Roots for the Future - A systematic approach to root design [SUREROOT]

英国日益频繁的极端气候事件预示着贝丁顿(2009)所描述的“完美风暴”的来临。2012年，一场早季干旱、随后的极端降雨和洪水席卷了英国的大片地区，这推动了人们对气候智能农业的需求，这种农业将在这里用于应对气候变化和粮食安全的双重挑战。在2012年11月的80h期间，超过46x106L的降雨落在北威克农场平台(NWFP)上，其中90%立即作为陆上水流或排水损失。干旱还挑战了英国草原的可持续性，并越来越多地发生在冬季，那里现在遇到的较温暖的气温鼓励了冬季的持续增长，使易受干旱影响的品种面临风险。英国草原占据了所有可用农业用地的65%，与大多数其他作物不同的是，草地由多年生物种组成，这些物种提供了多年的作物产量。它们广泛的土地复盖和持久性相结合，除了作为畜牧业的高质量饲料的传统作用外，还为草原提供了环境服务的机会。这是通过选择适当的品种并在必要时对其进行修改和改善草原管理来实现的，这些好处可能会持续多年。草原为英国许多河流提供了集水区，并根据河流的组成对水的收集、释放和质量起到了调节作用。IBERS以培育草和三叶草品种的创新方法而被广泛认可。然而，到目前为止，品种开发一直忽视了改善根系设计或改善根系-土壤相互作用的机会，这些机会将改善土壤结构、水文、养分利用，并减少影响作物产量的紧实度。BBSRC最近在《自然科学报告》上发表的一项研究(涉及这项建议的PI)表明，一种新的草种杂交有可能引发显著的根-土相互作用，如果在田间规模复制，将在防洪方面产生显著的效益(DOI：10.1038/SREP01683)。同样的结果也被记录在白三叶草上。在目前的项目中，将在实地范围内独立评估两者的防洪潜力，并将其作为混合物。该项目将使用BBSRC支持的两个新的国家能力：国家植物表型组学中心(NPPC)和北威克农场平台(NWFP)。该项目将在不同的尺度上调查从单个植物的基因型，到地块，再到作物，通过改良的根部设计或生长模式可以实现的环境服务潜力。NPCC和NWFP设施取得的成果将通过在不同地点的商业农场和替代牲畜管理系统下测试选定的品种来验证。该提案将使用最新的BBSRC高通量表型和基因组技术，以及一套具有良好特征和相关的实验种群，以及分子标记，从事标记辅助育种，以改进优良饲草草和三叶草品种的根系设计。适合进入国家名单试验的植物材料将在该项目的时间进程内开发出来。这项建议是通过BBSRC独立链接计划提交的。该项目将受益于代表英国草原和畜牧业不同部门的工业伙伴的参与，以便确定和审查关键目标，评估研究的影响，在草原部门内传播结果，以及吸收和交付项目成果。

The increasing frequency of extreme climate events in the UK suggests the approach of the 'Perfect Storm' described by Beddington (2009). In 2012 an early season drought followed by extreme rainfall and flooding over extensive areas of the UK drove the need for the 'climate smart' agriculture that will be used here to address the dual challenges of climate change and food security. Over an 80h period in November 2012, more than 46 x 106L of rain fell on the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP), 90% of which was immediately lost as overland flow or in drainage. Droughts also challenge the sustainability of UK grasslands and occur increasingly in winter where the warmer temperatures now encountered encourage continued winter growth placing drought susceptible varieties at risk. UK grasslands occupy 65% of all available agricultural land and unlike most other crops comprise perennial species that provide crop yields over many years. The combination of their extensive land-cover and persistency provides grasslands opportunities for environmental service in addition to their traditional roles as high quality forage for livestock agriculture. This is achieved through selection of the appropriate varieties and when necessary their modification, and improved grassland management, with benefits likely to persist over years. Grasslands provide catchments for many UK rivers and act as regulators of water capture, its release, and quality dependent on their composition. IBERS is widely recognised for innovative approaches to breeding grass and clover varieties. However, variety development has untill now neglected programmes to improve root design or the opportunities for improved root-soil interactions that will deliver improved soil structure, hydrology, nutrient use and reduce the compaction that compromises crop yields. A recent BBSRC study published in Nature Scientific Reports (involving the PI of this proposal) demonstrated the potential for a novel grass species hybrid to initiate significant root-soil interactions that would if reproduced at the field-scale generate significant benefits in terms of flood control (DOI:10.1038/srep01683). Equivalent results have been recorded in white clover. In the current project, the potential of both for flood control will be assessed at the field scale, independently and as mixtures. The project will use two new BBSRC-supported National Capabilities: the National Plant Phenomics Centre (NPPC) and the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP). The project will investigate at different scales from the individual plant genotype, to the plot, through to the crop the potential for environmental service that may be achieved through a modified root design or growth pattern. The results achieved from the NPCC and NWFP facilities will be validated by testing selected varieties on commercial farms in diverse locations and under alternative livestock management systems.The proposal will use the latest BBSRC high-throughput phenomic and genomic technologies, with a suite of well characterised and relevant experimental populations together with molecular markers to engage in marker-assisted breeding for improved root designs in elite forage grass and clover varieties. Plant materials suitable for entry into National List trials will be developed within the time-course of the project. This proposal is being submitted through the BBSRC stand-alone LINK scheme. The project will benefit from the involvement of industrial partners that represent the various sectors of the UK grassland and livestock industry allowing for identification and review of key targets, and evaluation of the impact of the research, dissemination of the results within the grassland sector, and uptake and delivery of project outcomes.