NRC-UKRI Pilot Programme. Prototyping Root System Architecture in Avena: Technologies for Environmental Sustainability and Food Security

这项试点研究汇集了英国和加拿大独特的、互补的专业知识，以优化种质开发中的根表型平台。该项目将评估根表型管道，最终目的是将根构型的差异与田间农艺表现联系起来。新的高通量表型方法的实施将使具有根构型的品种能够在一系列气候下提供产量弹性-有利于农业和全球粮食安全。直到最近，作物改良一直侧重于地上生物量的积累和分配。通过更有效地将资源分配到根系结构来提高作物产量的弹性还没有得到详细的探讨，这是有效吸收和利用水分和养分的基础。随着世界对粮食安全和环境的关注，人们对使我们的作物资源多样化产生了新的兴趣。燕麦是密集耕作轮作的一种替代谷物，增加了作物多样性。燕麦是一种高蛋白谷类作物，具有显著的健康益处，包括膳食纤维、抗氧化剂和微量营养素的来源。在加拿大，加拿大蛋白质工业(PIC)超级集群已经形成，以满足作物蛋白质创新和增值加工技术的需求，PIC的目标是燕麦的增长。在英国，由于燕麦对健康的益处，在过去的10年里，用于食品的燕麦需求增长了30%以上。这推动了研究，以提高对燕麦产量形成的理解，并利用先进的表型和基因分型技术开发优良种质。根系结构(RSA)定义了根系的形状和空间排列。该项目的目的是优化和利用精确的根部表型技术来识别燕麦物种中重要的根部和RSA性状的多样性。这将与英国和加拿大试验的现场表现有关。此外，我们将应用适当的基因组技术来开始了解RSA的遗传学。

This pilot study brings together unique, complementary expertise in the UK and Canada for the optimization of root phenotyping platforms in germplasm development. The project will assess root phenotyping pipelines with the ultimate aim of relating differences in root architecture to field agronomic performance. The implementation of new high throughput phenotyping methods will enable the development of varieties with root architectures that provide yield resilience under a range of climates - benefiting the farming industry and global food security. Crop improvement has until recently focussed on above-ground biomass accumulation and partitioning. Improving the resilience of crop yields through the more efficient allocation of resources to root system architecture has not been explored in as much detail and is fundamental for efficient uptake and utilization of water and nutrients. Renewed interest in diversifying our crop resources has developed as the world focuses on food security and the environment. Oats are an alternative cereal for intensive arable rotations increasing crop diversity. Oats are a high-protein cereal crop with significant health benefits including a source of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and micronutrients. In Canada, the Protein Industries Canada (PIC) supercluster has formed to address the need for crop protein innovation and value-added processing technologies and PIC has targeted growth in oats. In the UK, demand for oats for food use has risen by over 30% in the past 10 years due to its proven health benefits. This has driven research into developing an improved understanding of yield formation in oats and in developing superior germplasm using advanced phenotyping and genotyping techniques. Root system architecture (RSA) defines the shape and spatial arrangement of the root system. The intent of the project is to optimize and utilize precision root phenotyping technologies to identify diversity in important root and RSA traits in oat species. These will be related to field performance in trials in both the U.K. and Canada. In addition, we will apply appropriate genomic technologies to begin to understand the genetics of RSA.