Next generation technology for sustainable sugarbeetindustry
- Reference number
- SM14-0032
- Start and end dates
- 150101-161231
- Amount granted
- 1 374 296 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Research area
- Life Science Technology
Summary
The goal of the project is to provide the applicant with industry experience through research collaboration with Syngenta Seeds AB in Landskrona, a global center for sugar beet research and breeding within Syngenta. We will develop better management and control of rhizomania disease of sugar beet caused by a virus. We will use ChIP-seq (next generation sequencing, NGS) to identify the targets of the virus virulence factor, a transcriptional activator. The frequent occurrence of resistance breaking strains of the virus has pointed out to the weakness of the virus resistance gene pool. Novel knowledge is needed to allow scientists and breeders to develop long-term resistance to the virus. NGS approach proposed in this project enhances the probability of generating more rapidly innovative and competitive genetic solutions against the virus to ensure the stable and sustainable production of sugar beet. Enabling a network between sugar beet breeders and virus research would stimulate competitiveness of stakeholders of the sugar beet industry. The proposed research will enhance the company’s competitiveness in terms of better resistance varieties, increased intellectual property and expansion of genetic resources for breeding. The collaboration between BioCenter SLU and Syngenta Seeds AB will contribute to the further growth and development of the company. The educational environment at BioCenter SLU will benefit from the research cooperation and link with Syngenta Seeds AB.
Popular science description
Many RNA viruses cause economically important diseases in cultivated crops, including rhizomania (literally - ‘root madness’) disease caused by Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV). BNYVV is transmitted in soil by spores of fungus-like organism Polymyxa betae. The distribution of infested soil is responsible for the dissemination of both the vector and the virus. Eradicating the disease is nowadays impossible as no treatment except fumigation with methyl bromide is efficient against the virus-carrying spores that remain viable for decades in infested soil. Such treatment was prohibited for safety reasons. Alternative strategies to control the viruses include the use of resistant varieties, which contain resistance genes. The resistant plants usually restrict the virus in the initially infected cells. In fields infested with rhizomania it is essential to grow BNYVV-resistant varieties to maintain high yields of sugar beet. However, the resistance breaking strains of the virus have started to emerge and spread in different parts of US and Europe during the last years. The conventional varieties carrying resistance genes get infected by the more aggressive strains of BNYVV which can be a considerable problem in the future. Therefore, novel strategies aiming to combat viral diseases need to be investigated. Syngenta Seeds AB is an innovative agricultural company in the Southern Sweden and one of the key global centers for sugar beet research and breeding. The project intends to increase applicant's experience by conducting biotech industry research through collaboration between BioCenter SLU and Syngenta Seeds AB. The project aims to find novel genetic sources of resistance for sustainable control of the virus. Methods will be developed to identify genetic entities, which determine susceptibility of sugar beet to the virus. The proposed collaboration will increase the candidate's knowledge of the sugar beet biotechnology industry sector. The project will also expand genetic resources for company’s breeding-for-resistance programs. During this fellowship period the applicant will established research cooperation between BioCenter SLU and Syngenta Seeds AB, which will further contribute to development of research and educational environment at BioCenter SLU. This activity will be essential to improve understanding of the rhizomania disease and for the development of control options through crop management and sugar beet breeding in the future.