Module for Grade 9 for Asynchronous/Distance learning
Roots of Decline
1. Gary Bending
School of Life Sciences,
University of Warwick, UK
Roots of decline? Assembly and
function of the rhizosphere
microbiome in relation to yield
decline
2. Penny Hirsch
Tim Mauchline
Ian Clark
Peter Mills
Grace Smith
Chris van der Gast
Anna Oliver
David Bass
Keith Norman
Sam Maycock
Gary Bending
Graham Teakle
Jay Moore
Project Partners
3. Penny Hirsch
Tim Mauchline
Ian Clark
Susanne Schreiter (PDRA)
Peter Mills
Grace Smith
Chris van der Gast
Anna Oliver
David Bass
Keith Norman
Sam Maycock
Gary Bending
Graham Teakle
Jay Moore
Sally Hilton (PDRA)
Sarah Thornber (RA)
Project Team
4. OSR yield declines with increased frequency
in rotations
£43-86 million annual loss
http://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/media/305093/g55-oilseed-rape-guide-
jan-2014-update.pdf
Bennett et al. 2012 Biol. Rev. 87, 52–71
5. OSR yield declines with increased frequency
in rotations
£43-86 million annual loss
http://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/media/305093/g55-oilseed-rape-guide-
jan-2014-update.pdf
6. OSR yield declines with increased frequency
in rotations
£43-86 million annual loss
http://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/media/305093/g55-oilseed-rape-guide-
jan-2014-update.pdf
What determines assembly of
the rhizosphere microbiome?
What do ‘good’ and ‘bad’
microbiomes look like?
How do good and bad
microbiomes interact with
the plant?
Can we engineer a ‘good’
microbiome?
7. WP 1 What controls assembly of the rhizosphere
microbiome at the landscape scale?
• Multiple microbial taxa
• Rotation, environment, geography
32. Amplicon sequencing
• 2x300 bp MiSeq analysis
• Bacterial, fungal and microbial eukaryote communities
Follow up with further specific taxa
• Which DNA extraction kit to use?
FastDNA™ SPIN Kit for Soil (MP Biomedicals)?
PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit (MO-BIO)?
35. WP2 Functional responses of the
rhizosphere microbiome to rotation
• Different rotation frequencies of OSR
• Trials at Warwick Crop Centre, Harper-Adams and Rothamsted
• Metatranscriptome analysis
• Cross-talk between plant roots and microbial community
• Pathways associated with host defence, nutrient uptake and
assimilation
36. WP 2 Structure and function of the microbiome
Rotation 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Continuous OSR Wheat OSR OSR OSR
Alternate OSR Wheat OSR Wheat OSR
Virgin OSR Wheat Wheat Wheat OSR
Rotation 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
39. WP3 Rhizosphere engineering via crop genotype
• Contrasting varieties grown in rotation
• Microbiome assembly
• Metatranscriptome profiling
2 x 6 m plots
40. WP4 Rhizosphere engineering via soil management
• Furzefield site at Rothamsted
• Cropped continuously with OSR since 1991
• Yields have declined by 30 %
Rotation 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016
1. Continuous OSR OSR OSR OSR
2. FYM OSR FYM/OSR OSR
3. Biosolids OSR Biosolids/OSR OSR
4. Fallow OSR Fallow OSR
5. Legume break OSR Faba beans OSR
6. Oat break OSR Oats OSR
7. Wheat break OSR Wheat OSR
41. Impact activities
Steering group
Paul Gosling/ Amanda Bennett, HGCA
Andrew Richards, Agrii
Mark Nightingale, Elsoms
Peter Scott, Origin fertilisers
Richard Elsdon, United Oilseeds
First meeting 17th November 2015 (Warwick)