Dr Cristobal Uauy, Project Leader Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre – Dr Uauy will be speaking at CropTec 2014.
“I’ve been in the UK at the John Innes Centre for five years. When I saw the post advertised I knew that I had to apply because of the international reputation that the institute has. We are focused on exploring how better understanding of plant genetics can be used to improve crop production.

What I want to convey at CropTec is that using new genetic markers and sequencing technology is helping to speed up the development of crops that deliver higher yields, can resist pests and disease and have improved quality. The development in genetics has been dramatic with new techniques allowing us to identify more markers at lower and lower costs. So while a few years ago identifying markers may have taken several years of a student’s life now it can be done in an afternoon.

In the past traditional genetic crossing has allowed breeders to develop resistance to disease, but often that has relied on one gene delivering that resistance. Now we can breed resistance into a crop using multiple resistant genes which means that protection against disease is more resilient. Other areas we are looking at include midge resistance and improving protein content in wheat.

Much has been spoken about a plateau in UK wheat yields and while there may be a number of agronomic and economic reasons for that, genetic markers should play an increasing role in helping deliver improved on-farm yields. Wheat was one of the later food crops to have its genome mapped because it is more complex than other crops such as rice and maize. That complexity has meant wheat has been more adaptability compared to other crops, allowing it to be grown in extreme conditions across the world, but that complexity also means that genetic progress has lagged behind that for maize and rice. But now we are gaining a better understanding of the genetic make-up of wheat and are optimistic that it will lead to significant gains in sustainable yield.

My presentation at CropTec gives us a great opportunity to share our work with the farmers who are starting to witness how the technology we are developing is being incorporated into wheat varieties. It also provides us with a great opportunity to learn from them about what they expect from the latest crop genetic developments.”
For more on CropTec see www.croptechshow.com

With arable farmers facing a number of challenges currently – such as black-grass control, disease control and plateauing yields – the forthcoming CropTec event will see Syngenta showcasing its role in developing a number of technologies to help growers respond to such challenges.

The event is being held on 19 and 20 November 2014 at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. As well as hosting a show stand, the company is also sponsoring a seminar on plant breeding at the event.

According to Syngenta, the cereal disease landscape is changing – with increased difficulty controlling Septoria tritici if it starts to establish,                                                                                          and aggressive attacks of rust.

Accordingly, the company will continue with its ‘prepare, protect, succeed’ initiative this season. This focuses on the argument for protecting yields by getting on the front foot against disease, by placing greater emphasis on prevention rather than cure.

Among attractions on the Syngenta stand, therefore, will be latest information on using the isopyrazam-based range of winter wheat and barley SDHI fungicides to achieve longer-lasting, preventative control – rather than risking disease getting out of hand.

In addition, given concerns about Septoria tritici, the growing case for including the multi-site fungicide Bravo in programmes will also come under the microscope. With its built-in Weatherstik formulation designed to boost rainfastness, the company says this is particularly relevant, since Septoria is a wet weather disease.

From a plant breeding perspective, the Syngenta stand will highlight the company’s Hyvido® hybrid barley technology. This will include key information on agronomy principles to help growers and agronomists maximise the high yield potential of Hyvido® crops in the ground this season, as well as latest information on the Hyvido® optional cashback yield guarantee. Earlier this year, Hyvido® was also shown in ADAS trial work to deliver up to a 91% reduction in black-grass seed numbers per metre squared compared with winter wheat. This added benefit of the vigorous growth of Hyvido® has implications for helping to reduce all-important black-grass seed return within rotations, Syngenta points out.

Meanwhile, as part of the plant breeding seminar, Syngenta will examine the issue of a growing world population and the role that modern techniques, such as doubled haploid and marker assisted breeding, can play in accelerating traditional plant breeding, to bring better varieties to growers, faster.