IWYP Call 2: Rooty-A root ideotype toolbox to support improved wheat yields

该项目汇集了来自7个研究所和5家育种公司的世界级根系研究和小麦遗传改良领导团队，并将这些专业知识纳入国际小麦年计划。我们优化根系的目标是提高产量潜力这一总体IWYP目标的关键组成部分：通过IWYP开发的高产作物很可能需要更多的水和养分来支持这些产量，而根系必须以有效的方式提供这些水分和养分，而不能从谷物形成中吸收超过提供这一功能所需的碳。该项目建立在小麦基因组工具、种质资源、“快速育种”、对根系生长/发育的生理和遗传理解、高通量根系表型方法和准备开发的新遗传变异的最新发展基础上。我们建立了一个管道来验证根理想型对产量的影响，基于使用：(1)最近克隆的基因，(2)已知的QTL，(3)全新的自然和人工等位基因发现。该管道提供了经过验证的根系理想型的交错交付，这些理想型将为IWYP中心、参与的育种公司和更广泛的小麦育种网络开展的育种活动提供支持。通过关注作物经常被忽视的“看不见的那一半”，这种方法补充了IWYP关于地上性状的工作，最终提供了知识和资源，以便将来将地上和地下方法结合起来，以最大限度地提高产量遗传收益。

This project assembles a world-class team of leaders in root research and wheat genetic improvement from seven institutes and five breeding companies, and brings this expertise into the IWYP programme. Our goal of optimising root systems is a critical component of the overarching IWYP aim of raising yield potential: higher yielding crops developed through IWYP will most likely demand more water and nutrients to support those yields, and roots must supply these in an efficient manner without draining any more carbon away from grain formation than is necessary to provide this function. The project builds on state-of-the-art developments in wheat genomic tools, germplasm resources, 'Speed Breeding', physiological and genetic understanding of root growth/development, high-throughput root phenotyping methods and the creation of novel genetic variation ready for exploitation. We establish a pipeline to validate the impact of root ideotype on yield, based on the use of: (1) recently cloned genes, (2) known QTL, and (3) de novo natural and artificial allele discovery. This pipeline provides staggered delivery of validated root ideotypes that will feed the breeding activities carried out by the IWYP Hub, participating breeding companies, and wider wheat breeding networks. By focusing on the often ignored 'invisible half' of the crop, this approach complements IWYP work on above ground traits, ultimately providing the knowledge and resources to allow above and below ground approaches to be combined in the future to maximise yield genetic gains.