Rapid domestication of purslane (Portulaca sp.) in a vertical farm environment.

粮食安全需要有营养的食物、稳定的供应链、可持续的生产系统和减少的食物里程。为了克服这些挑战，农业正在将重点转向城市农业，特别是垂直农业(VF)，即在室内种植作物，以最大限度地利用有限的城市空间。在小麦、西红柿、沙拉和草本植物等主要农业和园艺作物方面取得了研究进展。然而，VF的商品作物生产面临着与主流耕作制度的激烈竞争。相比之下，新作物受竞争的影响较小，并提供了在VF环境中快速驯化的机会。是一种具有很大商业机会的作物，可在VF条件下种植。在这里，来自SRUC和爱丁堡大学的研究小组正在开发一个关于不同马齿苋材料的遗传、基因组、表观和生理特征的合作项目。项目目标如下：1：马齿苋材料的遗传和基因组特征。种质将通过种子商人获得，可能还会通过欧洲境内的收集旅行获得。种子库存将保存在SRUC，并用用于多样性分析和发现起源中心的数据进行基因分型。细胞遗传学分析将确定倍性水平上的变异，这可能表明材料之间的杂交存在物种障碍。2：为变种植物制定马齿苋培养方案。将调查最佳生长条件，包括光照质量和强度、温度、土壤类型和灌溉能力。将制定一项控制开花时间的协议，以获得杂交和种子生产所需的生长阶段。将探索利用简单插条和组织培养的无性系繁殖，以及包括基因型、光参数、外植体长度/年龄和生长介质在内的因素。3：以表型为导向的生产体系的优化。将制定一项收获协议，以最大限度地提高真空发酵马齿苋的产量和质量。将微调适当的收获时间，探索多次收获以增加产量的可能性。来自不同生长阶段的收获将通过生化分析和与SRUC烹饪学校的参与式育种方法来描述味道差异。这些目标旨在(1)提供应用基础生物学的综合博士培训，对马齿苋生产的主流产生直接影响，(2)创建马齿苋的育种平台，以及(3)鼓励创造性和创新地设计未来的作物。此外，学生还将有机会在职业和软技能发展方面进行有价值的培训。这个博士项目的主要成果包括：(1)关于结果的出版物，(2)社区资源，(3)在VF的马齿苋种植协议的制定，以及(4)在SRUC启动马齿苋育种计划。这是在VF中快速驯化新作物的重大机会，马齿苋非常适合作为一种新作物的选择，因为它具有很高的营养价值，并且已经在世界各地被传统地消费。作为所有合作伙伴的共同目标，我们努力在未来几年为加快马齿苋的驯化和繁殖创造一个合作环境。

Food security requires nutritious food, consistent supply chain, sustainable production system and reduced food miles. To overcome these challenges, agriculture is shifting focus towards urban farming, specifically vertical farming (VF), where crops are grown indoors to maximize the use of limited city spaces. Research progress has been demonstrated in major arable and horticultural crops like wheat, tomato, salad and herbs. However, commercial crop production in VF faces strong competition with the mainstream farming system. In contrast, novel crops are less affected by competition and offer an opportunity for rapid domestication in VF environment.Purslane (Portulaca sp.) is a crop with substantial commercial opportunities for cultivation under VF. Here, groups from SRUC and the University of Edinburgh are developing a collaborative project on the genetic, genomic, phenomic and physiological characterisation of diverse purslane accessions. The project objectives are as follows:1: Genetic and genomic characterisation of purslane accessions. Germplasm will be obtained through seed merchants and potentially by collection trips within Europe. Seed stocks will be maintained in SRUC and genotyped with data used for diversity analysis and discovery of the centre of origin. Cytogenetic analysis will identify variation in ploidy level, which may indicate species barriers in crosses among accessions.2: Development of a purslane cultivation protocol for VF. Optimal growth conditions including light quality and intensity, temperature, soil type and watering capacity will be investigated. A protocol for manipulating flowering time will be developed to obtain the desired growth stages for crossing and seed production. Clonal propagation using simple cuttings and tissue culture will be explored along with factors including genotype, light parameters, explant length/age and growth medium.3: Phenomic-guided optimisation of production system. A harvest protocol will be developed to maximise the yield and quality of purslane in VF. The appropriate time for harvest will be fine-tuned, and the possibility of multiple harvest to increase yield will be explored. Harvests from various growth stages will be profiled for taste difference through biochemical assays and a participatory breeding approach with SRUC culinary school.These objectives are intended to (1) provide a comprehensive PhD training in applying fundamental biology to deliver a direct impact to mainstreaming purslane production, (2) create a breeding platform for purslane, and (3) encourage creativity and innovation in designing crop for the future. In addition, the student will be provided with opportunities to undertake valuable training in career and soft skill development.Major outputs from this PhD project include: (1) publications on the results, (2) community resources for purslane accessions, (3) development of purslane cultivation protocol in VF, and (4) initiation of purslane breeding program in SRUC. This is a major opportunity to rapidly domesticate novel crops in VF and purslane fits well as a novel crop of choice because it has high nutritious values and has already been consumed traditionally in various parts of the world. As a common goal shared by all partners, we strive to create a collaborative environment for accelerated purslane domestication and breeding in VF in the coming years.