Mechanisms of weed seed persistence and development of novel weed management tools

杂草的成功至少部分归功于种子休眠和长寿作为早期生命历史适应机制。该项目的总体目标是更深入地了解杂草种子适应环境温度变化的基本机制。杂草和高温胁迫是农业和粮食安全的主要威胁；目前约10%的农作物产量因杂草而丧失。如果没有除草剂，这些损失将达到50%左右。该项目的目标和成果是通过伦敦皇家霍洛威大学(RHUL)G Leubner教授的种子生物学和工程小组与杰洛特希尔国际研究中心(JHIRC，Bracknell，英国)的David Stock博士领导的先正达杂草控制研究小组合作实现的。我们将进行种子休眠、萌发和寿命响应的模拟，重点是有害杂草。这将在不同的温度和化学操作的基础上，为随后的比较激素和转录组图谱提供定量的生理框架，以阐明支撑分子机制。从比较转录组学中，我们将选择差异表达的基因，并推导出保守的和种子特异的靶机制的候选基因。利用已确定的合适靶标基因，我们将开发反义寡核苷酸和识别化学物质，以专门开发用于杂草种子和苗木防除的新型农业技术。该项目和与先正达的合作建立在我们优势的基础上，通过提供创新的农业技术以及提供培训和开发与农业行业相关的技能来促进生物经济。

Weeds owe their success, at least in part, to seed dormancy and longevity as early-life history adaptation mechanisms. The overall aim of this project is to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of weed seed adaptation to changing ambient temperatures. Weeds and heat stress are major threats to agriculture and food security; about 10% of crop production is currently lost to weeds. Without herbicides these losses would be about 50%. The objectives and deliverables of this project are achieved in a collaboration between the Seed Biology and Engineering Group of Prof G Leubner at Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL) and Syngenta's Weed Control Research led by Dr David Stock at Jealott's Hill International Research Centre (JHIRC, Bracknell, UK). We will conduct seed dormancy, germination, and longevity modelling of responses with the focus on noxious weeds. This will be at different temperatures and upon chemical manipulation to deliver the quantitative physiological framework for the subsequent comparative hormone and transcriptome profiling to elucidate the underpinning molecular mechanisms. From the comparative transcriptomics we will select differentially expressed genes and derive candidates for conserved and seed-specific target mechanisms. Using identified suitable targets genes we will develop antisense oligionucleotides and identify chemicals to specifically develop novel agri-technologies for weed seed and seedling control. This project and collaboration with Syngenta builds on our strengths to enhance the bioeconomy by providing innovative agri-technologies and by providing training and developing skills relevant to the agricultural industry.