RCUK-CIAT Newton Fund: Exploiting biodiversity in Brachiaria/Panicum tropical forage grasses using genetics to improve livelihoods and sustainability

总体目标是通过有重点的、以科学为基础的生物多样性开发热带牧草新品种（Brachiaria和Panicum种及其杂交品种）来发展哥伦比亚的经济，以满足中小型农民的需求，并确定环境可持续性目标。以下目标将为实现这一目标提供基础知识：-鉴定材料的倍性，以确定在整个腕足属种质收集中进行二倍体和多倍体水平育种的合适亲本；利用NGS数据开发基因组特异性探针，以鉴定多倍体和杂交体的基因组组成——鉴定与决定饲料质量（如消化率、脂质含量以减少肠道甲烷排放）有关的候选基因，从而绘制等位基因多样性图谱；对无融合生殖、无融合生殖基因和无融合生殖的育种利用进行了进一步的了解——对这两个属的30 - 40份材料进行了rna测序，确定了候选基因的优先级，建立了跨属变异的泛基因组。分析RNA-seq数据，寻找杂交基因组相互作用和差异基因表达的证据-确定饲料作物对环境和可持续性要求（温室气体、土壤/侵蚀、水、养分循环）改善的影响；确定哥伦比亚农民和育种者对特定牧草改良性状的经济吸引力；测定改良腕鱼种子性状的经济价值和市场规模；确定环境效益的措施。-制作RNAi和CRISPR-CAS9结构，旨在修改候选基因，以提高饲料质量-根据结果计划第二和第三年的项目-产出和能力建设：培训CIAT在英国的员工和学生，以提高技术技能和经验；允许英国学员在CIAT获得国际经验；为农民、决策者、公众准备出版物、博客、网站，举办研讨会传播成果。

The overall objective is economic development in Colombia by focused, science-based exploitation of biodiversity to develop new varieties of tropical forage grasses (Brachiaria and Panicum species and hybrids) to meet needs of small and medium scale farmers, and defined goals of environmental sustainability. The following objectives will generate underpinning knowledge for this aim: - Identify ploidy of accessions to identify appropriate parents for breeding at diploid and polyploid levels across the germplasm collection for Brachiaria; development of genome-specific probes from NGS data to identify the genomic composition of polyploids and hybrids- Identification of candidate genes implicated in determining forage quality (eg digestibility, lipid content to reduce enteric methane emissions) leading to an atlas of the allelic diversity; Gain improved knowledge of apomixis, its genes and seed production for exploitation in breeding- RNA-seq from 30 to 40 accessions of both genera to prioritize candidate genes for breeding, building towards a pan-genome defining variation across the genera. Analyse RNA-seq data for evidence of genome interactions and differential gene expression in hybrids- Define pull from improvements in environmental and sustainability requirements (GHG, soils/erosion, water, nutrient cycling) from forage crops; Define economic pull for defined forage grass improved characters from farmers and breeders in Colombia; Measure the economic value of traits and market sizes for improved Brachiaria seed; define measures for environmental benefits. - Make RNAi and CRISPR-CAS9 constructs designed to modify candidate genes to improve forage quality- Plan second and third years programme based on results- Outputs and capacity building: Training of CIAT staff and students in UK to raise technical skills and experience; allow UK participants to gain international experience at CIAT; Prepare publications, blogs, website for farmers, policy makers, public, hold a workshop to disseminate results.