Novel approaches to the phenotypic and molecular characterisation of genetic variation in the forage legume species lucerne (Medicago sativa)

"As consumers increasingly switch from largely vegetable based diets to consumption of more meat and dairy, global demand for animal protein is predicted to rise by 85% by 2050, driven by population growth and increasing affluence in developing countries. As a result, demand for vegetable proteins as animal feedstock has risen, and the UK currently faces a shortfall in domestic vegetable protein production capability. Increasing reliance on imports poses potentially significant supply and economic risks to the UK due to the combined effects of climate change and rising global demand. Additionally, there are growing concerns over the environmental sustainability of increasing production of South American soya, which currently accounts for over 90% of EU protein imports.
Increasing the amount of forage based protein that can be grown on-farm, and the efficiency with which ruminants convert plant protein into animal protein are two ways of addressing the UK protein deficit and simultaneously increasing the efficiency of UK livestock production. At the same time, increasing concern regarding the potential impact of climate change, particularly increased periods of summer drought (not only in the east of the UK), mean that alternative legume species that are more drought tolerant are attracting renewed interest.
Lucerne or alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important forage legume in many parts of the world including continental Europe and the USA. It is a high protein (18% crude protein) forage legume species that is particularly suited to dry areas, producing up to 15t dry matter a year from 4 cuts, but it can also be zero-grazed, strip grazed or ensiled. The species has the ability to tap water deep in the soil profile due to its deep rooting habit, which confers a degree of tolerance of soil moisture deficits. Its deep roots also mean that the species can scavenge soil nitrate effectively, which has potential environmental benefits. Lucerne is not widely grown in the UK and this is in part due to its relatively poor performance on heavier or acid soils, or in wet conditions. There are concerns about its susceptibility to competition from weeds and to diseases, particularly fungi. However, both the predicted change in climate and breeding progress over the last twenty years would suggest that the time is ripe for a re-evaluation of the potential of this crop in the UK. No breeding or selection of lucerne for the UK has been carried out in recent years, and varieties currently available are imported from Europe and are not specifically adapted to the UK environment. In the development of lucerne for UK environments and livestock systems, key breeding targets are: higher dry matter yield; improved persistence; increased autumn production combined with winter survival; enhanced resistance to wilt, and improved grazing tolerance.
The proposed work will yield valuable information, genetic and genomic resources and will underpin breeding of lucerne as an important new option in the sustainable intensification of UK livestock production
It will:

Characterise phenotypic and molecular variation in lucerne germplasm
Establish phenotype-genotype associations for key traits
Utilise novel phenotyping approaches to study key resource use and root architecture attributes in this crop
Deliver integrated training in all aspects of the science and business of modern plant breeding

An important element of this project is training in modern plant breeding including genetics, germplasm improvement, and application of new technologies and bioinformatics within a successful plant breeding/seed production environment."