry gap in food availability for pollinating insects. The mix requiresno in-season management.

SAINFOIN (Onobrychis viciifolia)

Partners: Cotswolds Seeds, NIAB, IBERS

Variety: Zeus

Sainfoin is a high protein, low-input forage crop that grows well on dry, poor quality,neutral to alkaline land. It has a long history of cultivation in temperate zones forforage use, particularly for heavy horses, but its use has declined since mechanisation.Sainfoin is generally not as productive as other forage legumes and is more difficult toestablish, but has very valuable characteristics such as high palatability and droughttolerance. Furthermore, anthelmintic and non-bloat digestive properties, due to itsunique tannin and polyphenol composition provide a potential alternative to syntheticpharmaceuticals. Sainfoin can be fed fresh as hay or silage; as a perennial long-termley it is seen as a high quality alternative to grass and clover mixes. The complextannins also reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from ruminant livestock and improvewildlife biodiversity. NIAB and IBERS have undertaken research to sequence thegenome and find markers for future breeding and improving variety selection. NIABhas also developed husbandry guides, and investigated response to new agronomicstrategies, such as companion cropping and herbicide use.

PERENNIAL BROOD REARING COVER

Partner: Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT)

Supplier Oakbank Game and Conservation Ltd

A perennial cover to provide insect rich foraging areas for farmland birds like greypartridges. It can be established in the autumn or spring. The mix contains: Sainfoin,winter vetch, bird’s foot trefoil, lucerne, alsike clover, dwarf amenity ryegrass, triticale.

SPECIALIST BEE MIX

Partner: Moles Seeds and University of Cambridge

This mix is designed to match the nutritional requirements and sensory preferences ofboth honey bees and bumble bees. Foraging bees have to collect sufficient protein(from pollen) to meet the nutritional needs of their developing larvae while alsocollecting enough sugar (from nectar) to fuel their own flight and metabolism. Plantspecies with prolific pollen in easily accessible form and species with plentiful nectarare included. Honey bees and bumble bees have different tongue lengths, so the mixalso has flowers with long corollas and flowers with more open corollas. Handlingflowers can be physically difficult for bees, particularly in windy conditions, so thereare plants with petal textures that provide a good grip. Finally there are plants thatare visually attractive to bees and can be detected at considerable distances includinghighly glossy flowers and those with contrasting pigment spots on their petals. Themix contains: snapdragon, borage, cornflower, corn marigold, sterntaler, gardencosmos, foxglove, viper’s bugloss, Californian poppy, sweet rocket, honesty, mallowand fiddlene.

1514 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

SANTIAGO

ROBIGUS

SKYFALL

NIAB BREEDERS TOOLKIT

SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID WHEAT FAMILIES

WISP

WISP

WISP

WISP

WISP D-GENOME INTROGRESSION

AGRICULTURAL CROP CHARACTERISATIONWINTER CEREALS

MAGIC ELITE (YELLOW RUST UNTREATED)

FUSARIUM IN THE MAGIC POPULATION

MAGIC ELITE

MAGIC DIVERSITY

REED CANARY GRASS

RASPBERRIES

HERBAGE (ABERNILE)

HERBAGE (ABERGAIN)

HERBAGE (ABERCHOICE)

FESTULOLIUM

MAGIC ELITE (YIELD)

TRITICEAE GENOME

OAKLEY X GATSBY

WHEALBI

WHEAT PHENOTYPING

TETRAPLOID WHEAT

SOYA BRUNENSIS +ROOTGROW / -ROOTGROW

SOYA NAYA +ROOTGROW / -ROOTGROW

GRASS PEA

CHIA

GRAVEL BED

SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID WHEAT FAMILIES

SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID WHEAT FAMILIES

SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID WHEAT FAMILIES

THEX

SPRING MAGIC ELITE

BUFFER STRIP GRASSES SPECIES RICH PARKLAND

MEADOW MIXTURE FLORISTICALLY ENHANCED

HERBAL GRAZING

NECTAR MEADOW

KAUT1

OPERATION POLLINATOR

CRIMSON CLOVER, BLACK MEDIC & VETCH

TILLAGE RADISH & SPRING OAT

TILLAGE RADISH

OIL RADISH, SWEET CLOVER, OATS & BUCKWHEAT

KEAUT1

KINGS POLLEN AND NECTAR

OPERATION TURTLE DOVE

OAKBANK

SPECIALIST BEE MIX

PERENNIAL BROOD REARING COVER

KINGS OPERATION POLLINATOR

KNAPWEED

KNAPWEED

KNAPWEED

KNAPWEED

COVER CROPS – NIAB BESPOKE MIX

SAINFOIN

ecosystem services

wheat genetic diversity

wheat disease

seed certification

cover crops

forage and herbage

specialist and food crops

legume food and feed

KEY

NIAB INNOVATION FARM FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS 2016

1716 VISITOR GUIDE 2016

OAKBANK GAME AND CONSERVATION LTD MIXES

Supplier: Oakbank Game & Conservation Ltd

Seed mixes: Early flowering mix, Oakbank floristic margin mix, Celtic mix and ES NectarFlower Mix

Showcasing four different mixes and providing Oakbank with the opportunity to evaluatethe performance of these mixes under a range of sowing and management regimes. Thiswill improve understanding and improve husbandry advice to clients on the best way tomaximise product potential. Seed mix content details available on request.

RASPBERRIES (Rubus idaeus)

Varieties: Autumn Treasure, Octavia, Malling Minerva, Malling Juno, Valentina

Partners: NIAB EMR and RW Walpole

Now in its second year, this demonstration shows the wide variety of physicalcharacteristics and flowering/fruiting timings and available in raspberries. NIAB EMR has along-running raspberry breeding programme, which is working to improve raspberrycrops including breeding for extended season, fruit quality, disease resistance and poorweather. For example, Autumn Treasure is resistant to verticillium wilt and powderymildew, has good tolerance to raspberry root rot and withstands adverse weatherconditions. Octavia has been bred to produce a combination of a very late season andhigh quality and flavour fruit.

OPERATION TURTLE DOVE

NECTAR FLOWER MIX

Partners: RSPB, Conservation Grade, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, Natural England

Supplier: Kings Game and Conservation Crops

This mix sought to bring together a number of components to meet the ecologicalrequirements of breeding turtle doves whilst being acceptable to land managers andallow delivery through environmental stewardship schemes.

The species included were selected either because they had been recorded in turtle dovediet, produced seeds similar in nature to those found in the diet and delivered anabundance of seed during a period when seed availability is limited (May-June). The mixalso provides an early food source for pollinating insects. Areas of this mix alongsidestandard nectar flower mixtures will create an extended flowering season and nectaravailability earlier in the spring. The mix contains: early English common vetch (Viciasativa), bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), white clover (Trifolium repens), black medick(Medicago lupulina), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and fumitory (Fumaria officinalis).

BUMBLEBIRD MIX

Partners: RSPB, Conservation Grade, Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, Natural England

Supplier: Kings Game and Conservation Crops

This mix is designed primarily to deliver early seed resource in a suitable vegetationstructure for foraging turtle doves in May and June. The mix aims to also deliver multiplespecies benefits by combining winter seeding plants with flowerings plants, providingyear round food for a range of species; seed provision for over wintering birds and pollenand nectar for pollinating insects. The mix contains: black medick (Medicago lupulina),bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), winter triticale (× Triticosecale) and winter barley(Hordeum vulgare).

COVER CROPS

Partner: NIAB TAG

Cover crops can be used to ‘protect and/or improve’ between periods of regular cropproduction. Seed mixes are common and typically used to support a range ofobjectives on farm, often around management of soils (structure and fertility).Agronomic goals include augmenting pest and weed management strategies.Environmental aims include reducing pollution risks or providing habitat value. Covercrops can also provide other uses, such as supplementary grazing resources. Differentmixtures/species can be used according to need or crop history and planned followingcropping.

TILLAGE RADISH

Tillage radish is a fast growing brassica. It can grow rapidly in the autumn producingdeep roots from that help to open up and potentially rectify structure issues throughthe development of natural bio-pores in the soil.

TILLAGE RADISH AND SPRING OAT

This mix of a deep rooting brassica (tillage radish) and a vigorous cereal (oats) is usedon farm to provide ground cover and soil improvement. The components havedifferent, and complementary, above ground and below ground characteristics.

CRIMSON CLOVER, BLACK MEDICK, VETCH

This mix of three legume components is based on an approach developed in a Defra,LINK project (LK09106). These nitrogen fixing legumes have been found tocomplement each other well. A similar mix is being used in cover cropping studieswithin the NIAB TAG-led New Farming Systems project; in this study the rotational useof the legume mix cover crop approach has resulted in rotational improvements in yieldand margins.

TILLAGE RADISH, SWEET CLOVER, OATS, BUCKWHEAT

This multi-species mix offers a range of growth habits and traits that could potentiallyimprove fertility and soil structure. A mix similar to this is currently being used in theNIAB TAG STAR project within a season long fallow treatment.

18

ENVIRONMENTAL MIXES

KINGS POLLEN AND NECTAR MIXSupplier: Kings Game and Conservation CropsThis prototype mix is being trialled on farms as a means to provide a combination ofnectar through the summer and seed through the following winter from an autumnplanting. The inclusion of a range of cornfield annual species also adds to the aestheticappeal of this mix. Content is available on request.

KINGS ENHANCED AUTUMN SOWN WILD BIRD SEED MIX (KEAUT1) Supplier: Kings Game and Conservation CropsSimilar benefits to the KAUT1 mixture, however, the addition of coleor kale and perennialchicory allows the potential opportunity for increased longevity. With a greater range ofseeds, this mixture may benefit a wide range of bird species. The mixture contains:Coleor kale, fodder radish, forage rape, gold of pleasure, Kings kale rape, linseed,phacelia, perennial chicory, Vittasso brown mustard and triticale.

KINGS BASIC AUTUMN SOWN WILD BIRD MIX (KAUT1) Supplier: Kings Game and Conservation CropsSuitable for locations where spring planting is impractical or where previous springestablishment has been poor. Autumn planting offers a potentially higher seed yield andstronger crop structure while the canopy through the late spring and summer period canprovide valuable brood rearing cover for a range of farmland bird species. The mixturecontains: barley, fodder radish, Kings kale rape, oilseed rape, triticale and wheat.

THE OPERATION POLLINATOR MIX (MIXOP) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsOperation Pollinator seed mix is a mixture of legumes without grasses to provide aflower-rich area. The use of this mixture on heavy soil types is an option where sowngrasses can become dominant. The mixture contains: red clover, alsike clover, sainfoin,bird’s foot trefoil, lesser knapweed and musk mallow.

HERBAL GRAZING (MIX20) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsProvides grazing for early turnout and continues to produce forage right through thesummer and autumn. Containing deep-rooting species, this four-year ley improves soilstructure, but also draws up essential vitamins and minerals for the ruminant animal. Themixture contains: Perennial ryegrass, cock’s-foot, timothy, meadow fescue, tall fescue, redclover, three varieties of white clover, alsike clover, bird’s foot trefoil, sainfoin, sweetclover, chicory, burnet forage herb, yarrow forage herb, sheep’s parsley, forage herb andribgrass forage herb.

NECTAR MEADOW (MIXNEC) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsThis mixture is a step towards recreating a traditional meadow with wild flowers; itcontains five native wild flower species, which are commonly found on most soils. Thecolourful flowers are included as a nectar source and are particularly attractive to beesand butterflies. The mixture contains: crested dog’s-tail, smaller cat’s-tail, sheep’s fescue,red fescue, smooth-stalked meadow grass, lesser knapweed, field scabious, selfheal,bird’s foot trefoil, ox-eye daisy and common bentgrass.

19VISITOR GUIDE 2016

SPECIES RICH PARKLAND (MIXPGLM) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsA slow growing and more manageable seed mixture for those with low requirementsfrom permanent grassland. This mixture can be grazed periodically or topped to keep atidy appearance and contains: common bentgrass, crested dog’s-tail, sweet vernal grass,meadow foxtail, smaller cat’s-tail, sheep’s fescue, red fescue and smooth-stalkedmeadow grass.

FLORISTICALLY ENHANCED MIX (MIXFEM) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsA longer term pollen and nectar source for bees and butterflies. It is more expensivethan legume based mixtures but lasts for many years and is a good mixture for wildlife.It contains non-aggressive grasses and nine native wild flowers species which arecommonly found on most soils. The mixture contains: common bentgrass, crested dog’s-tail, smaller cat’s-tail, red fescue, smooth-stalked meadow grass, field scabious, selfheal,yarrow, ox-eye daisy, lady’s bedstraw, meadow buttercup, musk mallow, wild carrot andlesser knapweed.

BUFFER STRIP GRASS (MIXGM) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsAn ideal mixture for buffer strips on cultivated land. It is suitable for all soil types andcreates habitat for small mammals, invertebrates and birds. Its main purpose is toprotect vulnerable areas, such as water courses, from agrochemicals and fertilisers. Themixture contains: common bentgrass, timothy, meadow fescue, red fescue, cock’s-footand smooth-stalked meadow grass.

SPECIAL GENERAL PURPOSE MEADOW MIXTURE (EM3) Supplier: Emorsgate SeedsA mixture of perennial grass and wildflower seed to establish flower-rich meadows andgrassland over a range of soil types and conditions. It may be used to create a diversesward where conditions vary across a site. It is also useful in situations where precise soiland site characteristics have not been established before sowing. Seed mix contentsavailable on request.

SPECIES RICH PARKLAND (MIXPGLM) Supplier: Cotswold SeedsA slow growing and more manageable seed mixture for those with low requirementsfrom permanent grassland. This mixture can be grazed periodically or topped to keep atidy appearance and contains: common bentgrass, crested dog’s-tail, sweet vernal grass,meadow foxtail, smaller cat’s-tail, sheep’s fescue, red fescue and smooth-stalkedmeadow grass.

PLANT CHARACTERISATION – WINTER CEREALSNIAB’s Agricultural Crop Characterisation team provides statutory services to theagricultural and ornamental sectors – capabilities based upon unique and long-established plant phenotyping skills, datasets and biological resources. These servicesinclude Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing of new varieties, seedcertification, statutory and bespoke training in variety identification, and specialistanalysis of conservation varieties. These plots demonstrate the breadth of work the teamcover in winter cereals, and that the longevity of a variety should not be underestimated.

20 21VISITOR GUIDE 2016

WHEAT GENETIC DIVERSITY

YELLOW RUST RESISTANCE IN THE MAGIC ELITE POPULATION

Partners: NIAB, University of Cambridge, Limagrain UK Ltd

Description: The dramatic shift that is undergoing the yellow rust population sincethe ‘Warrior’ population incursion in 2011 is posing a new challenge tothe levels of resistance in UK wheat varieties. To address this issue, thegenetic basis of yellow rust resistance in the winter wheat MAGIC Elitepopulation is being investigated. The eight parents of the winter wheatMAGIC Elite population exhibit a wide range of susceptibility to yellowrust. Reports of transgressive segregation in 2012 and 2015 field trialssuggest that a subset of the population is more resistant than all of theparents. Preliminary analyses have identified regions of the wheatgenome controlling this resistance, for which molecular markers will bedeveloped, for usage in breeding programmes. The eight MAGIC Eliteparents and two highly susceptible (line A) and resistant (line B) MAGICElite progeny lines are in the NIAB Innovation Farm plots, grown in theabsence of fungicide treatment. This work is being undertaken at NIABby PhD student Laura Bouvet thanks to a BBSRC Doctoral TrainingPartnership (DTP) studentship from the University of Cambridge.

FUSARIUM IN THE MAGIC POPULATION

Partners: NIAB, University of Cambridge

Description: Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) can have devastating impact on farms, sinceit not only diminishes yield in small grain cereals, but also contaminatesthe harvest with mycotoxins. Risk factors for FHB especially in the UK’swheat growing areas are increasing and while FHB remains difficult tocombat with agronomic methods, there is still no fully resistant wheatvariety. Several years of field observations have identified lines withinNIAB’s MAGIC Elite population that differ in their resistance towardsFHB, which will help pinpoint resistance genes towards FHB. Some ofthese lines are shown in the plot; two each more resistant and moresusceptible than is usually expected in UK wheat. These observationsare currently investigated at NIAB by PhD student Franziska Fischer,thanks to a BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership studentship from theUniversity of Cambridge.

MAGIC WHEAT POPULATIONS

NIAB has been at the forefront of developing MAGIC (Multi-parent AdvancedGeneration Inter Cross) populations in wheat. With funding from BBSRC, twopopulations have been initiated:

• MAGIC Elite – the intercrossing of eight UK winter wheat varieties,

• MAGIC Diverse – the intercrossing of sixteen UK winter wheat varieties selected tomaximise the genetic variation captured.

In 2011/12, thanks to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany Trust, a 2.6 ha trialof the entire MAGIC Elite population was carried out (>1,000 lines across 2,156 plots)with most of the lines screened with genetic markers. Additional trials were conductedin 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Already, associations between the marker data andperformance of the lines have identified novel disease resistance genes andinteractions between different disease resistances, flowering time, height and yield.Two additional projects have recently started which build on these resources: theMAGIC Elite population will be used to investigate genetics of yield and yieldcomponents (funded by BBSRC and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds, and with in-kindcontributions from five commercial plant breeding companies), while a BBSRC-fundedproject between NIAB and University College London (UCL) will develop tools andresources around the MAGIC Diverse population to develop it into a communityresource for wheat genetic research. The miniplots at NIAB Innovation Farm show theparents of the MAGIC Elite and MAGIC Diverse populations.

TRITICEAE GENOME

Partners: NIAB, University of Cambridge

Description: The Triticeae Genome (TG) wheat panel consists of 376 elite winterwheat varieties registered in France, Germany and the United Kingdombetween 1946 and 2007. Initial work on the TG panel, including multi-environment trait dissection, was funded by the European Commissionunder the 7th Framework Programme for Research and TechnologicalDevelopment (FP7-212019). This work showed variation for keyagronomic traits. NIAB, and University of Cambridge PhD student FunmiLadejobi, is continuing the assessment of the panel using new genomicresources, including the use of high throughput, low cost geneticmarkers with potential application in wheat breeding.

OAKLEY X GATSBY

Partners: NIAB, University of Cambridge, ICRISAT, Punjab Agricultural University,NIPGR, BBSRC, DBT

Description: The Oakley x Gatsby double haploid mapping population wasdeveloped within a Defra Sustainable Arable LINK project (LK0992) ledby ADAS and including RAGT Seeds Ltd, KWS UK, Limagrain UK andBASF. The population is of interest as it segregates for a number ofagronomic traits and will be used within the new project CINTRIN(Cambridge-India Network for Translational Research in Nitrogen) whichis funded by BBSRC through the Newton-Bhabba Fund in the UK, andthe Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India to investigatedifferential response to nitrogen application.

22 23VISITOR GUIDE 2016

WHEAT AND BARLEY LEGACY FOR BREEDING IMPROVEMENT (WHEALBI)

WHEALBI is a European FP7 project that involves 18 partners in nine countries.The aim is to improve European wheat and barley production in competitive andsustainable cropping systems. WHEALBI:

• combines genomics, genetics and agronomy

• generates original data from expressed genome sequences of 1,000 wheat andbarley genetic resources

• provides models and tools to integrate these data in breeding programmes andcrop management.

The plots demonstrate NIAB’s involvement in this project, which compares diversewheat and barley genotypes grown under different tillage and input levels. Thegenotypes include a range of high yielding elite commercial lines, old cultivars andlandraces. The demonstration plots show three of these contrasting wheat genotypes,under conventional (180 kg N/ha) and low N (40 kg N/ha) inputs. In the field trials, thetillage treatments consist of conventional mouldboard plough, deep non-inversion andshallow non-inversion. The trials are replicated in Bologna, Italy, Martonvásár, Hungary,and under organic and agroforestry production systems at The Organic ResearchCentre, Newbury.

The results should improve understanding of interactions between genotypes or croptypes and crop management systems that will contribute to yield stability andimprovements in sustainable food production. WHEALBI is intended to help the EUmaintain its role in supplying the world with small grain cereals, while addressing thepressing global priorities of improving food quality and reducing environmentalimpact.

The research leading to these results has received funding from the EuropeanCommunity's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/ 2007-2013) under the grantworkflow of the scientific work packages of WHEALBI.

BOXESPHACELIA (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

Supplier: Emorsgate Seeds

Native to North America, Phacelia has high nectar and pollen production and can be auseful addition to resources for pollinators with a role in the provision of ecosystem services.The flowering is indeterminate so the flowering period is long, extending over 30 days. It isattractive to a number of species including bees and beneficial insects like hoverflies whoselarvae consume aphids, and could be a useful addition to stewardship mixtures. Phacelia isan annual and sensitive to frost. It has been used in the USA as a cover crop and greenmanure, helping to reduce nitrate leaching. Though very tolerant of dry conditions itresponds poorly in very cold, wet or waterlogged soils.

SWITCHGRASS (Panicum virgatum)

Partners: USDA

A perennial rhizomatous grass native to North America, switchgrass can produce high yieldswith very low fertiliser applications. It is tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought. It mayhave an advantage in conditions of drought and high temperature due to its C4 physiology.It is used for biofuel, ethanol, and forage production in the USA and is being considered forsimilar uses in the UK. Two distinct forms have been developed: lowland cultivars tend toproduce more biomass, while shorter upland cultivars are more cold-tolerant for use innorthern areas. In the USA, it can grow up to 2.7 m high with leaves 30-90 cm long andaverage yields of 15 t/ha dry weight. Plant breeders have also developed a number ofimproved varieties for use as forage.

BLACK MUSTARD (Brassica nigra))

Partner: PlantWorks

An annual plant, native to Southern Europe but widely cultivated for its edible seeds. Forcomparison, half of the plants have been treated with an experimental application toimprove microbial communities in non-mycorrhizal crops.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus)

Supplier and breeder: Jonathan Virden

Many heirloom varieties and landraces are developed by selection in home gardens. Theseartichokes have been grown by Jonathan Virden since 1978. A portion of the crop is savedeach year, for planting next year. These are selected by eye as the largest and roundest. Theannual cycle begins just after harvest in early-mid November. The ground is dug deeply, andhomemade compost incorporated. Tubers are planted around 150-200 mm beneath thesurface; plants emerge in May, and by August are around 2.5 m tall. The crop is harvested inNovember, when the leaves start to senesce. The average yield is 10 kg per plant, with thelargest crop recorded from one plant being 15 kg. Artichokes store their carbohydrate asinulin, which is not easily digestible by some humans, but can be metabolised by bacteria inthe colon; leading to flatulence. Digestibility and flavour is reported to be improved in thisheirloom variety and is a potential source of further breeding activity.

SOYA (Glycine max)

Supplier and breeder: Sean Morris

Also demonstrated in the glasshouse, this landrace of soya has been grown by Sean Morris,with the aim of selecting over time to develop a variety that is better adapted to growth inthe UK climate and suitable for human culinary use. Soya cannot be drilled until quite late inthe season due to its intolerance of cold soil conditions.

24 25VISITOR GUIDE 2016

WILLOW AND MISCANTHUSThe following crops are located outside of the main demonstration field, near to thePark Farm entrance gate.

WILLOW (Salix spp.)

Partner: Rothamsted Research

Rothamsted Research is running the only major willow breeding programme in the UK.Advances in understanding the physiology and growth of willow, and the on-goingdiscovery of genes underlying key traits, is being used to improve the efficiency ofwillow breeding. Rothamsted is focused on developing drought tolerant, as well aswater and nitrogen-use efficient varieties, for resource poor land. Variety development isalso tailored to specific markets, such as second generation biofuels, chemicalintermediates and polymers.

Commercial short rotation coppice (SRC) willow plantations typically consist of a mixtureof specially developed elite varieties, grown in dense plantations at rates of 15,000plants/ha. Planting mixtures of varieties exploits genetic diversity to limit pest and diseasedevelopment in a crop that is virtually impossible to treat with pesticides due to itsphysical size. Typically 20 cm long stem cuttings are mechanically planted in a twin rowdesign. This layout allows the woody biomass to be harvested by specially developedmachines. After an initial establishment year, where cuttings are planted in the spring andcut back in the following winter, SRC willow plantations are harvested on a 2-4 year cycle.

Plantations are viable for around 22 years (establishment year plus seven harvest cycles).SRC willow can grow well in environments where the alternative land uses are limited,such as the cooler and wetter areas of north-west Europe and North America and thehigh clay content soils of those and other areas of the temperate latitudes. In theseenvironments where alternative land uses are limited the production of SRC willow isfinancially very competitive.

Variety: JORR (Salix viminalis × S. viminalis)

Breeder: Lantmännen SW Seed

Introduced in 1988 this variety is now outclassed and susceptible to Melampsora leaf rust.

Variety: ROTH CHEVIOT (Complex S. viminalis × S. schwerinii hybrid)

Breeder: Rothamsted Research

Bred in 2004 by Rothamsted Research’s willow breeding programme, the variety offersrust resistance and yields comparable to existing commercial varieties.

Variety: RR09057 (Complex S. viminalis × S. schwerinii hybrid)

Breeder: Rothamsted Research

Bred in 2009 this variety was generated using marker assisted selection. Markers linkedto yield and rust resistance traits were used to choose parents and in early progenyselection. This selection took place using leaf material collected from two month oldseedlings and offers potential large time and space savings when compared to theconventional trialling/selection route. This approach is an example of the advances inunderstanding the physiology and growth of willow, and how the identification of genesunderlying key traits can be used to improve the efficiency of the breeding programme.

MISCANTHUS (Miscanthus giganteus)

Partner: IBERS

Description: Miscanthus, or elephant grass, has been grown in the UK for anumber of years as an energy crop. A perennial C4 grasscommercially grown, Miscanthus consists almost exclusively of thesterile triploid hybrid M. x giganteus, a naturally occurring sterilehybrid of diploid M. sinensis and tetraploid M. sacchariflorus. Sinceit is sterile, the crop is propagated by rhizome splitting. This leadsto narrow genetic diversity within the germplasm and thus adisease risk when grown on a large scale; it also fails to provide abase for the development of new varieties. Fortunately there isextensive genetic diversity available within the Miscanthus genusallowing for the development of new hybrids tailored to differentenvironments and end uses, such as liquid biofuels for transport orreplacements for platform chemicals, and combustion for heat andpower. Alternative Miscanthus species include:

• M. sacchariflorus (tetraploid): extremely thick and tall stems withgood biomass accumulation. Has a more spreading and prolificrhizome growth once established but generally will not flower inthe UK climate;

• M. sinensis (diploid): sinensis: forms dense clumps with thinner,more prolific stems. Flowers readily in temperate climatesalthough flowering times in the UK can extend from June toOctober;

• M. sacchariflorus breeder’s line (tetraploid): used in experimentalcrosses at IBERS with triploid progeny currently in field trials.This accession demonstrates good frost tolerant traits, althoughit does not flower under UK conditions but can be inducedunder controlled environments;

• M. sinensis ‘Goliath’ horticultural line (triploid): an intraspecifichybrid of M. sinensis that flowers around August in the UK andhas been marketed as a ‘large-type’ horticultural variety sincethe 1970s;

• M. sinensis breeders line (diploid): the female parent of amapping family at IBERS that has been used to generate thefirst high resolution genetic map in Miscanthus and is now beingused to identify regions of the genome responsible for traitssuch as spring emergence, flowering, senescence, yield, andcomposition. It flowers in July in the UK.

SOPHI TAYLOR GARDEN STRAWBERRIES (Fragaria x ananassa)

Varieties: Finesse, Vibrant, Fenella, Malling™ Centenary

Varieties: NIAB EMR and RW Walpole

Also demonstrated in the glasshouses, Malling™ Centenary is a June fruiting variety withfirm, attractive, regular shaped berries, and good flavour. The national programme forstrawberry breeding has been based at East Malling since 1983 and has been successful inreleasing 39 commercial varieties. Three other varieties are also demonstrated.

ERICACEOUS BED

This slightly acidic bed contains:

Bog Myrtle and blueberries – involved in ongoing research for use in biopharmaceuticalapplications (primarily treatment of acne) and probiotic products.

Camellia and Hydrangea – involved in prebreeding initiatives to improve quality andflowering.

26 27VISITOR GUIDE 2016

BenchBio www.benchbio.com

BBSRC www.bbsrc.ac.uk

Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya www.bckv.edu.in

Campaign for the Farmed Environment www.cfeonline.org.uk/home

CIMMYT www.cimmyt.org

COMREC www.birmingham.ac.uk/generic/comrec/index.aspx

Conservation Grade www.conservationgrade.org

Cotswolds Seed www.cotswoldseeds.com

Department of Biotechnology, India (DBT) www.dbtindia.nic.in

Emorsgate Seeds wildseed.co.uk

European Research Council erc.europa.eu

Fera fera.co.uk

Germinal Holdings www.germinalseeds.co.uk

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) www.gwct.org.uk

IBERS www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers

ICRISAT www.icrisat.org

James Hutton Institute (JHI) hutton.ac.uk

J. Bingham (contact details on request)

John Innes Centre www.jic.ac.uk

Jonathan Virden (contact details on request)

Kings Game Cover and Conservation Crops www.kingscrops.co.uk

Kings Seeds www.kingsseeds.com

Legume Technology Ltd www.legumetechnology.co.uk/

PARTNERS AND EXHIBITORS

Moles Seeds www.molesseeds.co.uk/index.php

Limagrain UK Ltd www.lgseeds.co.uk

National Institute Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) www.nipgr.res.in/home/home.php

NIAB www.niab.com

NIAB EMR www.emr.ac.uk

Natural England www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

Oakbank Game and Conservation Ltd www.oakbankgc.co.uk

Pensthorpe Conservation Trust www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk

Plant works and rootgrowTM rootgrow.co.uk

Punjab Agricultural University web.pau.edu

Rijk Zwaan www.rijkzwaan.co.uk

Rothamsted Research www.rothamsted.ac.uk

Royal Society royalsociety.org

RSPB www.rspb.org.uk

RW Walpole www.rwwalpole.co.uk

Sean Morris (contact details on request)

Syngenta www.syngenta.co.uk

University of Ghana www.ug.edu.gh

University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

University of Sheffield www.sheffield.ac.uk

USDA www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome

Wageningen University and Research Centre www.wageningenur.nl/en.htm

NIAB is a major international centre for plant science, crop evaluation andagronomy, with headquarters in Cambridge and regional offices across thecountry. A unique national resource, NIAB has over 90 years experience and aninternationally recognised reputation for independence, innovation and integrityand is well placed to contribute solutions to the challenges facing globalagriculture in boosting productivity, conserving resources and coping withclimate change.

NIAB spans the crop development pipeline, combining within a single integratedresource the specialist knowledge, skills and facilities required to support theimprovement of crop varieties, to evaluate their performance and productsderived from them, and to ensure these advances are transferred into on-farmpractice through efficient agronomy.

GENETICS AND BREEDING

Underpinning and supplementing the commercial plant breeding industry byproviding links with upstream genetic research, NIAB’s team of high calibreresearch plant scientists offer in-depth expertise across a wide range of relevanttechnologies.

VARIETIES AND SEEDS

Maintaining NIAB’s traditional core business in variety evaluation, seedcertification, seed testing and supporting the delivery of Plant Variety Rights andSeeds Legislation in agricultural and ornamental crops.

CROPS AND AGRONOMY

NIAB TAG carries out crop and field research, and delivers information directlyto farmers through the NIAB TAG Network membership programme, individualcontractors and commercial customers under specific contracts.

www.niab.com

Huntingdon RoadCambridge CB3 0LE

Tel: 01223 342200www.innovationfarm.co.uk

Follow us @innovationfarm1