Characterising genetic diversity of Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC) and developing a pipeline for marker assisted breeding

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Food Security has risen to the top of the international agenda following recent spikes in the price of food and the perceived growing threat to future supplies (see, e.g., the "G8 Action on Food Security and Nutrition" http://www.state.gov/s/globalfoodsecurity/190282.htm). Along with an efficient distribution system and minimising waste, providing an adequate supply of food is a key contributor to securing food supply. Sustaining this into the future will be very difficult in the face of a steadily increasing population and diminishing availability of fertile land and water for agriculture. The challenge is made even more difficult by projected changes to climate. To meet this challenge is going to require new and innovative strategies and a new type of biologist. This is a joint project between Liverpool, JIC and CN Seeds Ltd combining training in plant pathology, trait genetics, and plant breeding. This project will seek to identify novel sources of genetic variation captured in a unique wild rocket collection, that can be used to improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, and improved quality attributes, that can be transferred into novel breeding material.