Scottish Crop Research Institute Annual Report 1996/97 Contents on page 4 Governing Body Chairman A.N. MacCallum, B.Sc., F.D.I.C. (w.e.f. 1-4-97) J.L.Millar, C.B.E., C.A. (Retired 1-4-97) A.C. Bain (w.e.f. 1-4-97) Professor R.J. Cogdell, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.E. (w.e.f. 1-4-97) Professor Heather M. Dick, M.D., F.R.C.P. Glas., F.R.C.Path., C.Biol., F.I.Biol., F.R.S.E. J.M. Drysdale (w.e.f. 1-4-97) J.B. Forrest, F.R.Ag.S. J.E. Godfrey, B.Sc., A.R.Ag.S. Professor J.D. Hayes, B.Sc., M.S., Ph.D., C.Biol., F.I.Biol. (Retired 1-4-97) K. Hopkins, F.C.A. (w.e.f. 1-4-97) J.A. Inverarity, O.B.E., C.A., F.R.Ag.S., F.R.S.A. (Retired 1-4-97) A.M. Jacobsen, B.Sc.Agric. (Retired 1-4-97) Professor D.L. Lee, B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Biol., F.I.Biol., F.Z.S., F.R.S.A. A. Logan, S.D.A., N.D.A., F.I.Hort. (Retired 1-4-97) Professor T.A. Mansfield, Ph.D., C.Biol., F.I.Biol., F.R.S. (Retired 1-4-97) Professor J.A. Raven, M.A., Ph.D., Ph.D.h.c., F.R.S.E., F.R.S. (Retired 1-4-97) G. Rennie, O.N.D.Agric. (Retired 1-4-97) J.M. Sime, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.C., C.Chem. (w.e.f. 1-4-97) Professor A.R. Slabas, B.Sc., D.Phil. T.P.M. Thomson, M.A. P. Whitworth, H.N.C. (w.e.f. 1-4-97) Professor P.C. Young, B.Tech., M.Sc., M.A., Ph.D., Wh.F., C.Eng., M.I.E.E., F.I.M.A., F.R.S.S. (w.e.f. 1-4-97) Accountants : KPMG, Royal Exchange, Dundee. Solicitors : Dundas and Wilson C.S., Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh. Banking : Bank of Scotland, 11-19 Reform Street, Dundee. Patent Agents : Murgitroyd & Co, 373 Scotland Street, Glasgow. Supervisory Medical Officers : Dr Ann Simpson & Dr S Mitchell, Occupational Health Service, Panmure House, 4 Dudhope Terrace, Dundee. Scottish Crop Research Institute Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK. A charitable company (No. SC006662) limited by guarantee No. 29367 (Scotland) and registered at the above address. Telephone : 01382 562731 Fax : 01382 562426 Telex : 93121 33325 SC G CGNET : 10087 NQQ003 Electronic Mail: [email protected] WWW: http://www.scri.sari.ac.uk/ Editors : W.H. Macfarlane Smith, T.D. Heilbronn Graphics and Design : I.R. Pitkethly, G. Menzies Photography : T.G. Geoghegan, S.F. Malecki, G. Menzies ISSN 0263 7200 ISBN 0 9058 75109 ©Scottish Crop Research Institute 1997 The Scottish Crop Research Institute Das SCRI ist ein führendes (SCRI) is a major international internationales centre for research on agricultural, Forschungszentrum für horticultural and industrial crops, and Nutzpflanzen im Acker- und on the underlying processes common Gartenbau sowie in der Industrie und auf dem to all plants. It aims to increase knowledge of the Gebiet der allen Pflanzen zugrundeliegenden Prozesse. basic biological sciences; to improve crop quality and Es hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, die Grundkenntnisse in utilisation by the application of conventional and den Biowissenschaften zu vertiefen; die Qualität und molecular genetical techniques and novel agronomic Nutzung der Kulturpflanzen durch die Anwendung practices; and to develop environmentally benign konventioneller und molekular-genetischer Techniken methods of protecting crops from depredations by und neuer agrarwissenschaftlicher Praktiken zu pests, pathogens and weeds. A broad multidisciplinary verbessern; sowie umweltfreundliche Methoden zum approach to research is a special strength of the Schutz der Pflanzen gegen Verlust durch Schädlinge, Institute, and the range of skills available from Pathogene und Unkräuter zu entwickeln. Ein breiter fundamental studies on genetics and physiology, multidisziplinärer Forschungsansatz ist eine besondere through agronomy and pathology to glasshouse and Stärke des Instituts; und das zur Verfügung stehende field trials is unique within the UK research service. Spektrum an fachlichen Ausrichtungen, das von genetischer und physiologischer Grundlagenforschung über Agrarwissenschaften und Pathologie bis zu Gewächshaus- und Feldversuchen reicht, stellt ein einmaliges Forschungsangebot auf den Britischen Inseln dar. Le SCRI est un centre international majeur de recherche sur les cultures agricoles, Lo SCRI e’ uno dei maggiori centri horticoles et industrielles et les internazionali nel campo della ricerca processus fondamentaux communs à sulle colture agricole, orticole e toutes les plantes. Son but est industriali e sui meccanismi d’accrôitre les connaissances des sciences biologiques fondamentali comuni a tutte le piante. fondamentales; d’améliorer la qualité et l’utilisation L’Istituto ha come obiettivo principale des cultures par l’utilisation de techniques l’accrescimento del livello di conoscenza delle scienze conventionelles et de génétique moléculaire et par biologiche fondamentali, il miglioramento della l’application de procédés agronomiques nouveaux; de qualità e del potenziale di utilizzo delle colture tramite développer des méthodes de protection moins l’applicazione di tecniche convenzionali o di genetica dommageables pour l’environnement contre les molecolare e di nuove pratiche agronomiche, lo préjudices causés par les ravageurs, les pathogènes et sviluppo di metodi ecologici di protezione delle les adventices. L’une des forces majeures de l’institut colture da agenti patogeni o malerbe. Uno dei punti est une large approche multidisciplinaire de la di forza dell’Istituto e’ l’adozione di un approccio recherche. L’éventail des techniques disponibles allant largamente multidisciplinare (probabilmente senza des études fondamentales en génétique et physiologie eguali nel servizio di ricerca britannico) fondato su en passant par l’agronomie et la phytopathologie una vasta gamma di capacità scientifiche derivanti da jusqu’aux essais en serres et aux champs est unique au ricerche di fisiologia e genetica ma anche di sein du service de recherche du Royaume Uni. agronomica e fitopatologia supportate da prove di campo o in ambiente controllato. Contents Click to go to relevent page Introduction J.R. Hillman ......................................................................................................................................................6 Report of the Director: J.R. Hillman.........................................................................................................................................11 People & events: T.D. Heilbronn .............................................................................................................................................32 CHABOS: T.J.W. Alphey.........................................................................................................................................................36 Plant genetics ........................................................................................................................................................................38 Overview: G.R. Mackay ...........................................................................................................................................................38 The targeted and accelerated breeding of potatoes: G.R. Mackay, D. Todd, J.E. Bradshaw & M.F.B. Dale ..............................40 Breeding swede, forage rape and kale cultivars with resistance to clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae): J.E. Bradshaw & W.H. Macfarlane Smith............................................................................................................................................................45 Non-transgenic applications of plant tissue culture in potato: S. Millam, P. Davie, K. Harding, M. Grant & M.F.B. Dale.......50 New brassica cultivars................................................................................................................................................................53 New potato cultivars..................................................................................................................................................................54 Soft fruit and perennial crops ................................................................................................................................................56 Overview: R. McNicol ..............................................................................................................................................................56 Genetically Modified Food: J. Graham......................................................................................................................................58 Rubus breeding and genetic research: R.E. Harrison, R.J. McNicol & S. Jennings.....................................................................63 Interactions between plant resistance genes, pest aphid populations and beneficial aphid predators: A.N.E. Birch, I.E. Geoghegan, M.E.N. Majerus, C. Hackett & J. Allen..........................................................................................................68 Transgenic resistance to raspberry bushy dwarf virus in Nicotiana species: J.E. Angel-Diaz, A.T. Jones, M.A. Mayo, A. Ziegler, W.J. McGavin, C. de Nova & J. Graham ...............................................................................................................73 The increasing importance and control of wingless weevils as pests in temperate world horticulture: S.C. Gordon, J. Graham & D.C. Gordon ........................................................................................................................................................................75 Molecular biology..................................................................................................................................................................79