Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EUCLEG (Breeding forage and grain legumes to increase EU\'s and China\'s protein self-sufficiency)

Teaser

The strategic goal of EUCLEG is to reduce Europe and China’s dependency on protein imports by developing efficient breeding strategies for the legume crops of major economic importance in animal feed and human food. The project’s strategy rests on four improvement axes:...

Summary

The strategic goal of EUCLEG is to reduce Europe and China’s dependency on protein imports by developing efficient breeding strategies for the legume crops of major economic importance in animal feed and human food. The project’s strategy rests on four improvement axes: crop diversification, crop productivity, yield stability and protein quality of both forage (alfalfa and red clover) and grain (pea, faba bean and soybean) legumes. To reach this overall goal, the project will pursue and achieve the following objectives:
• Broaden the genetic base of legume crops and analyse the genetic diversity of promising European and Chinese legume accessions using: i) phenotypic traits that contribute to increase yield, quality for feed and food, stress tolerance evaluated in multi-site trials; ii) molecular markers.
• Analyse the genetic architecture of key breeding traits using association studies based on candidate genes and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Molecular markers related to phenotypic traits will be identified.
• Evaluate the benefits brought by genomic selection (GS) to create new legume varieties.
• Develop searchable databases containing passport data, as well as agronomic and genetic features in order to facilitate exchanges of genetic resources between Europe and China.
• Develop molecular tools (high-throughput genotyping through genotyping by sequencing (GBS) for forage legumes and faba bean) and data (reference genome sequence of alfalfa, GBS polymorphism for forage legumes and faba bean, single nucleotide polymorphism – SNP – arrays for pea and soybean) to increase resource levels sufficiently for molecular breeding. These markers will be used to inform us of genetic diversity and to decipher trait architecture.
• Develop tools for genotyping to be used in breeding programmes
• Implement data management and analysis in order to help breeders implement marker-assisted selection, including genomic selection in view of creation of new varieties in the long term
• Last but not least, EUCLEG will explore the potential for new uses of forage species for human nutrition.

Work performed

Genotyping methods have been chosen for each species. The outbreeding life cycle of the two forage crops dictated that genotyping by sequencing methodology is used to obtain gene frequency data from pooled samples of each accession. Pilot experiments have been performed to optimise the exact strategy for the genotyping by sequencing methodology. DNA from all accessions of each species has been extracted and is ready for genotyping in 2019. For the three grain legumes, pea, faba bean and soybean, we are using SNP array technology to obtain genotype data on accessions. This is appropriate as inbred lines are used. SNP arrays for pea and soybean were already available at the onset of the project, and genotyping of most soybean accessions is already completed. Data for a subset of pea accessions have been produced successfully, A recently developed SNP array for faba bean is now available and will be used to genotype this species. DNA has been extracted from all accessions. Genotyping of pea and faba bean accessions will take place in 2019.

Sequencing of a reference genome of alfalfa has been completed, and annotation of the genome is expected to be finished by the middle of 2019.

Inventories of European and Chinese plant genetic resources collections of the five focus species were compiled. Two surveys of EURISCO and EUCLEG partners indicate that there are additional data as well as additional germplasm accessions available.
Data exchange templates for both passport data and phenotypic data were developed. Import and export routines for trial data were implemented and tested for the Progeno data management system. First production data was entered into the system.
The establishment of a procedure for seed exchanges among partners was started. A Material Transfer Agreement model has been proposed for breeding material. A survey was prepared and sent to the EUCLEG species leaders in order to evaluate the difficulties they could have faced while obtaining genetic resources for the project.

Hundreds of accessions for forage (alfalfa, red clover) and grain (pea, faba bean, soybean) legumes have been collected at coordinating workplaces and further distributed to all participants. Designs of phenotyping protocols for the multilocation field trials in a network of experimental areas in Europe and China were established. For faba bean and pea, seed multiplication of a large number of accessions was necessary. All trials have been established in 2018 or will be established in 2019. Protocols for all other phenotyping trials for germination, disease resistance and tolerance to abiotic stress conditions were established too, most experiments already have started and results have been obtained. A multitude of data has been generated for the five species investigated and is currently being introduced into the common Progeno database for further analysis.

Lists of additional accessions for which phenotypic data (yield and protein content) are or will be available at partners’ institutions have been identified and data has been partly uploaded in the Progeno software. They will be used to estimate the accuracy of genomic prediction.

A collaborative website has been created for sharing of project outcomes and two project newsletters have been delivered. EUCLEG partners are continuing to engage with stakeholders and the public on an on-going basis.

Final results

The experiments in field or controlled conditions are not completed so the expected results are not producing impact yet. Methodological choices for genotyping each species are shared within breeders’ communities and are paving the next steps in the use of molecular markers in legume breeding. Similarly, sharing protocols for biotic and abiotic tolerance and quality evaluation will benefit the whole chain of breeding. EUCLEG is also improving exchange of and access to data on genetic resources.
Progress in breeding usually happens in small incremental steps. In the present case where massive genomic data are generated, we are expecting a major impact on germplasm improvement and generation of more resilient legume varieties. In turn, this will also impact breeding programmes, arable and livestock farming.
In their daily work, EUCLEG partners are disseminating the efforts dedicated to this project (website, newsletter, presentations of the whole project or first results) and stakeholders are paying close attention to progress. More precisely, this partnership is appropriate to share the main lockers in legume cultivation in Europe and China, and to identify the levers – among which breeding is a major one, that can be mobilised. Contribution of EUCLEG scientists to national of European committees dedicated to propose a Protein Plan is also an impact of this project.
The scientific impact of the EUCLEG project made a good start with researchers attending 22 scientific conferences and 6 workshops. Communication with a wider public is performed thanks to a website and social media tools.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.eucleg.eu/.