Roots for the Future BBSRC LINK SUREROOT

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1 Roots for the Future BBSRC LINK SUREROOT September 2015 Dr Heather McCalman BBSRC and industry funded science developing improved rooting systems in grasses and clover for sustainable livestock systems and for ecosystem service

2 Roots for the future SUREROOT

3 Increased incidents of UK flooding Jan 2014 wettest on record (151% higher) Floods at Aberystwyth 2012 Effects of flooding & managing risk = 2.2b/a To maintain existing flood defences spending will have to increase by circa 20m/a Floods on the Somerset Levels 2014 To manage surface & groundwater flooding will require 150m/a Insurance claims for July 2007 floods > 3b Crop losses due to floods in 2012 = 600m

4 Photo: BBC News : Weather The Challenge Develop Robust Livestock Systems to Help Mitigate Climate Change Impact of change in rainfall patterns : i) reduced livestock productivity from reduced yields ii) long-term damage to pastures and soil.

5 CLIMATE CHANGE Increased persistency Reduced soil erosion Reduced flooding Resistance to abiotic stresses Impact on the environment & reduced emission of greenhouse gasses RELEASE OF N etc. High yielding & high quality cultivars IBERS Plant breeding for the future Impact on the rhizosphere Root & shoot growth effects on nutrient & water uptake, soil structure, soil hydrology Improved stability of grassland ecosystems Combining genetics & physiological analysis of agronomic and crop sustainability traits for precision breeding. WATER QUALITY & USE New Traits & Sources of Genetic diversity

6 Overview - SUREROOT Natural plant breeding methods, IBERS developing new grasses (Festuloliums) and clovers -increased root system to mitigate the effects of too much or too little rainwater

7 Effects of roots on soil Not simply due to root biomass: soil structure changed in cores despite lower root biomass of white clover improved soil structure : Changes in weight per unit volume of the soil : soil becomes lighter Water percolation rates improve & soil becomes more freely drained Picture from Witty & Mytton, IGER Innovations, 2001

8 SUREROOT WORK-PROGRAMMES WP1: Modifying root architecture WP2: Analysis of root phenotype WP3: Impact of root phenotype on drought responses WP4: Impact of root phenotype on field water flow WP5: Participatory research on Commercial Development farms

9 GRASSES Introduction - Festuloliums X Project Leader: Mike Humphreys, IBERS Fescue x Ryegrass (IRG) = FESTULOLIUM

10 Sources of novel variation for adaptive traits to offer into ryegrass increased resilience to climatic stresses Meadow fescue Glaucous fescue Tall fescue AberNiche 1 st Festulolium on UK National List Atlas fescue

11 Festulolium are multifunctional providing sustainable agricultural production & environmental service Festulolium provide opportunities for: Improved tolerance to drought, heat, & cold Improved soil structures & hydrology Flood mitigation Improved nutrient-use-efficiency C sequestration Reclamation of brown-field sites Prevention of soil erosion & land-slide Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by livestock

12 ryegrass cultivar Total Rainfall Using Festulolium for flood control Festulolium cultivar 60% run-off New roots New roots 25% run-off 70% run-off from total rainfall 35% run-off from total rainfall 10% run-off New roots Dead Roots 10% run-off 30% rainfall retained 65% rainfall retained Over 15 months- root turn-over in perennial ryegrass and a Festulolium cultivar and the impacts of dead roots on soil hydrology

13 Development of white clover with improved drought tolerance Introgression of the rhizomatous trait from Caucasian clover (T.ambiguum) to improve drought tolerance T. repens T.ambiguum T.repens T.ambiguum BC2 Interspecific hybrids Advanced backcrosses with stolons and rhizomes

14 WP1 3 IBERS National Plant Phenomics Centre Enables regular non destructive scanning of roots

15 Festulolium Root imaging

16 Farm Platform Festulolium Corner

17 Rainfall North Wyke Farm Platform Festulolium cv Prior + white clover Festulolium cv Prior

18 Commercial Development Farms (WP5) To determine if new grasses and/or clovers can be used in ruminant and mono-gastric systems to: maintain viable productivity and provide protection to soils against the impacts of climate change.

19 Work-package 5: Aims Aid adoption of new grass & clover varieties amongst UK farmers Determine their role in livestock systems & value to end-user Key role in knowledge exchange Farming Research

20 SUREROOT commercial development farms Geographically spread All sectors Range of soil types Short term ley- silage system Grass a good fit in rotation Active engagement

21 WP5 Overview Project Plan Phase 1: PILOT 2 x 1 ha plots Single species leys Festulolium (AberNiche) v. Hybrid Ryegrass (AberEve) Phase 2 : Sowing of new material Link practice with science = IBERS plots

22 Sheep South West Clay loam Autumn sown Wales Silty clay loam Autumn sown

23 Beef Silty clay Autumn sown Pigs Sandy loam Sowing spring 2015 under cereals

24 Dairy Conventional Sandy clay/gravel Autumn sown Organic Sandy Spring undersown

25 Eggs Clay loam Spring sowing 2015 Organic Poultry Turkey Sandy clay loam Autumn sown & grazed

26 SUREROOT began in 2014 builds on earlier projects eg BREEDING LINK New varieties and hybrids with enhanced root structure (grasses and legumes white and red clover) Retain high agronomic performance Festuloliums differ widely- check out the parents One festulolium on the recommended list

27 BBSRC and industry funded science developing improved rooting systems in grasses and clover for sustainable livestock systems and for ecosystem service