Crop Centre in Print
Please find the latest journal publications from the Crop Centre listed below.
For a full list of publications from the School of Life Sciences please visit the Latest Journal Publications
Characterisation of pathogen specific regions and novel effector candidates in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae
Andrew D. Armitage, Andrew Taylor, Maria K. Sobczyk, Laura Baxter, Bethany PJ Greenfield, Helen J Bates, Fiona Wilson, Alison C Jackson, Sascha Ott, Richard J Harrison & John Clarkson
A reference-quality assembly of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (Foc), the causative agent of onion basal rot has been generated along with genomes of additional pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates of onion. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed a single origin of the Foc pathogenic lineage. FTF1 and a subset of other transcription factors implicated in regulation of effector expression were found to be expressed in planta
An improved method for the rapid isolation of RNA from Arabidopsis and seeds of other species high in polyphenols and polysaccharides
Footitt Steven, Awan Sajjad Zahoor and Finch-Savage William E
Seeds are notoriously high in polyphenols and polysaccharides, which reduce RNA quality and yield, and interfere with downstream applications. We present simple modifications to a rapid RNA extraction protocol for use with seeds. The inclusion of polyethylene glycol in place of polyvinylpyrrolidone reduced polyphenol and polysaccharide contamination. In addition, replacing NaCl with KCl improved the RNA yield from Arabidopsis seeds still bound by mucilage.
The use of gas phase detection and monitoring of potato soft rot infection in store
Rutolo Massimo F, Clarkson John P, Harper Glyn and Covington James A
Soft rot caused mainly by the bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum is a major cause of potato post-harvest storage losses. This work reports on pre-symptomatic detection and monitoring of soft rot under laboratory and commercial research store conditions by means of an array of gas sensors
Results showed that a number of gas sensors could detect and monitor early soft rot development with considerable accuracy.
Investigating the potential of an autodissemination system for managing populations of vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera : Curculionidae) with entomopathogenic fungi
Pope Tom, Hough Gemma, Arbona Charlotte, Bennison Jude, Roberts Harriet, Prince Gillian and Chandler Dave
Vine weevil, also known as black vine weevil, (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is an economically important pest affecting soft fruit and nursery stock in temperate regions. We used laboratory and polytunnel experiments to investigate a novel control system based on autodissemination of spores of an entomopathogenic fungus to populations of adult vine weevils. The fungus was applied as a conidial powder, used on its own or formulated with talc, to a simple plastic refuge for vine weevils. The potential of an autodissemination system for entomopathogenic fungi as a means of controlling vine weevil as part of an integrated pest management programme is discussed.
A Suppressor/Avirulence Gene Combination in Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis Determines Race Specificity in Arabidopsis thaliana
Alison Woods-Tör, David J. Studholme, Volkan Cevik, Osman Telli, Eric B. Holub and Mahmut Tör
The pathosystem of Arabidopsis thaliana and diploid biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) has been a model for investigating the molecular basis of Flor's gene-for-gene hypothesis. The isolates Hpa-Noks1 and Hpa-Cala2 are virulent on Arabidopsis accession RMX-A02 whilst an F1 generated from a cross between these two isolates was avirulent. The F2 progeny segregated 3,1 (avirulent, virulent), indicating a single major effect AVR locus in this pathogen. SNP-based linkage mapping confirmed a single AVR locus within a 14 kb map interval containing two genes encoding putative effectors. Genetic investigations suggested other heterozygous suppressor loci might exist in the Hpa-Cala2 genome.
Bill Finch-Savage publications
Interaction of maternal environment and allelic differences in seed vigour genes determines seed performance in Brassica oleracea
Awan Sajjad Zahoor, Footitt Steven and Finch-Savage William E
Seed vigour is a key trait essential for the production of sustainable and profitable crops. The genetic basis of variation in seed vigour has recently been determined in Brassica oleracea, but the relative importance of the interaction with parental environment is unknown. The genetic‐environmental interaction revealed provides a robust mechanism of bet‐hedging to minimize environmental risk during subsequent germination, and this could have facilitated the rapid change in seed behaviour (reduced dormancy and rapid germination) observed during crop domestication. Plant Journal. April 2018
The impact of global warming on germination and seedling emergence in Alliaria petiolata, a woodland species with dormancy loss dependent on low temperature
Footitt S, Huang Z, Ölcer-Footitt H, Clay H, Finch-Savage WE
The impact of global warming on seed dormancy loss and germination was investigated in Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard). The results indicate that as mean temperature increases due to global warming, the chilling requirement for dormancy relief may not be fully satisfied, but seedling emergence will continue from low dormancy seeds in the population. However, this potential for adaptation may be countered by increased seed mortality in the seed bank as soils warm. Plant Biology. April 2018