® Scottish Crop Research Institute Annual Report 2003/2004 Clickable contents on Page 4 Governing Body Chairman Professor Bernard King, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.I.W.Sc., C.Biol., F.I.Biol. Mr Edward Angus, MBE, M.Sc., Fio.D. Dr Martin Battersby, B.Sc., D.Phil. Professor David Boxer, B.Sc., Ph.D. Professor Richard Cogdell, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S.E. Dr Keith Dawson, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.I.C.P. Dr Mervyn Eddie, B.Agr., Ph.D. Mrs Wendy Goldstraw, B.Sc., P.G.Dip.B.A., M.C.I.P.D. Mr Keith Hopkins, F.C.A. Dr Thomas Jolliffe, B.Sc., Ph.D. Mr Ian McLaren, S.D.A. Emeritus Professor Sir John Marsh, C.B.E., M.A., P.G.Dip.Ag.Econ., F.R.A.S.E., F.R.Ag.S., C.Biol., F.I.Biol. Dr Michael Morgan, B.A. Ph.D. Professor Steve Parry, B.Sc., Ph.D. Professor George Salmond, B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S.A Professor A.R. Slabas, B.Sc., D.Phil. Accountants : PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, Kintyre House, 209 West George Street, Glasgow G2 2LW. Solicitors : Thorntons WS, 50 Castle Street, Dundee DD1 3RU. Banking : Bank of Scotland, P.O. Box 9, 2 West Marketgate, Dundee. Patent Agents : Murgitroyd & Co, 373 Scotland Street, Glasgow. 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 : +44 (0)1382 562731 Fax : +44 (0)1382 562426 Electronic Mail: [email protected] WWW: http://www.scri.sari.ac.uk/ Editor : S. Stephens Graphics and Design : I.R. Pitkethly, S.K. Thomson Photography : S.F. Malecki ISSN 0263 7200 ISBN 0 905875 20 6 ©Scottish Crop Research Institute 2005 The Scottish Crop Research Institute Das SCRI ist ein führendes inter- (SCRI) is a major international nationales Forschungszentrum für centre for research on agricultural, Nutzpflanzen im Acker- und horticultural and industrial crops, Gartenbau sowie in der Industrie and on the underlying processes und auf dem Gebiet der allen common to all plants. It aims to increase knowl- Pflanzen zugrundeliegenden Prozesse. Es hat sich edge of the basic biological sciences; to improve zum Ziel gesetzt, die Grundkenntnisse in den crop quality and utilisation by the application of con- Biowissenschaften zu vertiefen; die Qualität und ventional and molecular genetical techniques and Nutzung der Kulturpflanzen durch die Anwendung novel agronomic practices; and to develop environ- konventioneller und molekular-genetischer Techniken mentally benign methods of protecting crops from und neuer agrarwissenschaftlicher Praktiken zu depredations by pests, pathogens and weeds. A broad verbessern; sowie umweltfreundliche Methoden zum multidisciplinary approach to research is a special Schutz der Pflanzen gegen Verlust durch Schädlinge, strength of the Institute, and the range of skills avail- Pathogene und Unkräuter zu entwickeln. Ein breiter able from fundamental studies on genetics and physi- multidisziplinärer Forschungsansatz ist eine besondere ology, through agronomy and pathology to glasshouse Stärke des Instituts; und das zur Verfügung stehende and field trials is unique within the UK research ser- Spektrum an fachlichen Ausrichtungen, das von vice. genetischer und physiologischer Grundlagenforschung über Agrarwissenschaften und Pathologie bis zu Gewächshaus- und Feldversuchen reicht, stellt ein ein- maliges Forschungsangebot auf den Britischen Inseln dar. Le SCRI est un centre international Lo SCRI e’ uno dei maggiori centri majeur de recherche sur les cultures internazionali nel campo della agricoles, horticoles et industrielles ricerca sulle colture agricole, orti- et les processus fondamentaux com- cole e industriali e sui meccanismi muns à toutes les plantes. Son but est fondamentali comuni a tutte le d’accrôitre les connaissances des sciences piante. L’Istituto ha come obiettivo principale biologiques fondamentales; d’améliorer la qualité et l’accrescimento del livello di conoscenza delle l’utilisation des cultures par l’utilisation de techniques scienze biologiche fondamentali, il miglioramento conventionelles et de génétique moléculaire et par della qualità e del potenziale di utilizzo delle colture l’application de procédés agronomiques nouveaux; de tramite l’applicazione di tecniche convenzionali o di développer des méthodes de protection moins dom- genetica molecolare e di nuove pratiche agronomiche, mageables pour l’environnement contre les préjudices lo sviluppo di metodi ecologici di protezione delle col- causés par les ravageurs, les pathogènes et les adven- ture da agenti patogeni o malerbe. Uno dei punti di tices. L’une des forces majeures de l’institut est une forza dell’Istituto e’ l’adozione di un approccio larga- large approche multidisciplinaire de la recherche. mente multidisciplinare (probabilmente senza eguali L’éventail des techniques disponibles allant des études nel servizio di ricerca britannico) fondato su una vasta fondamentales en génétique et physiologie en passant gamma di capacità scientifiche derivanti da ricerche di par l’agronomie et la phytopathologie jusqu’aux essais fisiologia e genetica ma anche di agronomica e fitopa- en serres et aux champs est unique au sein du service tologia supportate da prove di campo o in ambiente de recherche du Royaume Uni. controllato. Contents Introduction J.R. Hillman ......................................................................................................................................................6 Report of the Director: J.R. Hillman .......................................................................................................................................11 The ever-changing global environment: not a reason for complacency: J.A. Raven..................................................................102 The SCRI LEAF Innovation Centre: Agro-ecosystem research which develops and promotes sustainable agriculture strategies and policies for Scotland, UK and Europe: A.N.E. Birch, B. Boag, A.C. Newton, S.C. Gordon, B. Fenton, G. Malloch, P.D. Hallett, P.P.M. Iannetta, S.E. Stephens, S. Neilson, G.M. Wright, B. Marshall, B.M. McKenzie, G.R. Squire, P. Gill & R.Wheatley ..............................................................................................................................................................................107 Mechanisms & Processes .....................................................................................................................................................115 Overview: J.W.S. Brown, K.J. Oparka, L. Torrance, S.A. MacFarlane, P.R.J. Birch & A.G. Roberts.....................................115 Sequences that enhance plant splicing: C.G. Simpson, D. Lewandowska, M.S. Liney, G.P. Clark, C.M. Booth & J.W.S. Brown.119 Novel functions for the plant nucleolus?: J.W.S. Brown, D. Lewandowska, S. H. Kim, T. Canto & S. Macfarlane................121 Plant caspase, a missing link in plant apoptosis: S.H. Kim, N.V. Chichkova, A.B. Vartapetian & M.E. Taliansky .................122 Pathways of vegetative development via embryogenesis in Solanum tuberosum L.: S.Millam, S.K.Sharma, G.Bryan, V.Matti-Rokka & J.Middlefell-Williams.................................................................................................................................124 Bioinformatics in Plant Pathology: L. Pritchard, J.A. White, S.C. Whisson, I.K. Toth & P.R.J. Birch ...................................126 Functional genomics tools for the major eukaryotic pathogens of potato: S.C. Whisson, A.O. Avrova, P.R.J. Birch, M. Adam, V.C. Blok & J.T. Jones............................................................................................................................................................127 Real time studies of cell-to-cell communication:P. Boevink, J. Calcutt, A.G. Roberts & K.J. Oparka ......................................129 In search of plant Golgi matrix proteins: M. Latijnhouwers, P. Boevink, C. Hawes & K.J. Oparka .........................................131 Virus proteins take the endocytic path: S. Haupt, G.H. Cowan, A.Ziegler, A.G. Roberts, K.J. Oparka & L. Torrance......133 Genes to Products................................................................................................................................................................135 Overview: H.V. Davies & R. Waugh......................................................................................................................................135 The relevance of soft fruit to human nutrition: D. Stewart, G.J. McDougall & P. Dobson ....................................................138 Isoprenoid metabolic networks in potato tubers: M.A. Taylor, L.J.M. Ducreux, W.L. Morris, P.E. Hedley & S. Millam.......140 A novel activity for a starch debranching enzyme: G.J. McDougall, H.A. Ross, J.S. Swanston & H.V. Davies .........................142 Lessons from barley recommended lists: M. Macaulay, J. Russell, L. Ramsay, D.F. Marshall, W. Powell, R. Waugh & W.T.B. Thomas ..................................................................................................................................................................144 The transcriptional complexity of barley development: A. Druka, I. Druka, D.F. Marshall, J. McNicol & R. Waugh...................146 Origins of genomes in polyploid potato species: G.J. Bryan & G. Ramsay ..............................................................................148 Raspberry mapping and marker-assisted breeding: J. Graham, K. Smith & I. Tierney ..............................................................150 Management