CUKPGP:New pest resistance in rice, by breeding and genetic modification (GM) for constitutive and inducible levels of defence homoterpenes

该项目旨在开发和评估中国新一代水稻作物，通过无毒的行动模式，即通过改变害虫行为，保护主要害虫种群。该项目中的创新科学将为中国粮食生产的环境可持续解决方案的开发提供支持，并将其扩展到农村地区的小农户。负责高萜类生物合成的基因，已知对水稻害虫有活性，但尚未以任何方式用于可持续的害虫控制，将首先通过下一代测序和生物信息学，利用信息技术，（包括来自英国-中国合作BB/J 020281/1），通过野生和模式植物从相关遗传学获得，并通过过表达确认身份，包括在水稻中，然后进行化学分析。然后，将筛选出这些基因的高表达的优良水稻品种和近缘种，并在诱导型启动子序列的调控下创建过表达它们的新品系，使用化学分析和对害虫的研究，包括水稻褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens，及其寄生虫，包括Anagrus nilaparvatrium。这两条路线中最有前途的品系将通过育种开发，包括生产合成杂交种，并在第3年进行进一步的基因工程初步田间评估。这将通过育种和基因改造产生新的可持续的抗虫害性状，提供既能抗虫害又能利用自然寄生的水稻品种。除了在水稻中的价值外，这些性状将直接适用于其他作物，包括长期多年生雨养水稻。这项新的合作提供了重要的育种机会和功能基因多样性（中国）和次级代谢物防御靶向（英国）。

This project aims to develop and evaluate a new generation of rice crops in China with protection against major insect pest populations, that is delivered via a non-toxic mode of action, ie through modification of pest behaviour. The innovative science in this project will underpin the development of environmentally sustainable solutions for food production in China, extending to small-holder farms in rural areas. The genes responsible for the biosynthesis of homoterpenes, known to be active against rice pests but not yet in any way exploited in sustainable pest control, will first be identified tentatively by next generation sequencing and bioinformatics, using information (including from UK-China Collaboration BB/J020281/1) from related genetics via wild and model plants, and identity confirmed by overexpression, including in rice, followed by chemical analysis. Elite rice cultivars and relatives will then be screened for high expression of these genes and new lines created overexpressing them under regulation by inducible promoter sequences, using chemical analysis and studies with pests, including the rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, and their parasites, including Anagrus nilaparvatae. The most promising lines from both routes will be developed by breeding, including production of synthetic crosses, and further genetic engineering for preliminary field evaluation in year 3. This will produce new sustainable pest resistance traits by breeding and genetic modification that will provide rice varieties that both resist pests but also exploit natural parasitism. In addition to the value in rice, these traits will be directly applicable to other crops, including in the long term perennial rain-fed rice. This new cooperation provides essential breeding opportunities and functional gene diversity (China) and secondary metabolite defence targeting (UK).