Meeting Notes for:
Second meeting for Defra project WU0128 - Crop Improvement for Resource-Use Efficiency
Date: 10/11/09
Attendees: Andrew Thompson, John Hammond, Miriam Gifford, James Lynn, Carol Ryder,
Helen Bowen, Martin Sergeant
Notes (Actions in bold)
MG updated everyone on the progress of the proposal. It had been sent back to Defra with
responses to levy body reviewers (action point from last meeting; we decided not to modify
the field trial due to cost implications). We were then waiting for final comments. Since then
(13/10/09) it has been approved by Defra and sent to Contracts! We now need a project
code and project-specific shared area available to all staff involved in the project ASAP.
MG to chase Finance team for a ledger code and request new shared area from IT
once the code is released (same action point as last time).
AT to sort out contract for isotope analysis.
HB and CR gave an update on how work with the 118 population is going (action point from
last meeting). CR obtained RFLP scoring data for lines 122, 134 and 141; 173 is being rescored (action point from last time).
118 is at backcross 1 F3 (selfed) and is being scored at the moment. It looks like we have
separate introgressions so just now need to work out which one confers the water use effect
(HH is carrying out this scoring).
AT asked CR how many seed was available for the 118 F3 population (need a lot for fine
mapping). It sounds like there is enough seed; rather than setting up more plants/crosses
CR will wait for HH’s results. Together this is also part of a proof-of-concept for preselcting
useful markers.
HH, CR and HB to continue with this work as planned.
MS discussed acquiring and bulking of the diversity set(s). 300 of the 363 out of 1,200 are
available if we also use seed from Eric Holub’s group. Work is continuing to acquire the rest
(after publication etc). There was discussion of the fact that some ecotypes will require
vernalisation before they flower. Glasshouse E8 has space for ecotype bulking and the cold
store might have space for plants to allow vernalisation. Glasshouse compartments have
been secured as actioned last time (D12 and E8). HH is using one compartment for
phenotyping at the moment.
MS/HB to check which ecotypes require vernalisation so to allow proper preparation
time/resources.
We are waiting for all association mapping methods to become available so that JL can test
the different approaches (action point from last time still underway). JL updated everyone
that he is using MG’s root architecture/N data for the Nordborg 96 ecotypes. So far analysis
is going well, a number of traits show a big difference between ecotypes. Soon this will be
put together with the mineral and root data to identify a new diversity set.
JL to compare association mapping approaches when data becomes available. It was
suggested that no AM be done until the new methods are available (to save from
carrying out the analysis twice).
JH updated everyone with the projects his visiting workers are involved in. One is testing the
effect of high and low N on root architecture using the Brassica napus diversity set.
MG to schedule the next meeting for after HH’s work is complete (mid-Dec).