Download Dr Ewen Mullins

Novel technologies to enhance breeding
objectives and improve disease
management strategies
Dr. Ewen Mullins
Teagasc Horticultural Technologies Seminar
Ashtown, May 4th, 2017
Generating novel varieties - traditional breeding
High value variety A
Short stem + low dis. res.
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x.
Variety B
Long stem + high dis. res.
Generating novel varieties - traditional breeding
 But availability of parental material with high value traits can be limiting
 What can you do if parental material is not adequate?
 In 1940s discovered chemical and physical mutagens can modify the
genetic code of existing material to produce plants possessing novel traits
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Generating novel varieties - mutation breeding
 Using X-rays, nuclear radiation,
chemical mutagens
 >3200 varieties generated across
>200 plant species
 Clearfield™ oilseed rape, Ruby Red™,
Golden Promise malting barley,
Japanese pear, legumes, rice…
 BUT….
 No EU regulation
 No control over what genes are mutated
 Very large populations (>10,000s) of mutant lines have to
be screened to identify ‘upgraded’ plant
 Now, proteins can be used to mutate/edit specific genes
Generating novel varieties - genome editing
 These proteins (termed CRISPR) are directed via a ‘satnav’ component
Traditional
Genome
Editing
Mutagenesis Breeding
 Act as a ‘molecular scissors’ to snip the genetic code.
Generating novel varieties - genome editing
 Genome editing is faster and more precise and can be used to ‘upgrade’ welladapted varieties
 For example; powdery mildew resistance in bread wheat
(Wang et al. 2014)
 Teagasc currently investigating potential of genome editing on barley, wheat, potato
 No regulatory restrictions on use of editing proteins for mutation breeding
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• Barley, maize, rice, sorghum, soybean, potato, wheat
• Circumvent years/decades of breeding to develop enhanced
traits in existing varieties
Mushrooms leading the way…
“The long-awaited decision means that the edited mushroom can be
cultivated and sold without passing through the USDA’s regulatory
process — making it the first CRISPR-edited organism to receive a
green light from the US government”.
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To conclude…
 Mutation breeding since 1940s
 Gene editing more efficient form of mutation breeding
 Mutation breeding v. 2.0
 Gene editing technologies are mainstream in research
programmes
 Gene editing ≠ GM
 Irish, English, German, Dutch and Swedish regulatory
agencies have stated edited varieties fall outside the EU
legislation
 Currently no regulations required
 Future regulations ? Brexit ?
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Thank you
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