Last month the final CAPITALISE meeting took place in Wageningen, the Netherlands.  Project partners showed their final results and prepared for the reporting period to come. 

Many thanks to all of those who have contributed to the CAPITALISE newsletter over the past few years.  We wish all our postdocs and PhD students the best of luck for new positions.

Our CAPITALISE poster, highlighting the benefits of improved photosynthesis to crops was presented at the October 2024 Euroseeds Congress in Copenhagen.  

Euroseeds is a trade organisation representing the plant breeding and seed industry.   The Euroseeds Congress attracted around 1300 Industry professionals from over 60 countries.  Take a look.

Our roadmap, Time to Translate, was presented to European Commission officials on the 29th of November to highlight the importance of translating improved photosynthesis traits to European crops

The presentation took place in Euroseeds, Brussels at our workshop: Improving Crop Yield and Resilience in a Changing Climate involving a number of EU H2020 funded photosynthesis projects CAPITALISE, PhotoBoost, Gain4Crops, BestCrop and the biotech projects GeneBEcon and DETECTIVE.

Four EU funded photosynthesis projects are leading the way in Europe, using a variety of strategies, with a wealth of Key Exploitable Results, to improve photosynthesis in several important crop species. 

The Roadmap suggests routes to take these results forward for translation to breeders and explores the barriers to translation that need to be overcome.

Louisa Dever (CAPITALISE) presented the highlights from the Roadmap.

The workshop featured presentations from the four photosynthesis projects: Jeremy Harbinson for CAPITALISE; Urte Schlüter, Götz Hensel and Laia Segura Broncano for Gain4Crops, Stefan Schillberg for PhotoBoost. Paolo Pesaresi highlighted how the BestCrop project was addressing both photosynthesis and optimising crops for processing as commercial feedstock applications.

Petra Jorasch (Euroseeds) presented on The Need for Improved Crops and Nick Vangheluwe on How to Facilitate Research Uptake by the Seed and Plant Breeding Sector for Crop Improvement in Europe.

We were also joined by Amrit Nanda from Plants for the Future (ETP) who spoke about the decline in funding for plant breeding and the need for Public-Private Partnerships in research projects.  She presented their recent report on Trends in European Public Investment in Plant Breeding R&I

Our key messages in the Roadmap highlight: the benefits of a more strategic approach to overcome disconnected  “islands of research”; the need for more Public Private Partnerships to address the “translation gap“ in plant breeding research; and a reminder that crop breeding is a long-term process- funding short research projects is not the most optimal way of accelerating Crop Technology Readiness levels. 

A more strategic approach with an enabling environment is needed for future crop development.

On 4-7th June 2024 the CAPITALISE project and French Groupement de Recherche organised an in-person Translational Photosynthesis Roadmapping workshop at CEA Cadarache, France. 

The aim of the event was to engage key people involved photosynthesis and crop improvement innovations to help develop a roadmap for exploiting photosynthesis for the EC.   The output from this workshop will form the basis of a White paper aimed at Policy makers as ultimate goal of the exercise is to ensure interest and funding from the European Commission for future research and translational activities driven by photosynthesis research.  

This event brought together researchers from: 4 key European photosynthesis projects- CAPITALISE, PhotoBoost, Gain4Crops, and BEST-CROP; the French Groupement de Recherche; as well as a selection of invited experts, that included crop breeders.   

The first two days consisted of presentations and flash talks that explored how each presenters research areas can be exploited to improve crop resilience, sustainability and yield in the short, medium and the longer term.  This was followed by two further days of developing plans for a Photosynthesis research roadmap to meet societal needs such as for crops with better yield, improved yield stability, resilience, sustainability and carbon sequestration.

Dive into the world of cutting-edge plant research in the CAPITALISE project at the PSI Research Center in the Czech Republic to see how we study our crops’ photosynthetic and growth performance under drought stress conditions using high-throughput image-based phenotyping. We applied an integrative phenotyping protocol to get insights into the performance and resilience to drought stress in barley genotypes as part of Tier 3 phenotyping experiments. In collaboration with Dr. Eyal Fridman at Volcani Center (ARO), we screened spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) genotypes selected from the CMPP (Cytoplasmic multi-parental DH population) and HEB (Halle Exotic Barley) families, including wild (Hs/Hs) and cultivated (Hv/Hv) alleles.

Plant cultivation: Seedlings were transplanted into 3L pots and grown under a short photoperiod in walk-in chambers until the fourth leaf stage. They were then moved to a PlantScreen^TM phenotyping system at PSI Research Center for automated scoring in the greenhouse under long photoperiod (16 h) and were grown until full maturation.

Stress application: Drought stress treatment was induced at the tillering stage, 24 days after transplanting, with soil relative water content maintained at 55% for control plants and 25% for stressed plants, reducing to 20% at the flowering stage (65 days after transplanting). Daily watering and weighing ensured consistent pot weight and monitored water consumption.

Cultivation and growth of barley plants under controlled conditions at PSI research center

Integrative Phenotyping: Growth dynamics and physiological responses were assessed by measuring and calculating 145 traits using multiple imaging sensors over 70 time points. Plants were phenotyped three times a week using chlorophyll fluorescence for photosynthetic efficiency, RGB imaging for growth rate and color analysis, and thermal imaging for canopy temperature. Additionally, hyperspectral imaging was conducted once a week to detect early senescence from leaf reflectance indices.

Multiple imaging sensors were used to assess morphological and physiological responses from side and top-view images

Yield-Related Traits Assessment: At maturity, the above-ground biomass, including leaves, tillers, and spikes, was harvested and the dry weight was measured. To improve spike assessment, we developed SpikeAPP, a deep-learning platform for efficient and reproducible image-based spike detection during large-scale phenotyping. We also assessed grain-related traits using X-ray imaging to measure grain number, length, and width collected from five spikes per plant, followed by ground truth validation.

By combining comprehensive metadata analysis with an integrative phenotyping approach, we were able to rank the genotypes based on their stress resilience and overall performance, including yield.

Yield-related trait assessment from RGB and X-ray images followed by ground truth validation

References:

Tiwari, L.D., Bdolach, E., Prusty, M.R.,Bodenheimer, S., Be’ery, A., Faigenboim-Doron, A. et al. (2024) Cytonuclear interactions modulate the plasticity of photosynthetic rhythmicity and growth in wild barley.Physiologia Plantarum, 176(1), e14192. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.14192

Merchuk-Ovnat, L., Silberman, R., Laiba, E., Maurer, A., Pillen, K., Faigenboim, A., & Fridman, E. (2018). Genome scan identifies flowering-independent effects of barley HsDry2. 2 locus on yield traits under water deficit. Journal of Experimental Botany, 69(7), 1765-1779. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ery016

The global demand for agricultural goods is expected to rise by 1.1% year until 2050, making it crucial to ensure long-term food security for the growing population. Enhanced irrigation, fertilization, mechanization, and selective breeding have increased crop yields, but yield per hectare has plateaued in recent years. Improving yield potential through photosynthesis may be an opportunity. Photosynthesis is a key mechanism that generates oxygen, regulates climate, and drives physiological activities like crop production. However, the fluctuating pattern of light availability time in the plant canopy requires an examination of physiological reactions to these fluctuations. Understanding the mechanisms of adaptation to dynamic light conditions is critical for improving photosynthesis in the field and increasing overall crop yield. 

Wageningen University and Research team conducts extensive phenotyping in the Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre (NPEC) for photosynthetic traits in tomato. NPEC provides high-resolution plant data, enabling automatic phenotyping for faster plant breeding and faster market entry for new crop varieties. The growth chambers at NPEC can accommodate 300-560 tomato genotypes, allowing researchers to record plant growth, and performance under controlled environmental conditions, enabling better measurement of genetic variation in plants. The system utilizes imaging systems and sensors, utilizing automation and robotics for phenotyping. Light quality and quantity can adjusted with natural daylight simulations and adjustable temperatures. Phenotyping technologies include imaging systems for the visible light spectrum (RGB), invisible light spectrum, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and thermal imaging.  

The study at WUR by CAPITALISE investigates the short-term responses of a Multi-parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) tomato population which combines the allelic diversity of four contrasting genotypes to irradiance fluctuations and transient cold stress using chlorophyll fluorescence.  We identify substantial and consistent variation in the quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Φ_PSII), which responds dynamically to irradiance changes. The study also reveals how genotypes adapt and recover after cold stress. Further exploration revealed multiple qualitative trait loci (QTL) regions for several photosynthetic traits that determine which genetic factors influence these traits. These targeted approaches can also be beneficial for tomato growers who can grow tomatoes at lower temperatures which cuts the cost of heating.   

Our CAPITALISE partner, the University of Essex, opened a new cutting-edge growth facility in May to support research on increasing plant productivity and providing sustainable crop production in the face of climate change. 

The Smart Technology Experimental Plant Suite (STEPS) is a unique £3.5m facility that boasts a cutting-edge commercially standard vertical farm, an indoor field that replicates real environments anywhere on the globe, and suites that imitate a warming world – with researchers able to raise CO₂ concentration and temperature levels at will.  Computer plant scanning technology will also be used to monitor plants as they grow – and pinpoint precise changes in photosynthesis. Additionally, phenotyping capabilities will enable plant performance to be monitoring in real-time under dynamic growth conditions such as those experience in the field. The dual climate changes will enable Essex researchers to grow and select plants for tomorrow’s atmosphere today. 

The new development is part of the Essex Plant Innovation Centre (EPIC) that brings together the research skills, expertise and technologies from the School of Life Science, the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (CSEE), our Institute for Analytics and Data Science (IADS) and the Essex Business School (EBS), to address the extreme challenges facing the agricultural and horticultural sectors globally.

 STEPS has also provided the opportunity to extend the existing expertise and facilities in plant phenotyping with the inclusion of a Planteye 3D scanner (funding via BBSRC Alert Bid) capable of high-throughout monitoring of plant growth and physiology. The dynamic XYZ robotic plant phenotyping gantry system is housed within the dynamic field, and includes thermal, chlorophyll fluorescence, RGB and hyperspectral cameras, leading the way in UK phenotyping. Importantly STEPS also grants an unparalleled opportunity for Essex Research students and undergraduates to gain the relevant and up-to-date employability and transferrable skills within a skills-shortage sector.  

STEPS is a flagship growth facility with cutting-edge technology. Included within STEPS are:

• A commercially standard vertical farm,
• An indoor field that replicates real environments anywhere on the globe,
• Future climate suites that imitate a warming world – with control of CO₂ concentration and temperature
• A ‘crop per drop’ irrigation room for future water that will precisely control water supply and monitor crop water use.

Phenotyping in STEPS

STEPS is also home to several state-of-the-art phenotyping capabilities including;

• PlantEye F600 – a multispectral 3D scanner for non-destructive growth measurements and high-throughput scanning of morphological and spectral parameters
• DynSCREEN – includes a XYZ robotic system for scanning the indoor field for the following:

Hyperspectral (400-2500 nm)

Thermal imaging

Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging

RGB digital colour

 This facility support Essex’s research efforts to ensure food security through our research in improving plant productivity and the fight against climate change to create crops for tomorrow’s climate today .

 https://www.essex.ac.uk/departments/life-sciences/research/plant-productivity-group

https://www.essex.ac.uk/centres-and-institutes/essex-plant-innovation

The penultimate CAPITALISE meeting was held at IPK in Gaterleben in March this year.  CAPITALISE partners presented their latest progress as the project enters its last year.  There were many interesting discussions on how best to enhance the translation of CAPITALISE results for optimum use by the breeding community.  Outputs from the project include QTLs, phenotyping data, prediction and modelling work for improved photosynthesis and yield, as well as phenotyping tools developed in the project.  

CAPITALISE is paving the way towards better phenotyping in the field.  These outputs will highlight how improving photosynthesis traits is a real gamechanger for future crop breeding and will provide a platform to exploit this area of crop improvement. 

In addition to the high level science the consortium were also treated to a tour of the PhenoSphere, a state of the art high throughput phenotyping facility at Gaterleben, and a demonstration of its remarkable capabilities to simulate future climates as well as fluctuating light, wind, and temperature. A tour of the gene bank at IPK, and their seed multiplication and storage facilities was also a hit. 

The final consortium meeting of the CAPITALISE project will take place in September 2024 at Wageningen.

Take the time to appreciate all the hard work that is goes in to improving crops.  Johannes Kromdijk’s group at Cambridge University show how they carry out their extensive phenotyping for photosynthetic traits in the MAGIC Maize population in this video. 

Video created by Lucia Arce Cubas, led by John Ferguson, and featuring Rachel Barham, Hayoung Choi, Heledd Jones and Sophie Truepenny.

How is this type of data used?   Have a look at the latest publication from the CAPITALISE team ‘The genetic basis of dynamic non-photochemical quenching and photosystem II efficiency in fluctuating light reveals novel molecular targets for maize (Zea mays) improvement’ available now as a preprint:

W. Thomas, SBR, CNRS-Sorbonne Université

Understanding the effects of global warming, harvesting and land-use changes for local carbon fluxes is crucial for managing global emission scenarios. The flows of carbon between different organisms, their metabolic fluxes (i.e. photosynthesis, respiration) and gaseous exchange across land/water/atmospheric interfaces determines whether specific habitats absorb or emit greenhouse gases (Fig 1, source: https://www.coastclim.org/). Photosynthesis, specifically the rate of CO₂ uptake, is increasingly used as a tool to infer consequences of global environmental change, or ecosystem degradation, for ecosystem functioning and net carbon balance. Various methods have been developed across the globe, including eddy flux covariance (Attard et al 2019), photorespirometry chambers (White et al 2021) and community carbon balance (Newell & Field, 1983), within both terrestrial and aquatic realms to estimate net community-integrated productivity, and ultimately carbon sequestration potential (Gallagher et al 2022). Net photosynthetic output, alongside estimates of carbon burial, allow ecosystems’ capacity to mitigate CO₂ emissions to be compared under different global change scenarios and between different habitats. Furthermore, these robust assertions of carbon sequestration and mitigation potential are essential when considering carbon credit offset and trade schemes (Repetto, 2013; Johannessen and Macdonald, 2016). 

CoastClim project website https://www.coastclim.org/

References
 Attard, K.M., Rodil, I.F., Glud, R.N., Berg, P., Norkko, J. and Norkko, A. (2019), Seasonal ecosystem metabolism across shallow benthic habitats measured by aquatic eddy covariance. Limnol Oceanogr Lett, 4: 79-86. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10107

White, L., Loisel, S., Sevin, L. and Davoult, D. (2021), In situ estimates of kelp forest productivity in macro-tidal environments. Limnol Oceanogr, 66: 4227-4239. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11955

Newell R., Field J.1983. The contribution of bacteria and detritus to carbon and nitrogen flow in a benthic community. Marine Biology Letters, 4: 23–36.

Gallagher, J. B., Shelamoff, V., & Layton, C. (2022). Seaweed ecosystems may not mitigate CO2 emissions. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 79: 585-592.

Repetto R. 2013. Cap and trade contains global warming better than a carbon tax. Challenge, 56: 31–61.

Johannessen S. C., Macdonald R. W. 2016. Geoengineering with seagrasses: is credit due where credit is given? Environmental Research Letters, 11: 113001.