20th WGIN Stakeholders' Meeting

Registration via Eventbrite from January 3rd, 2023 – Click here to register

AGENDA

Time 09:45 am to 4.30 pm (entry via the Zoom lobby open from 9.30 am).

Please note: The Zoom link will be sent to all registered attendees on January 31st, 2023.

 

09:45

  1. Introduction and Welcome: Peter Shewry (WGIN Chair, Rothamsted Research)

AHDB section

09:50

  1. Wheat Market Update – AHDB Market Analyst Abstract to follow

International section

10:10

  1. The New Wheat Initiative Strategy – Coordinating Global Wheat Research –

Professor Peter Langridge (University of Adelaide)

Abstract to follow. Please see here for info

WGIN section

10:30

  1. Exploring New Possibilities for Reduced Lodging in Wheat: Simon Griffiths (John Innes Centre)

Lodging reduces yield and quality in wheat. Breeders face a constant balancing act between increasing yield while controlling the potential for lodging. Over the years the main tool used to achieve this has been the Green Revolution semi dwarfing gene, Rht-1. WGIN has conducted research designed to home in on some new or underutilised traits that might increase the options available in breeding and help to ensure that future UK crops lodge less.

10:50

  1. New phenotypes in Triticum monococcum introgressed hexaploid wheat: Michael Hammond-Kosack (Rothamsted Research)

The diploid, grass related Triticum monococcum harbours an unusually large number of desirable traits for introgression into hexaploid wheat, including broad spectrum resistance to many pathogens as well as specific high-level resistance to specific ones. Here we report on the successful breeding of 3 T.mon cultivars into Paragon and various characteristics of ~1000 individual near homozygous lines generated, including ear architecture, grain yields, coloured wheat and even 7 grain spikelets.

Designing Future Wheat (DFW) section

11:10

  1. Grassroots – an online data repository – what, why and how? Andrew Riche (Rothamsted Research)

Efficient ways of arranging, storing and making data available are current & common issues across disciplines. Within Designing Future Wheat, the Grassroots database has been developed so that data is efficiently organised, using standardised terms, has adequate background information, and is available online. This resource will become increasingly useful, e.g. for meta-analyses as the database grows, and in a future project the capability of the system should be developed to handle new data formats, such as images, with bespoke tools for data extraction.

11:25

BREAK – 10 mins – attendees please stay online.

UK wheat projects

11:35

  1. Regulation of carbon assimilation by Rubisco in wheat: Elizabete Carmo-Silva (Lancaster University)

Abstract to follow

11:55

  1. Unlocking the potential of wheat grain heterogeneity using machine vision: John Foulkes (University of Nottingham)

Abstract to follow

12:15

  1. Sustainability and nutrition – why milling research is crucial: Joe Brennan (UK Flour Millers)

Pressure is growing from policymakers and customers alike to reduce nitrogen fertiliser use, a key input for milling wheat. Likewise, obesity rates are rising and “processed foods” such as white flour are in the crosshairs of campaigners and commentators. How is milling wheat research helping tackle the issues of nutrition and sustainability challenges

12:35

  1. Watkins and the Slug Sleuths: Tom Allen-Stevens (British On-Farm Innovation Network)

Abstract to follow

Morning session to finish by 13:00

Panel discussion section

Topic: ‘The role of genetics in Integrated Pest Management’

Panel Chair – Professor Peter Shewry (Rothamsted Research)

How to submit your questions – Attendees will be invited to send in questions either in advance via the WGIN email – wgin.defra@rothamsted.ac.uk or during this virtual stakeholder event via the ‘chat’ function in Zoom.

14:00

  1. Introductory Talk – Jenna Watts (Head of Crop Health & IPM, AHDB)

14:20

  1. Discussion period – 60min

panellists

  1. Neil Paveley (ADAS)
  2. Tom Allen-Stevens (BOFIN)
  3. Holly Alpren (defra)
  4. Jenna Watts (AHDB)
  5. Phil Humphrey (AICC, NIAB) agronomist

 

15:20

12 . general discussion about the day

16:00 meeting ends

Please contact Mike Hammond-Kosack at wgin.defra@rothamsted.ac.uk for any queries, comments and last and most importantly great questions for the IPM panel discussion

 

WGIN, the Wheat Genetic Improvement Network, originally started in 2003 and has now been funded for another five years by Defra until 2023. This network always has been and still is continuing to bring UK Wheat breeders, Research Scientists and Stakeholders together with the overall aim of improving the wheat crop.