Programme & Book of Abstracts - University College Cork of Abstracts . ... For wireless internet access during your time at ... investment into infrastructure Cork now has one million

University College Cork

28th – 29th April

Programme &

Book of Abstracts

IPSAM 2014 Online

Delegates may access a digital version of this programme on the IPSAM 2014

website:

http://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/ipsam/

Or by scanning the QR code below with your smartphone or tablet device.

Tweeting from IPSAM?

If you‟re tweeting from or about IPSAM, please use #IPSAM14

Guest Wifi Access:

For wireless internet access during your time at UCC, you can connect to the

“UCC Guest” service using the following credentials:

Username: ipsamzeps

Password: mYmmm8s2

IPSAM Supporters

The IPSAM 2014 organising committee would like to thank our sponsors and

supporters, without whom the event could not take place.

Welcome to Cork

It‟s been seven years since the Irish Plant Scientists‟ Association Meeting (IPSAM) has taken

place on Leeside. The organising committee are delighted to welcome so many of you back

to Cork and to greet those who are visiting UCC and/or attending IPSAM for the first time.

We hope you‟ll agree that the breath of presentations to be delivered over the next

two days reflects well on the vibrant and diverse nature of plant science research in Ireland.

At its best, the study of plants is a multi-disciplinary endeavour. Plants have an incredible

impact on human society, the environment, food production, biodiversity, etc. With that in

mind, it is a pleasure to present to you such a range of topics for discussion here at IPSAM

2014.

The organising committee have invited Prof Gary Foster of University of Bristol to

deliver the keynote address at this year‟s meeting. We are happy that Prof Foster has

accepted our invitation and look forward to his talk, entitled “From Plant Disease to Magic

Mushrooms”. As always, there will be ample time to us all to discuss projects, highlight

scientific advances, plan future collaborations, or just enjoy each other‟s company.

Wishing you an enjoyable and informative meeting.

The IPSAM 2014 Organising Committee

Peter Jones

Barbara Doyle Prestwich

Pádraig Whelan

Eoin Lettice

Delegate Information

Meeting Location:

IPSAM 2014 takes place in the Western Gateway Building (WGB; indicated by building

number 81 below) on Western Road at University College Cork.

Registration of delegates takes place on the ground floor, central atrium of the WGB. All

talks will take place in WGB_107, on the first floor. The first floor is accessible via the main

stairs and the lift from the central atrium. The meeting room will be well sign-posted.

University College Cork and the WGB is a c. 20 min walk west of Cork city centre along

Washington Street and Western Road.

Bus Service:

Bus Eireann Cork city bus service has regular buses linking Cork city centre and UCC

including the number 208, which stops outside the conference venue.

Parking:

There is extremely limited public parking available on campus (see map). UCC is well

served by public transport.

Accommodation:

University College Cork is located close to a range of accomodation options and the

Western Gateway Building is a c.20 minute walk from Cork City Centre. You can find a

non-exhaustive list of nearby accomodation on the IPSAM webpage.

Meals:

Tea and Coffee will be served at intervals throughout the meeting (see programme

overleaf). The conference price also includes a buffet-style 3-course meal on Monday

evening (after the keynote address).

Lunch will NOT be provided on either day. There are a host of places to avail of lunch

in close proximity to the conference venue – including a cafe within the venue itself;

numerous restaurants on UCC campus and in the environs. Please ask any of the IPSAM

team for details, if in doubt.

Visiting Cork:

Cork City is a modern, vibrant and progressive urban centre, having been designated as

European Capital Of Culture in 2005.

As such, it has a huge amount to offer visitors throughout the year - from historic buildings

and institutions to bustling markets and vibrant retail streets.

Lonely Planet described Cork as one of the Top Ten cities in the world to visit in 2010:

“With a population of the Cork Metropolitan Area of four hundred thousand people and a huge

investment into infrastructure Cork now has one million square feet of retail space in an easily

accessible city centre. Cork also has some of the best restaurants in Ireland or England so this vote

is not really a surprise to the people of Cork,” say Lonely Planet. “Sophisticated, vibrant and

diverse while still retaining its friendliness, relaxed charm and quickfire wit, Cork buzzes with the

energy of a city that‟s certain of its place in Ireland.”

As recently as March 2014, Huffington Post listed Cork as one of the 'Overlooked European

Cities you Must Visit in Your Lifetime'.

Social Media:

If you are tweeting from or about the conference, please use the hashtag #IPSAM14

You can follow the School of BEES on twitter and facebook.

Wi-Fi Internet:

UCC belongs to the Eduroam network. Please visit the Eduroam website to find out if your

University is part of the network. If it is, you need to set-up your connections before you

travel. Once you have done that you will be able to use the University College Cork wi-fi

network or any other participating network in over 50 countries.

Alternatively, UCC Guest wifi access will be made available to delegates through a

username and password provided to you in your delegate pack.

Instructions for speakers giving an oral presentation:

1. Speakers should arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the session

and introduce themselves to the session chair.

2. Oral presentations are limited to 15 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for discussion. 3. For the benefit of all speakers and to ensure the smooth running of the meeting, please

adhere to these time limits and cooperate with the session chair.

4. The presentation room is equipped with a PC (with broadband internet connection) and

digital projector. Please bring your presentation slides on a memory stick, ready for upload

onto the desktop prior to the session beginning.

5. The presentation room is equipped with a static microphone attached to the lectern for

use by the speaker.

6. A roving microphone will be used to take questions from the audience after each

presentation.

Instructions for delegates giving a poster presentation:

1. All posters will be on display for the duration of the meeting.

2. Please take the time (at registration) to erect your poster, on the poster boards

provided.

3. The posters will be on display in the central atrium of the Western Gateway Building, a

location also utilised for tea/coffee breaks during the meeting.

4. Posters should be A0 in size and preferably of portrait orientation.

5. A designated 'poster session' will form part of the programme (Monday evening) where

authors are expected to remain by their posters for a time to discuss their work with

delegates visiting their poster.

6. An award will be presented (sponsored by Cork University Press) for best poster

presentation at IPSAM14.

IPSAM 2014 Programme

MONDAY 28th April 2014

10.00-11.30 Registration of delegates & erection of posters (Central Atrium,

Western Gateway Building)

Tea & Coffee

11.00 Opening and Welcome (Prof John O‟Halloran)

Session 1: Chair: Padraig Whelan, UCC

11.10 Biodiversity and climate change - establishing a modelling

framework to quantify the impacts and develop effective

conservation strategies. David Bourke, TCD

11.30 Local carbon cycle and grassland invasion: the importance of

belowground litter quality, Vasiliki Balogianni, University of

Regina, Canada

11.50 Utilising natural genetic variation to develop novel biomass

grasses for marginal lands, Trevor Hodkinson, TCD

12.10 The effect of short low temperature events on upland and

lowland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars used for

biomass production: impact on carbon assimilation,

photochemistry and biomass production. Angel Cordero,

UCD

12.30 Restoring species richness and forage value to hay meadows on

Middle-Shannon Callows SAC. James Owens, NUIG.

12.50 Lunch

Session 2: Chair: Ewen Mullins, Teagasc

14.20 Interaction of genetic origin and water availability on growth and

physiology of young Sitka Spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr].

Olga Grant, UCD

14.40 Tree-Based Inter-cropping. An innovative land use system. Rory

Lunny, QUB

15.00 Physiological characteristics of Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur in

response to extreme light environments. Ignacio Sevillano,

Teagasc/UCD

15.20 High energy weather events – long term responses on forest

canopies and epiphytes. Sven Batke, TCD

15.40 Tea & Coffee

Session 3: Chair: Peter Jones, UCC

16.00 Seaweed extract-induced resistance in Brassica napus against

necrotrophic fungal pathogens. Benjamin Philip, UCC

16.20 Isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages for elimination

of the potato pathogen Pectobacterium. Colin Buttimer, CIT

16.40 „Uzu‟ mutation of the brassinosteroid receptor HvBRI1 gene

enhances barley biotic resistance to broad spectrum of diseases.

Lokanadha Rao Gunupuru, UCD

17.00 Phosphite mediated inhibition of Microdochium nivale in Turfgrass.

John Dempsey, University of the West of England

17.20 The hunt for wheat and barley disease resistance genes, Fiona

Doohan, UCD

17.50 Keynote Address: From Plant Disease to Magic Mushrooms. Gary

Foster, University of Bristol

18.50 Buffet Dinner and Drinks (Western Gateway Building)

Tea & Coffee with Poster Session

TUESDAY 29th April 2014

Session 4: Chair: Barbara Doyle Prestwich, UCC

09.20 Regulation of somatic embryogenesis in recalcitrant tissues via

extracellular signalling molecules. David Hunt, UCD

09.40 The wheat ABC transporter TaABCC3.1 contributes to wheat

resistance to the fungal toxin deoxynivalenol. Amal Kahla,

UCD

10.00 Calcium signalling regulates programmed cell death in Arabidopsis

thaliana. Niall Brogan, UCD.

10.20 Seasonal fluctuations in Arabidopsis thaliana‟s response to UV-B

radiation. Aoife Coffey, UCC.

10.40 The Why and What of the GM potato „AMIGA‟ study. Ewen

Mullins, Teagasc

11.00 Tea & Coffee

Session 5: Chair: Fiona Doohan, UCD

11.20 VALORAM: A case study for the selection of putative

biocontrol agents which can be used as part of an integrated pest

management system. Siva Velivelli, UCC

11.40 Endomycorrhiza-ectomycorrhiza inoculum application to a zero-

discharge willow wastewater treatment system. Fergus

McAuliffe, UCC

12.00 Investigating the effect of nanoparticles on soil microbial

communities and soil functioning. Conor McGee, UCD

12.20 Investigations into the use of spent mushroom compost (SMC)

and vermicomposted SMC as components of horticultural

growing media: Effects on plant growth, development, and fruit

yields of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Grande). Tara

Duggan, UCC

12.40 Targeted uses of seaweed extracts with specific characteristics:

effects on economic yield, product quality, stress response.

Peter Jones, UCC

13.00 Lunch

Session 6: Chair: Eoin Lettice, UCC

14.20 The biocontrol and biofertilisation potential of fungal root

endophytes. Brian Murphy, TCD

14.40 Drivers of heterotrophic respiration in afforested organo-

mineral soils. Richard Lane, UL

15.00 The Detection of Hedera helix Saponin; Hederacoside C in Ivy

Honey from Ireland, by LCMS. Conan McDonnell, LIT

15.20 Phytase activity in Lichens. Niall Higgins, University of

Nottingham

15.40 Final Remarks (Prof Peter Jones)

IPSAM 2014 Keynote Speaker

Prof Gary Foster,

University of Bristol

‘From Plant Disease to Magic Mushrooms’

Day 1: Monday 28th April

5.50pm

Gary Foster graduated in Microbiology from the Queen‟s University Belfast (QUB) in 1986

and received his PhD in Plant Virology in 1990 from QUB. After a short period of

postdoctoral research at University of Leicester, he was awarded an AFRC (to become

BBSRC) Advance Research Fellowship in 1992. In 1996, he moved to the School of

Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, becoming Professor of Molecular Plant

Pathology.

Gary‟s research is focused on investigating a range of interconnecting themes that include

plant virology, plant pathology, plant molecular biology, molecular mycology and

biotechnology. The interdisciplinary approach to this research is one of the strong selling

points, along with a vibrant lab community and the strong supervisory team, which has been

supported by a range of funding sources continuously since 1992.

Paper Abstracts Biodiversity and climate change - establishing a modelling

framework to quantify the impacts and develop effective

conservation strategies

Bourke, David1*, Coll, John

2, Egan, Paul

1, Georges, Damien

3,

Gormally, Mike4, Hodd, Rory

5, Jones, Mike

1, McDonnell, Rory

1,

Reich, Inga4, Renaud, Julien

3, Sharkey, Nova

1, Sheehy Skeffington,

Micheline5, Stout, Jane

1, Sweeney, John

2, Thuiller, Wilfried

3

1 Botany, and Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research, School of

Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland 2 Department of Geography, National University of Ireland Maynooth,

Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland. 3 Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS, Université Joseph

Fourier, Grenoble, France. 4 Applied Ecology Unit, Centre for Environmental Science, National

University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. 5 Plant Ecology Research Unit (PERU), Botany and Plant Science,

National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.

*Presenting author

Species ranges are shifting as they contract, expand and fragment in

response to a changing climate. Climate change is also facilitating the

colonisation, establishment and spread of invasive species, pests and

diseases. Additionally, the latest climate change scenarios would

suggest we can expect more pronounced responses from species as this

century progresses. The consequences for the conservation of Ireland‟s

flora and fauna, the integrity and resilience of ecosystems, and their

ability to deliver ecosystem services are profound. To develop effective

adaptation strategies, we therefore need to model more precisely the

impacts of climate change, and better integrate these impacts with

spatial conservation planning tools. Here we synthesise recent research

quantifying the potential impacts of climate change on the distribution

of Ireland‟s vascular plants and bryophytes, assessing the implications

for European protected habitats. Inter alia, we highlight gaps in the

knowledge and challenges faced in meeting the needs of the

conservations sector. To this end, we provide an overview of a new

state-of-the-art climate change modelling framework; multiple

modelling techniques, high resolution/multi-scenario datasets at a

European extent. Using case studies we demonstrate how we will

advance our understanding of the interactions between climate change,

invasion ecology and conservation biogeography in Ireland.

Local carbon cycle and grassland invasion: the importance of

belowground litter quality

Balogianni, Vasiliki G1*

, Wilson, Scott D1

1 Department of Biology, University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

*Presenting author

Roots are a major component of semi-arid grassland ecosystems, where

as much as 90% of ecosystem productivity occurs belowground. The

belowground effects of invasive species on ecosystems are less well-

known than aboveground effects. Invasive grassland species such as

Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaerth (crested wheatgrass) might increase

soil carbon (C) sequestration because of their relatively high

productivity. We examined differences between invaded and native

Montana grasslands under four mowing and fertility treatments.

Agropyron doubled the root length in every mowing and fertility

treatment. Additionally, Agropyron had significantly lower root tissue

lignin content, and increased CO2 production from root decomposition.

Consequently, soil C content did not differ between invaded and native

grassland. The results suggest that crested wheatgrass invasion did not

increase the soil C content, even though it had a larger root system. This

discrepancy is due the fact that crested wheatgrass lower root lignin

content led to its faster decomposition rates than native species.

Utilising natural genetic variation to develop novel biomass grasses

for marginal lands

Hodkinson, Trevor R1*, Prickett, Ruby

1, Jones, Mike B

1, Klaas,

Manfred2, Barth, Susanne

2,

1 Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

2 , Ireland

*Presenting author

Many grasses are candidates for biomass and bioenergy production.

Some have been domesticated and are already established crops. Others

have received little or no attention and offer huge potential for growh on

marginal lands that is not well suited for food crops. Perennial

rhizomatous grasses are leading candidate species, including the C3

genera Dactylis, Phalaris and Festuca and the C4 genus Miscanthus.

This presentation outlines progress made in collecting new germplasm

for plant breeding and varietal development throughout Europe/Asia and

outlines how Miscanthus is being characterised and evaluated in an EU

FP7 project called Grassmargins. It is clear from molecular marker

studies and physiological testing that enourmous potential exists to

develop well adapted and high yielding genotypes suitable for marginal

areas of land in north west Europe.

The effect of short low temperature events on upland and lowland

switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars used for biomass

production: impact on carbon assimilation, photochemistry and

biomass production.

Cordero, Ángel1*, Osborne, Bruce A

1,2

1 UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University

College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. 2 Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

*Presenting author

Switchgrass is a perennial species that has attracted attention as a

potential biomass feedstock source for renewable energy production.

Tolerance to short low temperature events and an ability to recover

afterwards is likely to be important for early establishment particularly

under more marginal climatic conditions. The impact of low

temperature exposure was examined in thirteen Switchgrass cultivars

(five from the lowland ecotype and eight from the upland ecotype) and

performance assessed using photosynthetic, chlorophyll fluorescence

and biomass determinations on three-months-old plants. After ten days

of exposure at 6ºC, a major reduction in CO2 assimilation and

photochemistry was observed in six of the cultivars examined. In all but

two cultivars CO2 assimilation and photochemistry recovered to control

levels five days after being returned to near optimal conditions. Of

those that did not recover one was an upland and one was a lowland

ecotype. Although only of a short duration, low temperature exposure

resulted in a reduction in biomass production in some cultivars from

both ecotypes (5 and 4 for upland and lowland ecotypes respectively)

indicating that such events may be of relevance to field performance.

There was, however, no evidence that upland ecotypes performed better

than lowland ecotypes under these conditions.

Restoring species richness and forage value to hay meadows on

Middle-Shannon Callows SAC

Owens, James*, Maher, Caitriona & Sheehy Skeffington, Micheline

Plant Ecology Research Unit, Botany & Plant Science, NUI Galway

The Middle-Shannon Callows is one of the few unregulated floodplains

left in western Europe. The hay-meadows that make up half of the

floodplain, cut traditionally once a year for hay, are rich in plant species

and are a valuable forage resource for local farmers. The “callows” are

designated a SAC due to extensive areas of two Annex I listed semi-

natural grassland habitats. Because of unprecedented summer flooding

over the past decade, mowing became infrequent, the abundance of the

competitive tall forb Filipendula ulmaria increased and plant species

richness declined on affected meadows.

This research addresses the experimental restoration of the

meadows to healthy conservation status and good hay quality by

comparing the effectiveness of different hay-cutting treatments.

Three treatments are being compared; control of one summer cut, two

summer cuts (July & September), two summer cuts plus strewing

species-rich green hay. The first year of treatments was in summer 2013

and will be repeated in 2014. Relevés and biomass samples were taken

before treatments were carried out and form the baseline data. Field

sampling will be carried out annually to monitor changes in vegetation

composition. Initial data demonstrated the base-line differences in

vegetation and other variables between sites.

*Presenting author

Interaction of genetic origin and water availability on growth and

physiology of young Sitka Spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr]

Grant, Olga M1*, Thompson, David

2, O'Reilly, Conor

1

1 UCD Forestry, University College Dublin, Ireland

2 Coillte Teoranta, Tree Improvement Programme, Technical Services,

Kilmacurra Park, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

*Presenting author

The timber industry requires high-yielding Sitka spruce, but breeding of

high-yielding material is very slow. It is desirable to speed-up selection

e.g. by screening juvenile rather than mature trees. It is also necessary to

select material now that will be appropriate for future conditions, with

for example reduced water availability. To dissect the interaction of

genetic diversity and environment on juvenile vigour, young Sitka

spruce seedlings from different full-sibling families have been subjected

to a greenhouse experiment. Although one-year old seedlings showed

variation between families in water use, stomatal conductance, and

electron transport rate, the following year these traits were similar across

all families. Variation in cessation of leader growth and/or dormancy,

however, partly explained differences in growth rate of the two-year

old-seedlings. Limited water availability resulted in lowered water

potential and reduced stomatal conductance, whole-plant transpiration,

leaf cover, and height increment, and mild, transient, photoinhibition.

Carbon isotope composition analysis indicated increased water use

efficiency for all but the least vigorous family in response to water-

limitation. The most vigorous families showed the greatest drought-

induced reduction in growth. Limited water availability delayed bud

flush across all seedlings, and in some families also led to earlier growth

cessation.

Tree-Based Inter-cropping. An innovative land use system

Lunny, Rory1*, McAdam, Jim

1&2, Douglas, Gerry

2

1 School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Co.

Antrim, N.Ireland, BT9 7BL 2 Agri-Food Bioscience Institute (AFBI), Newforge Lane, Belfast,

County Antrim BT9 5PX 3 Teagasc, Kinsealy Research Centre, Malahide Road, Dublin 17.

*Presenting author

Forest & woodland have a significant role in ecosystem services

delivery in Ireland, yet tree cover (7-10%) is the lowest in Europe

despite suitability for tree growth. To redress this imbalance, innovative

Agroforestry (AF) systems were developed to encourage tree planting

on farms during the 1980/90s. They have proven to be economically

feasible, socially acceptable and environmentally sound. Short Rotation

Coppice (SRC) also provides significant opportunities for environmental

benefits, including reduced net greenhouse gas and emissions, soil

amelioration, bio-remediation, increased land use diversity, and may

rejuvenate rural economies. Both systems are well documented and

researched as viable separate cropping systems but their close

integration to yield multiple outputs is unknown in Ireland. Three field

trials were established in May 2013. Two sites were established at the

Agri-Food and Bioscience Institutes Research Station in Loughgall, Co.

Armagh and one site was established at Gurteen College Roscrea, Co.

Tipperary. The aims of this project are to address the lack of scientific

and practical knowledge in combining AF-SRC into a joint Tree-Based

Intercropping (TBI) system in Ireland. Trials have been established and

preliminary establishment and planned recording information will be

presented.

Physiological characteristics of Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur in

response to extreme light environments

Sevillano, Ignacio1&2

*, Short, Ian1, O’Reilly, Conor

2

1 Forestry Development Department, Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin 15,

Ireland 2 UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture & Food Science, University

College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

*Presenting author

Broadleaf planting has become important in Ireland, with European

beech (Fagus sylvatica) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) as two of

the most popular species planted. We studied the physiological

responses of four year-old oak and five year-old beech to full sunlight

(100% of incident photosythetically active radiation, PAR) and heavy

shade (28% of incident PAR) in a shadehouse experiment during the

summer of 2013.

Beech and oak exhibited different physiological responses when

acclimatised to heavy shade, while they showed similar responses when

were grown in full sunlight. Oak seedlings grown in heavy shade were

better able to respond, as measured by photosynthesis rates, to increased

incident light than beech seedlings. Oak seedlings generally showed

greater values than beech seedlings in both light environments for the

gas exchange (net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, instantaneous

water use efficiency and intrinsic water use efficiency) and fluorescence

(photosystem II operating efficiency, photosystem II maximum

efficiency, photochemical quenching and electron transport rate)

parameters studied. For almost all of the gas exchange parameters

explored during the study, beech seedlings exhibited greater

physiological plasticity than oak seedlings in response to different light

environments.

High energy weather events – long term responses on forest

canopies and epiphytes

Batke, Sven P1,2,3

*, Kelly, Daniel L1,2,3

, Jocque, Merlijn3,4

1 Department of Botany, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

2 Trinity Center for Biodiversity Research, Trinity College Dublin,

Ireland 3 Operation Wallacea, Lincolnshire, UK

4 Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark

*Presenting author

High energy weather events are often expected to play a substantial role

in biotic and abiotic forest dynamics and large scale diversity patterns

but their contribution is hard to prove. In this study we modelled

cumulative hurricane impacts at Cusuco National Park, Honduras. The

model was validated on the ground and microclimate and epiphyte data

were collected along the forest profile and the modelled hurricane

impact gradient. In this talk we will be presenting evidence that

highlights the importance of such events in the long term recovery of

forest epiphyte communities.

Seaweed extract-induced resistance in Brassica napus against

necrotrophic fungal pathogens.

Philip, Benjamin R1*, Neerakkal, Sujeeth

2, Guinan, Kieran

2,

O’Sullivan, John T.2, Jones, Peter W

1

1 School of BEES, University College Cork, Ireland

2 BioAtlantis Ltd., Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland

*Presenting author

In addition to the classic complete race-specific resistance, plants can

also recognise potential pathogens (and induce resistance in response)

via PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). PTI involves detection of

pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as

oligosaccharides, by host pattern recognition receptors (PRRs),

resulting in multi-pathogen partial resistance. Seaweed extracts contain

a number of potential PAMP-like molecules, and there have been

reports of induced disease resistance in plants treated with seaweed

extracts. In this study, the induction (using seaweed extracts) of disease

resistance in oilseed rape (Brassica napus cv. Delight) to the

necrotrophic pathogens, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria

brassicicola and Rhizoctonia solani was investigated. A detached leaf

assay was used in the soilseed rape - S. sclerotiorum system. Sprayed

leaves and distal leaves showed increased levels of resistance (local and

systemic resistance, respectively) compared to control plants. To

determine if the signal could travel in a basipetal as well as an acropetal

direction, roots were inoculated with oat seeds colonised with R. solani.

Both foliar and root drench application induced significant levels of

resistance, with root drench treatment inducing resistance more rapidly.

Resistance could be induced in vegetative plants at any stage, but

flowering plants were not responsive. Field trials demonstrated that

resistance to Alternaria could be induced, resulting in reduced disease

and increased yield.

Isolation and characterisation of bacteriophages for elimination of

the potato pathogen Pectobacterium

Colin Buttimer1*

, Olivia McAuliffe 2, R.Paul Ross

2, Jim O’Mahony

1

& Aidan Coffey1

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Bishopstown, Cork; 2 Moorepark Food Research Centre - Teagasc, Fermoy, Co. Cork,

Ireland.

*Presenting author

With regard to human consumption, the potato is the third most

important crop globally after wheat and rice. Due to a growing human

population there is an ever-increasing need to maximise food

production. Phytopathogens can reduce crop yields significantly. The

bacterial genera of Pectobacterium and Dickeya, previously known as

the soft rot Erwinia, are the causative agents of soft rot and blackleg

disease of the potato crop, which are both a significant problem

economically. Control of these diseases is currently limited to methods

of avoidance of contamination and seed certification schemes. An

alternative but novel approach is to eliminate the infectious bacteria

using their own natural enemies, namely bacterial viruses known as

bacteriophages. These agents are highly specific and only affect their

own bacterial hosts. They are widely distributed wherever their natural

hosts are found and thus can be isolated from soils and other

environments. Three distinct bacteriophages against Pectobacterium

atrosepticum and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum

have been isolated and characterised in the current study. These may

have applications for biocontrol of these problematic bacterial

pathogens.

‘Uzu’ mutation of the brassinosteroid receptor HvBRI1 gene

enhances barley biotic resistance to broad spectrum of diseases

L.R.Gunupuru* ., Ali,S.S

* .,Kumar.S

♯., Mojibur R.Khan

±., Doohan,

F. M*.

*1

UCD Plant-Microbe Interactions Group, School of Biology and

Environmental Science, College of Science University College Dublin,

Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. ♯

The Biodeisgn institute at Arizona State

University, Tempe, Arizona, USA.

±Present address: Institute of Advanced Study in Science and

Technology, Guwahati -35, India.

*Presenting author

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are hormones that influence plant growth,

development and defense responses. The BR receptor protein

Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1(BRI1) has been characterised in several

plant species. Semi-dwarf barley „uzu‟ varieties have a mutation in the kinase domain of HvBri1.The present study was conducted on barley

genotypes Akashinriki and Bowman and their „uzu‟ derivatives and we

found that „uzu‟ shows resistance to broad spectrum of diseases. The

Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease development (AUDPC) in the uzu

mutant of cv. Akashinriki and cv. Bowman were 2.5 fold and 2

fold less in the uzu mutant as compared to parents respectively.Mutant

lines also displayed reduced losses in grain number and weight caused

by FHB disease.The leaf chlorosis caused by obligate pathogen Barley

Stripe Mosaic Virus BSMV was reduced by 80% and 52% in the uzu

mutants of cvs. Akashinriki and Bowman, as compared to the parents.

The uzu mutant also showed resistance to necrotrophic pathogen

Pyrenophorateres the causative agent of net blotch.The severity of net

blotch symptoms was lessen by 37% and 54% less in the uzu mutant of

Akashinriki and Bowman, as compared to the respective wild type lines.

Concurrently, virus-induced gene silencing of Bri1 lead to enhanced

susceptibility of detached leaves to Fusarium culmorum (>2 times more

disease than plants treated with the empty VIGS vector).EpiBl feeding

experiments were conducted to verify the changes in the BR signal

transduction due to uzu mutation. The signalling and downstream genes

response to epibrassinolide (epiBL) was found lesser in the Akashinriki

mutant than the wild type, suggesting the induced BR signalling was

repressed in the uzu mutant of Akashinriki.We are currently determining

the effect of the uzu mutation on the functionality of the kinase domain

of the uzu Bri1.

Phosphite mediated inhibition of Microdochium nivale in Turfgrass

Dempsey, John J*, Wilson, Ian, Spencer-Phillips, Peter T N &

Arnold, Dawn L

Centre for Research in Biosciences, University of the West of England,

Bristol, BS16 1QY

*Presenting author

Microdochium nivale (Fr.) Samuels and Hallett, is a major pathogen of

many species of the gramineae, including cool-season turfgrasses.

Control measures rely on inputs of chemical fungicides, making

alternative means of disease reduction desirable. Phosphite (PO33-,

) has

proven efficacy in reducing susceptibility to oomycete pathogens, the

possibility that PO33-

can reduce susceptibility to M. nivale is the subject

of this research. Results to date have produced significant and novel

data. Field trials exhibited significantly lower percentages (p<0.01) of

M. nivale incidence on PO33-

treated turfgrass plots during periods of

high disease pressure. High Performance Ion Chromatography analysis

of PO33-

treated turfgrass tissues determined rapid in planta

accumulations, symplastic mobility and no in planta conversion to PO43-

occurring. In vitro studies using amended PDA, inoculated with M.

nivale, determined PO33-

concentrations of 100μg/ml-1

fully inhibited

mycelial growth, with EC50 values of 38 μg/ml-1

. Hyphal morphology

showed distinct irregularities in PO33-

amended PDA but PO43-

amendments caused no significant effects. Fluorescent microscopy is

currently being used to determine if PO33-

can enhance synthesis of

the

defence related compounds, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide.

Inducement of systemic resistance by PO33-

is being determined by

quantifying synthesis of phenolic compounds and salicylic acid.

The hunt for wheat and barley disease resistance genes

Doohan, Fiona1*

, Perochon, Alexandre1, Gunupuru, Loknadha

1,

Kahla, Amal1, O’Driscoll, Aoife

1,2, Ciaran Brennan

1, Ewen Mullins

2

1UCD Earth Institute and School of Biology and Environmental Science,

College of Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4,

Ireland.

2Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oakpark, Co. Carlow, Ireland.

*Presenting author

For the last ten years, we have searched for cereal genes that enhance

disease resistance. The identification of genes primed by biocontrol

bacteria led us to study the role of brassinosteroids in disease resistance.

Barley lines mutated in the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 showed

enhanced resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease, and also to

other diseases. An alternative approach was to identify genes that

enhanced wheat resistance to the economically important FHB disease.

We analyzed the wheat transcriptome response to the disease virulence

factor deoxynivalenol using a bulk segregant analysis of a population

segregating for disease resistance, we discriminated ten genes

potentially associated with disease resistance. Using a combination of

virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression studies, the role of

three genes in disease resistance was validated. During the course of this

work, it became apparent that orphan genes (unique to the Pooideae)

play a role in FHB resistance. Concurrent studies on the transcriptome

response of wheat to Septoria tritici blotch (STB) disease also

highlighted orphans as playing a role in both the susceptible and

resistant host response. It also gave new insights into the early host

responses to this disease.

Regulation of somatic embryogenesis in recalcitrant tissues via

extracellular signalling molecules

Hunt, David J.*, McCabe, Paul F.

School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College

Dublin

*Presenting author

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is the process by which non-zygotic

embryos develop from somatic cells either directly from tissue explants

or heterogeneous collections of cells in cultures. SE is a vital tool in

both research and commercial plant production. However, conventional

methods for inducing SE in vitro rely heavily on the use of hormonal

stimulation, with large discrepancies observed in the responsiveness of

different species, cultivars and tissues to these treatments. It has

previously been reported that extracellular signalling molecules secreted

by cells in culture can induce embryogenic development in

neighbouring cells. The aim of this project is to exploit these signalling

molecules in order to stimulate embryo formation from normally

recalcitrant tissues. Results to date have shown that medium conditioned

by an embryogenic carrot cell culture can in rare instances stimulate the

production of embryos from carrot root cells which were previously

thought to be recalcitrant to SE-inducing treatments. Similarly, carrot

conditioned medium stimulates nodule development on the roots of both

Arabidopsis thaliana and Brachypodium distachyon seedlings. Our

hypothesis is that these nodules are arrested proembryos and as such we

aim to use molecular markers for SE to confirm these nodules are

embryogenic in nature.

The wheat ABC transporter TaABCC3.1 contributes to wheat

resistance to the fungal toxin deoxynivalenol

Stephanie Walter1,2

, Amal Kahla1, Chanemoughasoundharam

Arunachalam1, Mojibur R. Khan

1,3, Alexandre Perochon

1, Steven R.

Scofield4, Fiona M. Doohan

1*

1

UCD Earth Institute and School Of Biology & Environment Science,

University College Dublin, Science Centre – West, Belfield, Dublin 4,

Ireland.

2Present address: Dept. of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej

1, DK-4200 Slagelse, Denmark. 3

Present address: Institute of Advanced Study in Science and

Technology, Guwahati -35, India. 4

Purdue University, Department of Agronomy, 915 West Street, West

Lafayette, IN 47907-2054, USA

*Presenting author: Amal Kahla

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi

which acts as a disease virulence factor, aiding fungal pathogenesis of

cereals spikelets and spread of the economically important Fusarium

head blight (FHB) disease. A fragment of a wheat ABC transporter gene

was shown to be associated with the DON resistance at the gene

expression level. Here, we describe the functional characterisation of

this gene, TaABCC3.1 encoding a predicted protein of 1500aa. PCR-

based mapping and genome analysis located TaABCC3.1 to the short

arm of wheat chromosome 3B, but not to the FHB resistance QTL Fhb1.

Virus-induced gene silencing of TaABCC3.1 gene demonstrated that it

contributes to wheat resistance to DON. Gene silencing resulted more

toxin-induced bleaching and or discoloration in wheat spikelets. Gene

expression studies indicate that TaABCC3.1 is part of the early host

response to DON. At the transcriptional level, TaABCC3.1 was also

responsive to the defence hormone jasmonic acid, a key hormone in host

resistance to FHB disease. Thus TaABCC3.1 is a promising target to

enhance wheat resistance to DON and Fusarium diseases. Being a

native wheat gene, it is an ideal target for traditional wheat breeding

approaches that aim to improve disease resistance.

Calcium signalling regulates programmed cell death in Arabidopsis

thaliana

Brogan, Niall*. McCabe, Paul.

School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College

Dublin, Ireland.

*Presenting Author

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental biological process

serving various cellular functions in plant and animal development

including defence responses restricting the spread of pathogens, and

allowing for the proper development of the multi-cellular body plan.

The cell death programme is regulated by both intracellular and

extracellular stimuli that can either activate or suppress PCD. Ion fluxes

across cellular membranes activate signalling pathways that influence

plant growth, development and stress responses such as PCD. Ca2+

transients are stimulated in response to extracellular stimuli, transduced

to the cytosol, via Ca2+

channels, resulting in a change in cytosolic Ca2+

([Ca2+

]cyt) levels which cause Ca2+

release from intracellular stores. The

elevation of intracellular Ca2+

acts as a signal regulating PCD. My

research suggests that the manipulation of [Ca2+

]cyt through the use of

Ca2+

channel blockers or mutant lines such as tpc 1-2 (knockout of

TPC1, the main slow vacuolar channel) disrupts the flow of Ca2+

, thus

inhibiting PCD.

Seasonal fluctuations in Arabidopsis thaliana’s response to UV-B

radiation.

Coffey, Aoife M.1*, Marcel A.K. Jansen

1

1 School of BEES, University College Cork, Ireland

*Presenting author

Research into the impacts of UV-B radiation on plants and ecosystems

began in the 1970‟s in response to concerns about the degradation ozone

layer. Early research focused solely on UV-B as an agent of plant stress

but recently the thinking surrounding UV-B has undergone a paradigm

shift, now it is seen as a key regulator of plant responses. It‟s been

realised that UV-B has huge potential as an important tool in the area of

plant manipulation.

While exploration of UV-B induced morphogenesis and plant

manipulation is currently only in its infancy, early results suggest that

there is a wealth of possibility to be exploited. The “UV-B response”

encompasses a multiplicity of changes in gene expression, metabolism

and morphology and full elucidation of the range, complexities and

interconnectedness of this response has only begun.

The aims of this study are to investigate the relative importance of UV-

B for morphogenesis and phytochemical accumulation under Irish

climatic conditions. It is set over the course of 12 months to investigate

the temporal nature and periodic fluctuation of the response to natural

UV-B. In parallel the functional role of the UV-B photoreceptor UVR8

was assessed through the use of the uvr8-1

mutant.

The Why and What of the GM potato ‘AMIGA’ study

Mullins, Ewen1*

1 Department of Crop Science, Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland

*Presenting author

Potato is the fourth largest food crop in the world but late blight disease

remains a serious problem with annual losses in Europe alone costing

~€1 billion. So what can be done to lessen grower‟s over-reliance on

fungicides? Isolating resistance (R) genes from wild potatoes and

integrating them into commercial varieties via cisgenesis has been

suggested as one solution. But what is the cost of such an approach?

Teagasc is currently a partner on the EU-wide „AMIGA‟ project, which

is using a late blight resistant cisgenic potato as a research tool to

determine the compatibility of this specific crop with Integrated Pest

Management (IPM) principles while assessing the impact of managing

this crop on soil microbial diversity. In addition, by combining field

evaluations and 454 sequencing of effector coding regions of the P.

infestans genome particular attention is being focussed on the

adaptability of blight strains to overcome the deployed vnt1.1 R gene.

Based on the first year‟s data, the GM potato has demonstrated

resistance to late blight but the durability of this resistance against Irish

strains of late blight has yet to be determined and will be monitored

through the remainder of the study.

VALORAM: A case study for the selection of putative biocontrol

agents which can be used as part of an integrated pest management

system

Siva L S Velivelli1* and Barbara Doyle Prestwich

1

1 School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University

College Cork, Ireland

*Presenting author

The use of biologial control methods is now recognised as part of a

viable holistic management strategy. The VALORAM project

(http://valoram.ucc.ie), funded under FP7, examined the role of Andean

microbial communities in crop production and protection. One outcome

of this research was a greater understanding of the microbial diversity of

the rhizosphere of the potato plants in the Central Andean region

coupled with the knowledge of how the application of certain

rhizobacterial isolates can both enhance plant growth and offer greater

disease protection. Using a streamlined in vitro screening system, it was

possible to examine the performance of hundreds of isolates at the

laboratory level, in relation to their growth-promotion capacity and in

their disease suppression capability in relation to both Phytophthora

infestans and Rhizoctonia solani. Additionally, a detailed knowledge of

signature volatile compounds emitted by a number of bacterial isolates

was determined. Many of these have previously been identified in the

literature as having an effect on growth-promotion and disease

suppression. The strategy followed in the VALORAM project, may

offer a template for the future isolation and determination of putative

biocontrol agents, useful as part of any integrated pest management

system.

Endomycorrhiza-ectomycorrhiza inoculum application to a zero-

discharge willow wastewater treatment system

Mc Auliffe, Fergus1*, Whelan, Padraig W

1, Jones, W P

1

1 School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UCC,

Ireland

*Presenting author

Approximately 497,000 onsite wastewater treatment systems are in use

in Ireland. In many areas of Ireland subsoil conditions are not suitable

for wastewater infiltration due to inadequate subsoil permeability. Zero-

discharge willow wastewater treatment systems are a potential solution

for problem sites, with wastewater removal by evapotranspiration and

no infiltration to groundwater.

Good establishment is crucial to the long term performance of willow

plantations. This study examined the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation

on willow cutting establishment. Rooted Salix viminalis L. cuttings were

planted in a high clay subsoil. Cuttings were inoculated with

DIEHARDTM

Transplant (a commercial ectomycorrhizal-

endomycorrhizal inoculum) or left non-inoculated. Irrigation at two

loading rates was carried out with synthetic primary wastewater,

synthetic tertiary wastewater or rainwater.

Inoculated cuttings performed better than controls across all wastewater

types and irrigation rates. Cuttings receiving synthetic primary

wastewater showed the largest height increase during the trial (> 0.8 m).

Cuttings receiving rainwater showed the lowest increase (< 0.40 m). The

biggest difference between treatment and control occurred in cuttings

receiving rainwater, with inoculated cuttings 64% taller.

Preliminary results indicate that the use of commercial inoculum can

facilitate the establishment of Salix viminalis cuttings at the start-up

phase of a willow wastewater treatment system.

Investigating the effect of nanoparticles on soil microbial

communities and soil functioning

McGee, Conor F.*, Doyle, Evelyn, Clipson, Nicholas

School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University College

Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Nanoparticles are becoming more widely used in many industries

including agriculture. The fate of these nanoparticles in soil is currently

poorly understood. This experiment investigated the effects of two

silver, two aluminium oxide and two silicon dioxide particles on

microbial communities in soil. Various particle sizes were examined in a

microcosm experiment over 30 days at 22°C in the dark under constant

soil moisture content. Soil was sampled on days 0, 3, 6, 10, 20 and 30

and soil enzyme activity measured. Both silver particles reduced

dehydrogenase and urease activity significantly compared to the control.

Aluminium oxide and silicon dioxide did not affect enzyme activity.

Soil fungal community structure was only affected by the silver particles

(P<0.0001) whereas bacterial communities were found to be altered by

all six particles, with the strongest effects observed in the silver

amended soil (P<0.0001). Interestingly, both silver particles affected the

structure of the bacterial community involved in ammonia oxidation.

This raises concerns for the effect of nanoparticles on nitrogen cycling

in soil.

Investigations into the use of spent mushroom compost (SMC)

and vermicomposted SMC as components of horticultural

growing media: Effects on plant growth, development, and fruit

yields of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Grande)

Duggan, Tara*, Jones, Peter

School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University

College Cork

Waste management policy supports the conversion of biodegradable

wastes into value-added products. Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is a

widely-available, low-value, by-product of the mushroom industry. It

has little or no value as a soil enhancer, mainly due to expensive

transport and land-spreading costs. The main objectives of this study

were to identify if SMC could be used as a major component of peat-

reduced horticultural growing media, and to investigate if it could be

vermicomposted, and used as a growing medium additive. Tomato

seedlings were transplanted into an industry standard peat-based, and

non-standard peat-reduced (50:50 v/v vermiculite to SMC) growing

media, each produced with and without amendment of 10%

vermicomposted SMC. Plants were harvested after week 7 and 24. The

peat-based growing medium had increased plant and root growth, earlier

flowering dates, and increased number and fresh weight of fruits

compared to the peat-reduced growing medium. The addition of

vermicomposted SMC had no effect on plant growth after week 7,

while, after week 24, the addition of vermicompost increased plant fresh

weight and fruit dry weight in both growing media. The addition of

vermicompost to the peat-based growing medium also increased the

quality of the fruits, and reduced the number of fruits with blossom end

rot. Overall, the peat-based growing medium is a more suitable medium

for tomato production when compared to the peat-reduced growing

medium, probably due to high conductivity, and presence of phytotoxic

compounds in the SMC. The increased plant and fruit weight, and

improvement in fruit quality parameters observed when vermicompost

was added means that vermicomposted SMC represents a suitable

growing medium amendment, especially when added to peat-based

growing media.

Targeted uses of seaweed extracts with specific characteristics:

effects on economic yield, product quality, stress response

E.Murphy1, D.Barton

2, P. Jones

1

1School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University

College Cork 2Brandon Products, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Extracts of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum were obtained by

aqueous extraction (SWE1) or alkaline extraction (SWE2). The two

extracts differed with respect to composition. SWE1 contained

proportionally higher fucoidan-derived oligosaccharides (12.3%),

laminarin-derived oligosaccharides (4.8%) and uronic-derived

oligosaccharides (10.8%) than SWE2 which contained proportionally

lower fucoidan-derived oligosaccharides (9.3%), laminarin-derived

oligosaccharides (4.1%) and uroinic-derived oligosaccharides 7.5%. In

contract SWE2 the polyphenol content (6.9%) was proportionally higher

than SWE1 (5.0%). SWE2 proved to be particularly effective at

increasing crop economic yield; in multi-annual trials, SWE2 increased

economic yield of maincrop potato by an average of 18% and spring

barley by 24%. Analysis of yield increase in barley identified increases

in the yield components ears m-2

and mean seed weight, with the latter

associated with increased green leaf area due to delayed leaf senescence

associated with higher levels of expression of genes involved in

chloroplast function and maintenance. In potato, increased yield was

associated with increased uniformity of tuber size and increased root

mass. Treatment of crops with SWE1, on the other hand, resulted in

improved response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Potato crops

treated with SWE1 exhibited a 76% reduction in severity of common

scab infection, and a 62% reduction in potato cyst nematode (PCN,

Globodera pallida) multiplication, while SWE2 treatment resulted in

increased tolerance but increased multiplication of PCN, as a result of

the larger root systems in SWE2-treated plants. The apparent hormone-

based effects of seaweed extracts on crop performance are due to

induced synthesis of auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins and ethylene in

treated plants, rather than the presence of endogenous phytohormone

levels in seaweed extracts as previously believed.

The biocontrol and biofertilisation potential of fungal root

endophytes

Brian R. Murphy1*, Fiona M. Doohan

2, Trevor R. Hodkinson

1

1School of Natural Sciences & Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research,

Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland 2UCD Earth Institute and School of Biology & Environmental Science,

University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

*Presenting author

Fungal infections of crops are often devastating and costly. However,

not all fungal infections are detrimental, and some are beneficial.

Beneficial root infections often involve symbiotic root endophytes.

Benefits to plants infected with endophytic root fungi include an

increase in seed yield, enhanced resistance to pathogens and improved

stress tolerance. Here, we report that grain yield in cold-stressed barley

was significantly increased by 22% after inoculation with a fungal root

endophyte provided that a threshold level of nutrients was provided. We

also show that endophytes derived from a wild barley species may

provide similar benefits for barley grown with low nitrogen input, as

well as controlling pathogenic infections. These results suggest that

locally-derived fungal root endophytes may have potential for reducing

agricultural nitrogen and fungicide input whilst maintaining acceptable

yield. The endophytes used in our work are amenable to axenic culture,

sporulate readily and can be multiplied rapidly, suggesting that they

could be developed as effective crop treatments and may have the

potential to increase crop yield provided that the environmental and

partner-specific conditions are met. The discovery of previously

unrealised benefits associated with these fungi holds great future

promise for developing economically and ecologically viable crop

treatments.

Drivers of heterotrophic respiration in afforested organo-mineral

soils

Richard Lane* and Kenneth A. Byrne

Department of Life Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

*Presenting author

Soil respiration is an intermingling of biotic and abiotic processes and

its efflux rate is governed by several environmental drivers, the most

important being temperature and soil moisture content.

Plantation forests occupy >10% of the Irish landscape and are a

significant sink for carbon. While considerable progress has been made

over the last decade in our understanding of carbon cycling in Irish

forests, soil carbon stocks and fluxes in organo-mineral soils remain

poorly understood.

This study addresses this information gap utilising a chronosequence of

first rotation Sitka spruce plantations on peaty gley soils in west Co.

Limerick. The principal objectives of the project are:

1. Measure the heterotrophic component of soil respiration by

excluding the other forest soil respiration components (i.e. litter

and rhizosphere) to determine the factors causing temporal and

spatial variation in heterotrophic soil respiration,

2. Study the relationship of heterotrophic soil respiration to

environmental variables

Soil respiration is measured using a portable soil respiration chamber

and is partitioned between autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration

using root exclusion collars. Environmental variables – soil temperature

and moisture content are measured simultaneously. An annual and

seasonal budget for autotrophic and heterotrophic soil respiration will be

estimated using statistical modelling.

The Detection of Hedera helix Saponin; Hederacoside C in Ivy

Honey from Ireland, by LCMS

Mc Donnell, Conan1*, Geary, Michael

2

1 Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Department of Applied

Science, Limerick Institute of Technology, Ireland 2 Department of Applied Science, Limerick Institute of Technology,

Ireland

*Presenting author

Honey has been valued for thousands of years, not only as a rich source

of natural sugars but also for its ostensive healing properties. Saponins

are glycosidic molecules prevalent in the plant kingdom and thus make

up a ubiquitous, albeit small part of our diet. Saponins from Hedera

helix (common ivy), notably hederacoside C and α-hederin have been

widely studied; particularly for their anti-inflammatory and cough

supressing abilities. Despite being an important forage plant for many

species of animals, the ivy plant and the honey it produces are currently

treated with disdain by some beekeepers, farmers and the general public.

The hypothesis under study is that Ivy honey contains as yet

undiscovered quantities of saponins and may be consumed as a

completely natural aid for ailments such as persistent cough. Chemical

elucidation will be achieved using a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF)

accurate mass spectrometer in positive ion mode. The confirmed

presence of a health promoting compound in ivy honey may provide

honey producers with a high value crop, and in doing so, further the

ecological value of ivy.

Phytase activity in Lichens

Higgins, Niall F1*, Crittenden, Peter D

1

1 School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK

*Presenting author

Lichens are mutualistic associations between a fungus and an

extracellularly located alga and/or cyanobacterium. Most lichens occupy

habitats deficient in N and P and have high uptake capacities for

inorganic forms of these elements. Previous research has shown that

lichens have surface-bound phosphatase activities which are thought to

promote capture of inorganic P from organic compounds by catalysing

the hydrolysis of phosphate ester bonds. Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6,

= phytic acid) is among the principal forms of organic P in plants and

fungi, and is an abundant and recalcitrant form of P in the environment.

Phytase, a specific phosphatase that hydrolyses phosphate bonds in

inositol phosphates, has been demonstrated in both saprotrophic and

mycorrhizal fungi. Here we make the first report of phytase activity in

lichens using high performance ion chromatography to measure the rates

of consumption of InsP6 and the production of lower order inositol

phosphates. We develop the method using the common lichen Evernia

prunastri and show that phytase activity is widespread in lichens,

particularly among epiphytic species. In E. prunastri, activity was

related to N deposition suggesting that this physiological characteristic

could be used as a sensitive biomarker with which to detect low levels

of N pollution.

Poster Abstracts Posters should be erected at registration and should be in place for the duration of the conference.

In particular, on Monday evening (post-dinner), a Poster Session will be held. Authors will be

required to stand by their posters for a designated poster session (c. 30 minutes) to allow for

questions. During this time, the best poster presentation will be decided upon by a panel of

judges and a prize (sponsored by Cork University Press) will be awarded.

Early response genes

Brennan, Ciaran J.*1, Ransbotyn, Vanessa, Mullins

2, Ewen and

Doohan, Fiona M1.

1Plant-Microbe Interactions Laboratory, School of Biology and

Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences, University College

Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland 2Oak Park Crop Research Unit, TEAGASC, The Agriculture and Food

Development Authority, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland

*Presenting author

Mycosphaerella graminicola is the fungal pathogen responsible for

the disease commonly known as Septoria Leaf Blotch (STB). The

fungal infection takes place in two distinct phases; a non-aggressive

phase where fungal mycelium spread through the intercellular spaces

of the host (0 days – 14 days) and a pathogenic, necrotrphic phase

where disease symptoms become visible and pycnidia form (14 days –

21 days). Annual losses due to STB in Europe are ~€300 million yet

despite this, little understanding of what is responsible for the switch

from the first to the second phase and the ability to delay this switch

could greatly reduce the problems associated with M. graminicola

epidemics in the field. A variety of early response genes that were

activated during the first 96 hours after infection were identified by

Vanessa Ransbotyn in a resistant vs. susceptible cultivar experiment.

This suggests that resistance may be linked to the early identification

of the fungus by the plant and validation of these finding was

conducted using qPCR. Future work involves the silencing of the

validated genes to assess phenotypic differences after infection by M.

graminicola and to ultimately determine their role in resistance to the

STB infection.

The Synergistic Antifungal Effects of Plant Essential Oils against

Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium

Cotter, P.1* and Croke, J. T.

2

1 Department of Accountancy and Information Systems, Cork Institute

of Technology, Ireland. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Ireland.

*Presenting author

Synthetic chemical fungicides which are used to control the

ubiquitous fungal pathogens genera Botrytis and Penicillium are

raising health and environmental concerns. In addition, conventionally

used fungicides have shown decreased efficacy over time resulting in

resistant strains. Novel and perceivably natural fungicidal solutions

might be a solution.

Biologically active naturally occurring plant compounds might be

more acceptable, less toxic and a viable source of possible alternatives

to synthetic control measures. Plant compounds such as plant essential

oils, have been found to display anti-microbial characteristics and

would possibly have potential in the control of B. cinerea and various

Penicillium spp on crops.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of Pot

Marigold (Calendula officinalis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

essential oils on the control of the organisms cultivated on Potato

Dextrose Agar using the disk diffusion method, measuring the zone of

inhibition daily and calculating the Minimum Inhibitory

Concentration (MIC) on the organism.

The essential oils were used individually and in combination, using

declining media concentrations of 1000, 500, 250, 50, 10 and 1μl/ml

for each. The synergistic antifungal effects of the oils against the

organisms were evaluated.

The phylogenetics of paclitaxel biosynthesis genes in Taxus

baccata, Taxus hybrids and allies

Coughlan, Patricia M.*,1, Carolan, James

2, Hook, Ingrid

3,

Hodkinson, Trevor R.1

*,1Department of Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College,

Dublin, Ireland. 2Department of Biology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth,

County Kildare, Ireland. 3School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College,

Dublin, Ireland.

*Presenting author

In 1962, Dr. A. Barclay gathered samples of needles, stems and bark

from a Pacific yew, Taxus Brevifolia, within the Gifford Pinchot

National Forest, Washington. It was part of the American

government‟s programme to find cures for cancer in the wild and

Paclitaxel was extracted from the bark of the samples. It was found to

be a cancer killing agent. Bristol Myers Squibb further developed

Paclitaxel and gave it the trade-mark name Taxol. Taxol is used to

treat ovarian, breast and lung cancer. The Irish yew, T. baccata is also

a natural producer of Paclitaxel. Some knowledge has been generated

about the phylogenetic relationships of Taxus species, however very

little is known about molecular DNA variation in the genes leading to

Paclitaxel production in the genus. This project will add to the

existing knowledge of Paclitaxel by developing molecular primers to

amplify and study the genes involved in the Taxol biosynthetic

pathway and take a phylogenetic approach to study genetic variation

in these genes that might be important to variation in Paclitaxel

production. Progress has been made on isolating and sequencing two

genes and variation has been recorded among taxa. Work has been

done on sequencing ITS and trnL gene regions of Taxus samples to

add to the existing phylogenetic knowledge.

Growth and biomass allocation patterns of eight young Sitka

Spruce clones

Liam Donnelly 1, Olga Grant

1, David Thompson

2, Conor O’Reilly

1

1. School of Agriculture & Food Science, Belfield, Dublin 4

2. Coillte Research Station, Kilmacurra Park, Kilbride, Co.

Wicklow, Ireland

Abstract

Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) is the dominant forestry

species in Ireland, currently occupying 50% of Ireland‟s forested land.

The Sitka spruce breeding programme was initiated in the early

1980‟s with the objective of increasing productivity through the

selection of trees with faster growth rates and other desirable

characteristics. Improved clonal material is now available from this

programme, resulting in greater gains than possible through the use of

improved seed material. However, there is little information on the

optimum strategy for the deployment of clonal material. There are two

main modes of clonal deployment: multi-clonal mixtures or

monoclonal blocks.

The growth and the biomass allocation of eight different Sitka spruce

clones were studied during their first growing season in a farm

forestry trial. Ramets were planted in closely spaced monoclonal and

multi-clonal mixtures. Growth patterns were similar for all clones.

Nevertheless significant differences in branch characteristics and

contrasting strategies of above and below ground biomass allocation

were observed for some clones. The mode of deployment impacted

significantly on total stem biomass, crown area and needle length.

These differences may affect competitive ability when deployed in

clonal mixtures and potentially result in higher yields for some clones.

Analysis of Antioxidant Potential and Tar Content of ingredients

of Herbal Tobacco Blend in comparison against conventional

smoking products.

Duffy, A..* and Levieille G. Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Ireland.

*Presenting author

This project investigated the antioxidant potential and the „tar‟ content

of a commercially available Herbal tobacco blend as well as other

potential ingredients with the objective to create an enhanced blend.

The antioxidant assays used included 2,2-diphenyl-1-

picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-

sulphonic acid) (ABTS) to determine the antioxidant potential of

the„smoke‟generated by combustion of the herbal ingredients. The

DPPH and ABTS assays are usually applied in liquid phase and had to

be optimised to this innovating application within the gas phase.

The individual herbal constituents of the Herbal tobacco blend were

tested with some other medicinal herbs chosen for their potential

beneficial actions and indications to smokers and ex-smokers. In order

to carry out relevant comparisons commercial tobacco cigarettes and

rolling tobacco were assayed under the same procedure.

A modified smoking experiment was set-up where a filter was

inserted between the combustion area and the glass flask containing

the bubbling liquid. The weight increase of standard filter was

described as the „tar‟ content of the smoke forced through the filter.

Both experimental set-ups involved the use of a vacuum pump to

generate a control suction pressure to ensure reproducible rate of

combustion the herbs and products.

Assessing the suitability of Salicornia europaea as the plant

component in a Maraponics system

Gunning, Daryl1*, Burnell, Gavin

1, Jones, Peter

1

1 School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University

College Cork, Cork, Ireland

*Presenting author

Hydroponics is a well-established concept for producing plants

in a soilless medium, with nutrients supplied in inorganic forms

in an aqueous solution. Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture

(IMTA) combines, in the appropriate proportions, the

cultivation of fed aquaculture species (e.g. finfish/shrimp) with

species which extract nutrient sources from seawater in organic

(e.g. bivalve molluscs) or inorganic (e.g. seaweed) forms.

Maraponics proposes to merge the principles of hydroponics

and IMTA and to identify a compatible suite of plant and animal

species to fill each of the trophic levels. Unlike freshwater

aquaponics, where there are a multitude of plant component

choices (e.g. lettuces, tomatoes, herbs etc.), a marine system has

a limited number of suitable plant species available. Salicornia

europaea (glasswort or marsh samphire) is extremely salt

tolerant and has a long history of consumption by humans. The

expansion of aquaculture and the recent development of more

intensive land-based marine farms require efficient and cost-

effective systems for the treatment of highly nutrient-rich saline

waste or recirculated water. Our experimental-scale

recirculation maraponic units will assess the suitability of S.

europaea as a sole or additional bio-filter in marine recirculating

aquaculture systems. The ability to produce a commercially

viable level of biomass will also be assessed.

De novo assembly and dual RNA-seq of the plant pathogen

Phytophthora ramorum and its Japanese larch host

Jianguang Jia* and Fiona Doohan

UCD Plant-Microbe Interactions Group, School of Biology and

Environmental Science, College of Science, University College

Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

*Presenting author

The emergent disease “sudden oak death” caused by an oomycete

plant pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, can damage and kill plants

and trees it infects, which is ever-increasing threat to forests and forest

ecosystems in United States and Europe. In Ireland Japanese

larch (Larix kaempferi) an important commercial and landscape forest

species, is facing this serious threat. Next-generation sequencing

(NGS) technologies are fast evolving and are transforming biology

research. Based on this, RNA-seq is a relatively new approach

towards study of the transcriptome. Especially, a transcriptomic

investigation can significantly accelerate our overall upstanding on

plant host–pathogen relationships. We are undertaking a first

transcriptomic study of Japanese larch infected with P. ramorum, plus

de novo assembly of Japanese larch transcriptome. We employed

RNA-seq to study the transcriptome dynamics via sequencing tissues

from infected and non-inoculated control stem at two time points post

inoculation, with the purpose of providing direction for future

experimental methods whilst making initial detection of disease-

related genes in this pathosystem.

Optimising in vitro antimicrobial methods (Vapour Phase) using

Thyme Essential Oils and their application in preserving soft fruit

Kenny, Ciara-Ruth*, Levieille, Germain, Keaveney, Anna-Maria

Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Rossa Avenue Bishopstown Cork

*Presenting author

Essential oils are increasingly used as effective antimicrobials not just

in the liquid phase but also in the gaseous phase. Although essential

oils show significant antimicrobial effects the lack of standardisation

of methods applied to quantify antimicrobial activity limits the

comparisons across studies.

The present work compared five different methods to investigate the

in vitro antimicrobial potential of Thyme essential oils in the vapour

phase. 10% DMSO (v/v) and talc were used as dispersing agents to

prepare dilutions.

Results show that 100% Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil, Thyme

White oil and Thyme Red oil showed similar antimicrobial effects

against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the vapour

phase. The use of dispersing agents reduced the vaporisation of the

essential oils and consequently their antimicrobial effect in the vapour

phase.

The vapour diffusion method is most advantageous in terms of speed

and reproducibility. This method involves placing a microscope

cover-glass on the centre of an inverted Petri dish lid and applying

10µl of the test compound on to a 5mm disc placed on the glass slide.

Application of Thyme essential oil vapours were tested on soft fruit

(strawberries) and were found to delay spoilage.

Ultraviolet illumination as a means of control of Bacterial Leaf

Spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria) in Tomato seedlings

Mc Keon, G.1* and Croke, J. T.

2

1 Department of Accountancy and Information Systems, Cork Institute

of Technology, Ireland. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Ireland.

*Presenting author

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. syn Lycopersicum esculentum

Mil.) is a significant world crop. Tomato suffers from numerous

diseases. A significant and difficult to control disease of Tomato is

Bacterial Leaf Spot disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas

campestris pv. vesicatoria.

The antimicrobial effect of UV-C illumination is not selective towards

any particular bacterial race and so has a broad potential for pathogen

control with possibly lower potential for resistance development.

Upon UV-C application DNA within bacterial cells is penetrated,

hindering the cells ability to reproduce and multiply further.

In particular UV-C illumination at 200-280nm is commonly used for

the sterilization of water and surface sterilization of hospital theatres

and large industrial kitchens. Investigation into the protective and

eradicative potential of UV-C at 200-280nm might prove useful

considering current challenges in control of Tomato Leaf Spot

Disease. Being pesticide free may make the technique useful in

Organic Production.

Tomato seedlings were treated with UV-C illumination (265nm) at a

controlled rate to symptomatic infected and to newly inoculated

plants, in addition to un-infected materials. The rate of further

bacterial infection on the plant material was observed and calculated

in addition to health of the Tomato plants vs. non-UV-C treated

plants.

Investigation into the Medicinal Bioactive content of Wheatgrass

and Barley Shoots

Sarah Mc Mahon1*

, Siobhan Moane1, Michelle McKeon-Bennett

1

1CELLS Research Centre, Department of Applied Science, Limerick

institute of Technology, Ireland

Wheatgrass is the name given to the young grass shoots of the

common Wheat plant (Triticum aestivum L.). Its anecdotal healing

properties are believed to be due to high antioxidant activities, giving

rise to its use in functional food products.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare Linn.) is also gaining interest in this area

due to similar high antioxidant activities. Barley shoots contain a wide

variety of phenolic compounds such as flavonols.

Current anticancer research focuses on the mechanisms of these

antioxidants. Free radical production is linked to many diseases such

as cancer. Antioxidants prevent damage to cellular components

occurring as a result of free radical activity and therefore are essential

in healthy diets.

This project aims to investigate the potential antioxidant activity in the

Wheatgrass and Barley shoots. The main aim will be to determine the

health benefits which may be within the products especially in the

area of cancer treatment, by the following investigations: germination

optimisation, bioactive extraction optimisation and characterisation,

testing against human cancer cell lines and testing for antimicrobial

activity.

Hydroponic growth of the plants will be employed to determine if

alternative growth conditions can enhance the antioxidant variety and

activities.

Enhancing the Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP) Activity of

Fusarium oxysporum by manipulating a Pentose Fermentation

Enzyme

Nugent, Brian. *1, Doohan, Fiona

1, Mullins, Ewen

2, Ali, Shahin

1

1Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions Group, School of Biology and

Environemntal Science, UCD, Dublin 4, Ireland 2 Crop Research Oak Park, Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland

*Presenting author

Fungal-mediated consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic

material has significant potential to bring a breakthrough in

commercial bioalcohol production by reducing the overall cost of

production. Fusarium oxysporum is one of the most promising CBP

agents that has been identified thus far. Recent work in UCD found

that strains of this fungus differed in their ability to release ethanol

from straw, F. oxysporum 11C being the most efficient strain and

strain 7E being relatively inefficient. Complete utilization of both

hexose and pentose sugars is a prerequisite for efficient bioethanol

production. UCD researchers identified a pentose fermentation gene

(Gene A) encoding an enzyme actively involved in pentose

metabolism whose activity was higher in strain 11C as compared to

strain 7E (in press). The ability of this gene to influence

lignocellulosic bioconversion was assayed. Silencing of this gene in

F. oxysporum mutants had a negative effect on bioethanol yield from

untreated wheat straw/bran. Conversely, overexpression of this gene

in F. oxysporum mutants showed a rise in bioethanol yield. These

results suggest that this gene plays a key role in the fermentation of

lignocelluloses to alcohol by F. oxysporum 11C.

A comparison of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Allantoin

content in Symphytum officinale and Symphytum x uplandicum,

and optimisation of extraction and detection methods

O’Keeffe M.* and Levieille G. Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Ireland.

*Presenting author

Comfrey, Symphytum officinale L., is a highly valued medicinal plant

with cell regenerative properties attributed to the presence of

Allantoin, its most abundant therapeutic bioactive compound.

However, it also contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs), which are

hepatotoxic when ingested. This study sought to optimise methods of

extraction and detection for both compounds, and to perform a

quantitative comparison between the two species.

An optimised method of extraction and detection was developed for Allantoin, using 80% ethanol as extraction solvent under sonication

to disrupt the cell membrane, followed by filtration and solvent

removal. The dry residue was dissolved with 50% aquous methanol

for silica gel TLC with Butanol-Acetate-Water as mobile phase.

Boiling the extract 15 minutes with 10% KOH and 4 minutes with

2,4- dinitrophenylhydrazine was the optimum method of

quantification by spectrophotometry at 520nm. Allantoin was found to

be higher in Symphytum officinale tissues than in S. x uplandicum The optimised method of extraction for Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids was

found 50% aquous methanol extraction under sonication for one hour

followed by solvent removal. PAs were separated by TLC with

Hexane:Ethyl Acetate as mobile phase and Ehrlich‟s visualising

reagent. Ehrlich‟s reagent was also used in their spectrophotometric

determination with Monocrotaline as standard.

Investigation of the herbicidal action of aqueous extracts of

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

O’ Sullivan A.1* and Croke, J. T.

2

1 Department of Accountancy and Information Systems, Cork Institute

of Technology, Ireland. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Ireland.

*Presenting author

Allelopathy refers to the beneficial or harmful effects of one plant on

another, from the release of biochemicals, known as allelochemicals.

Allelolchemicals are a subset of secondary metabolites not required

for metabolism, but are an important part of plant defences and can

inhibit the germination or growth of other potential competitor plants

of the same or another species. The effects of aqueous extracts from

the fronds of Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken) was tested on three grass

species, one plant from the Asteraceae and one plant from the Poaceae

families, for any herbicidal characteristics. Fluid from the fern was

extracted using the Bokashi method, a fermentation process which

involves the use of Effective Microorganisms; this was applied in

layers within the fern in an opaque container. The extract was tested

in two phases, the seedling stage, which is completed and the mature

stage for the possibility of different effects. Signs in growth

retardation exhibited by the applications were measured at the

seedling stage and compared to, plants treated with glyphosate in the

form of Roundup™, organic herbicide, an application of vinegar and a

negative control. A total of 420 plants will be used during the

investigation.

The use of Light emitting diodes as supplementary lighting to

increase growth and medicinal yield in Lavandula aungustifolia

Rafferty, A..1* and Murphy, G. A.

2

1 Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology,

Ireland. 2 Department of Accountancy and Information Systems, Cork Institute

of Technology, Ireland.

*Presenting author

Light is an important factor in the growth of both vegetative and

flowering plants. A range of different light sources can be used for the

cultivation of plants such as incandescent, fluorescent lights, high

intensity discharge lamps and light emitting diodes (L.E.D‟s).

Preliminary investigations had shown a positive result in using L.E.D

for vegetative growth.

A wide diversity of crops are cultivated in the Ireland and the

European Union. Crops with potential for the production of medicinal

products are particularly financially rewarding and constitute potential

significant important replacement in Ireland.

The main aim of this project was to investigate the use of

supplementary lighting from L.E.D sources on growth and secondary

metabolite production in Lavandula aungustifolia.

Three L.E.D light sources were tested and compared with sodium

light and an un-supplemented treatment. The L.E.D light sources

were in the red, blue and a combined lamp emitting both red and blue

spectrum wavelengths.

Height and width measurements taken on a weekly basis revealed that

the L.E.D supplementary lighting gave an increased yield in

comparison to the natural light control. The thin layer chromatography

analysis showed the composition of the compounds present to differ

between the supplementary lighting sources.

Microgravity induced phytoestrogens

Adam Shinners, Michelle Mckeon-Bennet, Gary Stutte, Helena

McMahon

CELLS Research Group, Limerick Institute of Technology, Limerick,

Ireland.

This research will test the hypothesis that microgravity induced

production of phytoestrogens can be used as a counter-measure for

microgravity and age related bone loss density. Astronauts suffer from

significant bone loss during long-duration space missions (>1% per

month).This poses a significant challenge to extended spaceflight. It is

similar (albeit accelerated) to age related bone loss that affects over

200 million people world-wide.

The chemical structure of phytoestrogens is similar to oestrogen and

can exert oestrogenic activity. They are often heralded as offering

potential therapies for a variety of hormone dependent conditions such

as osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms and other oestrogen deficiency

diseases. Phytoestrogen concentration within a plant appears to be

inversely proportional with gravity, getting a higher phytoestrogen

accumulation with a lowering gravity.

These phytoestrogens will then be screened for their ability to reduce

the rate of bone loss density against model human bone cell lines.

Results dependent, this could potentially lead to future

supplementation for astronauts on long-duration space missions to

reduce the rate of bone loss density and ultimately supplementation

for the millions of osteoporosis sufferers here on earth.

The effect of elevated CO2 on disease resistance of wheat

Zsolt, Váry1*, Ewen, Mullins

2 and Fiona, Doohan

1

1 UCD Plant-Microbe Interactions Group, School of Biology and

Environmental Science, College of Science University College Dublin,

Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland 2 Teagasc Crop Research Centre, Oakpark, Co. Carlow, Ireland

*Presenting author

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most important greenhouse gases

(GHG) and its concentration has been dramatically increasing since

the industrial revolution due to the intensified anthropogenic GHG

emissions. Wheat is one of the most important food crops in the

world, but the productivity is highly dependent on environmental

factors and the presence of pathogens. Evidence to date suggests that

the higher level of CO2 predicted in future climate estimations can

positively affect disease development (Luck et al., 2011). The aim of

this study is to determine the effect of plant and pathogen adaptation

to high CO2 on the severity of Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease.

FHB resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars (CM82036, Remus)

were grown in Conviron BDW 40 walk-in controlled atmosphere and

environment chambers adapted to normal (390 ppm) and high (780

ppm) CO2 concentrations. The pathogen Fusarium graminearum

GZ3639 strain was grown and subcultured over 20 generations under

the same conditions. Results show that elevated CO2 and also

pathogen adaptation to high CO2 leads to higher disease levels, which

suggests that the future atmospheric CO2 level will have a negative

impact on disease resistance, food quality and production in the

future.

Notes

Notes

Notes