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Plant Science
Metabolic Regulation: Molecular Nutrition

Research Leader: Dr Malcolm J Hawkesford

Enhancing yield for bioenergy with stay-green phenotypes in wheat

The hypothesis that the maintenance of a photosynthetically active canopy in the post anthesis period will positively influence yield and control of its senescence will produce a product rich in carbon with optimum efficiency of nitrogen input will be tested. The key approaches being undertaken are:

1. Examination of wheat staygreen mutants with respect to impacts on post anthesis photosynthesis, yield, nitrogen use efficiency, expression of key relevant genes.
2. Examination of germplasm in field with contrasting maturation patterns (as in 1).
3. Identification and analysis of mutants (Arabidopsis, rice) with altered expression of key genes.
4. Generation of wheat transgenics with manipulated expression of key transcription factors.
5. Manipulation of rates of maturity by controlling post anthesis water supply and mineral nutrition



Fig 2: A Licor IRGA is used to screen for functional stay-green mutants

Economic production of first generation energy crops are dependent upon optimised yields for given inputs. Yield is strongly related to nitrogen fertiliser input, a major cost factor and potential environmental pollutant. Optimising C production and minimising N inputs are key targets for the production of bioenergy crops. Economic production of bioethanol from wheat will require this optimisation. The research will lead to an improved understanding of how post anthesis canopy longevity is related to yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Key genes regulating the senescence processes will be investigated, providing future targets and applications for plant breeding and biotechnology.

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