LED for faster and better propagation (LED4FaB Roots)

英国的生菜和芹菜作物是通过移栽进行商业生产的。移栽是指在大田里种植之前，在温室里繁殖的幼苗。很大一部分移栽是在冬季和春季进行的，那时日照时间短，温室供暖要求高。加热温室内的低光照水平会导致品质下降、伸长和生长缓慢，从播种到种植需要6-8周的时间。G每年需要移植500-600万棵生菜和300-400万株芹菜，收获的作物价值250万英镑。沙拉生产商面临的挑战是生产蔬菜移栽，减少能量投入，提高质量和对移栽后非生物胁迫的适应能力。这个为期两年的项目将优化辅助LED照明照度和光谱，以a)提高质量b)缩短生产周期，c)在移栽中操纵根系结构(RSA)。在冬季，由于环境光水平低，植物的生长和质量直接与支持光合作用的光谱(400-700 nm)的辅助辐射有关。Hau和G‘s之间之前的KTP曾通过改变红色和蓝色LED照明的比例来操纵移植中的RSA(数据尚未公布)。这种反应还不是很清楚，但有可能提高各种作物的移植生产效率。Hau大学最近的一位博士也提出，具有较大‘根势’的移栽植物从与种植相关的冲击中恢复得更快，并可能在田间建立和生长期间提高对非生物胁迫(如干旱)的恢复能力。1该项目将研究温室内植物生长和RSA发育对LED光处理的响应(光谱、辐射、在模式生物中已经确定了与光反应有关的基因。2我们将量化与关键光照处理下的光反应根性状相关的关键根基因的表达，以更好地了解这些作物中该性状的分子基础。这项工作将使选择繁殖时期的光配方成为可能，但反应可能因基因而异，限制了有效性。该项目将利用来自三个伙伴育种者的种质，a)优化基因x光照反应，b)确定育种材料，以便将来朝着新品种的优化繁殖方向发展。潜在影响缩短移植生产周期降低加热成本提高移植质量改善作物质量增加对作物品种根部光反应分子基础的了解为提高繁殖速度定向育种感兴趣的品系和基因的鉴定

UK lettuce and celery crops are produced commercially from transplants - young plants which are propagated in greenhouses before being planted out in the field. A significant proportion of transplants are produced in winter and spring when day lengths are short and greenhouse heating requirements are high. Low ambient light levels in heated greenhouses can lead to reduced quality, stretching and slow growth, taking 6 - 8 weeks from sowing to planting out. G's require 5 - 6 million lettuce and 3 - 4 million celery transplants each year, producing harvested crops worth >£2.5 million. The challenge for salad producers is producing vegetable transplants using reduced energy inputs and having increased quality and resilience to abiotic stress during the post transplanting stage of establishment.This 2-year project would optimise supplementary LED lighting irradiance and spectra for a) improving quality b) shortening production cycles, and c) manipulating root system architecture (RSA) in transplants.During the winter, with low levels of ambient light, plant growth and quality is directly linked to supplementary irradiance across the spectrum that supports photosynthesis (400 - 700 nm). A previous KTP between HAU and G's has manipulated RSA in transplants by varying the ratio between red and blue LED illumination (data not published). This response is not well understood but has the potential to improve efficiency of transplant production across a wide range of crops. A recent PhD at HAU has also suggested that transplants with a greater 'root potential' recover more quickly from shock associated with planting out and may have improved resilience to abiotic stress, such as drought, during establishment and growth in the field.1 This project would study plant growth and RSA development in the greenhouse in response to LED light treatments (spectrum, irradiance, timing and duration) and subsequent plant performance in the field.Genes associated with rooting responses to light have been identified in model organisms.2 We will quantify expression of key rooting genes linked to light-responsive rooting traits under key lighting treatments to better understand the molecular basis of the trait in these crops.The work would enable the selection of light recipes for propagation periods but the response may vary with genotype, limiting efficacy. The project will utilise germplasm from three partner breeders to a) optimise genotype x lighting responses, and b) identify breeding material for future development towards optimised propagation of novel varieties.Potential impactsShortened transplant production cycleReduced heating costsImproved transplant qualityImproved crop qualityIncreased understanding of the molecular basis of root responses to light in crop speciesIdentification of lines and genes of interest for PACE-targeted breeding for improved propagation