Rapid domestication of purslane (Portulaca sp.) in a vertical farm environment.

在垂直农场环境中快速驯化马齿苋（Portulaca sp.）。

• 批准号: 2871254
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Edinburgh
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2871254
• 关键词: Rapid; domestication; purslane; Portulaca; sp.

Food security requires nutritious food, consistent supply chain, sustainable production system and reduced food miles. To overcome these challenges, agriculture is shifting focus towards urban farming, specifically vertical farming (VF), where crops are grown indoors to maximize the use of limited city spaces. Research progress has been demonstrated in major arable and horticultural crops like wheat, tomato, salad and herbs. However, commercial crop production in VF faces strong competition with the mainstream farming system. In contrast, novel crops are less affected by competition and offer an opportunity for rapid domestication in VF environment.Purslane (Portulaca sp.) is a crop with substantial commercial opportunities for cultivation under VF. Here, groups from SRUC and the University of Edinburgh are developing a collaborative project on the genetic, genomic, phenomic and physiological characterisation of diverse purslane accessions. The project objectives are as follows:1: Genetic and genomic characterisation of purslane accessions. Germplasm will be obtained through seed merchants and potentially by collection trips within Europe. Seed stocks will be maintained in SRUC and genotyped with data used for diversity analysis and discovery of the centre of origin. Cytogenetic analysis will identify variation in ploidy level, which may indicate species barriers in crosses among accessions.2: Development of a purslane cultivation protocol for VF. Optimal growth conditions including light quality and intensity, temperature, soil type and watering capacity will be investigated. A protocol for manipulating flowering time will be developed to obtain the desired growth stages for crossing and seed production. Clonal propagation using simple cuttings and tissue culture will be explored along with factors including genotype, light parameters, explant length/age and growth medium.3: Phenomic-guided optimisation of production system. A harvest protocol will be developed to maximise the yield and quality of purslane in VF. The appropriate time for harvest will be fine-tuned, and the possibility of multiple harvest to increase yield will be explored. Harvests from various growth stages will be profiled for taste difference through biochemical assays and a participatory breeding approach with SRUC culinary school.These objectives are intended to (1) provide a comprehensive PhD training in applying fundamental biology to deliver a direct impact to mainstreaming purslane production, (2) create a breeding platform for purslane, and (3) encourage creativity and innovation in designing crop for the future. In addition, the student will be provided with opportunities to undertake valuable training in career and soft skill development.Major outputs from this PhD project include: (1) publications on the results, (2) community resources for purslane accessions, (3) development of purslane cultivation protocol in VF, and (4) initiation of purslane breeding program in SRUC. This is a major opportunity to rapidly domesticate novel crops in VF and purslane fits well as a novel crop of choice because it has high nutritious values and has already been consumed traditionally in various parts of the world. As a common goal shared by all partners, we strive to create a collaborative environment for accelerated purslane domestication and breeding in VF in the coming years.

粮食安全需要营养食品、一致的供应链、可持续的生产系统和减少粮食里程。为了克服这些挑战，农业正在将重点转向城市农业，特别是垂直农业（VF），即在室内种植农作物，以最大限度地利用有限的城市空间。小麦、番茄、沙拉和香草等主要耕种和园艺作物的研究进展已得到证实。然而，VF 的经济作物生产面临着与主流农业系统的激烈竞争。相比之下，新型作物受竞争的影响较小，并为在VF环境下快速驯化提供了机会。马齿苋(Portulaca sp.)是一种在VF下种植具有大量商业机会的作物。 SRUC 和爱丁堡大学的研究小组正在开发一个关于不同马齿苋品种的遗传、基因组、表型和生理特征的合作项目。项目目标如下：1：马齿苋种质的遗传和基因组特征。种质将通过种子商人获得，也可能通过欧洲境内的收集旅行获得。种子库存将保存在 SRUC 中，并使用用于多样性分析和发现起源中心的数据进行基因分型。细胞遗传学分析将识别倍性水平的变异，这可能表明种质间杂交中的物种障碍。2：制定VF马齿苋栽培方案。将研究最佳生长条件，包括光质量和强度、温度、土壤类型和浇水能力。将开发一个操纵开花时间的方案，以获得杂交和种子生产所需的生长阶段。将探索使用简单插条和组织培养的克隆繁殖以及基因型、光照参数、外植体长度/年龄和生长培养基等因素。3：表型引导的生产系统优化。我们将制定收获方案，以最大限度地提高 VF 中马齿苋的产量和质量。将微调适当的收获时间，并探索多次收获以提高产量的可能性。将通过生化测定和 SRUC 烹饪学校的参与式育种方法，对不同生长阶段的收获进行味道差异分析。这些目标旨在 (1) 提供应用基础生物学的全面博士培训，以对主流马齿苋生产产生直接影响，（2）创建马齿苋育种平台，（3）鼓励未来作物设计的创造力和创新。此外，学生还将有机会接受职业和软技能发展方面的宝贵培训。该博士项目的主要成果包括：（1）成果出版物，（2）马齿苋种质的社区资源，（3）发展(4) 在 SRUC 启动马齿苋育种计划。这是在 VF 中快速驯化新型作物的重大机会，马齿苋非常适合作为新型作物的选择，因为它具有很高的营养价值，并且已经在世界各地传统上消费。作为所有合作伙伴的共同目标，我们努力在未来几年内为加速马齿苋驯化和VF育种创造一个协作环境。