Postgraduate Prospectus 2011

Aberystwyth University - ABWTH A4044 Biological, Environmental & Rural SciencesDelivery for Impact• Breeding methodologyContact: Professor Wayne Powell (wap@aber.ac.uk)Expertise in the management and maintenance of genetic diversityin plant breeding programmes is critical for the delivery of publicgoodoutcomes. Sequencing and re-sequencing technology coupledwith computing technologies to manage large datasets providesunprecedented opportunities to enhance food crop production. Theeco-system based approaches to the improvement of out-breedingspecies pioneered in Aberystwyth provides both the test-bed forhypothesis testing and the experimental framework to understand keybiological phenomena such as heterosis and recombination based plantbreeding. In addition to providing a focal point for translational researchand the delivery of public-good outcomes this research group aims todevelop new populations to underpin public good plant breeding andembrace and test new genome based breeding methodologies such asgenome wide selection.The Crop Genetics, Genomicsand Breeding Division atthe Institute of Biological,Environmental and Rural Sciences(IBERS) has been awarded £1.6mto develop a physical map of theperennial ryegrass genome.• Public Good Plant BreedingContact: Dr Michael Abberton (mla@aber.ac.uk)The group focuses on encompassing successful breeding programmesin IBERS into contributing to food and energy security whilst mitigatingclimate change. Focus is on forages (grasses and clovers) cereals(particularly oats) and energy crops (especially Miscanthus). Publicgoods delivered will include reduced pollution of waterways, loweremissions of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane, enhancedbiodiversity, carbon substitution and increased carbon sequestration.This will be achieved through successful variety developmentprogrammes in partnership with industry and complemented byknowledge transfer activities. The unique expertise, capabilities andinfrastructure for plant breeding provides a strong platform to capturenew opportunities to diversify with regard to new crops, to developtraining for the next generation of plant breeders and to expandactivities in the international arena.