Plant Science

This project proposes a two-track approach to develop
new wheat genotypes with enhanced nitrogen use efficiency for
a sustainable farming system to reach the following objectives

1. Develop molecular genetics to screen for N use in future
breeding programmes. QTL analysis on available doubled
haploid lines (DHLs) will be done to establish the validity
of using GS1 as a biochemical marker in selecting for
enhanced N use. We will also locate the wheat GS1 gene(s)
to a marker-saturated map in wheat. We will also cross best
doubled haploid lines with elite wheat.

2. Develop new wheat genotypes with enhanced N-use by cereal
transformation on elite and double haploid mapped lines to
over-express glutamine synthetase in the shoot. We will study
the transformed wheat in glasshouse and field trials to select best
lines with enhanced N-fertiliser-use efficiency. We will evaluate the
use of the new wheat genotypes in integrated farming systems.