Development and evaluation of low-phytate wheat germplasm
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Research partners: NIAB, University of Reading, Nottingham and Idaho, Harper Adams University College, Velcourt Ltd.
Industrial partners: Nickerson-Advanta, BASF Frank Wright, Noble Foods, JSR Farms, Sun Valley Foods, A.B.N.A Ltd. J Bibby Agriculture and Trident Feeds, Anglian Water Services, The Environment Agency, Velcourt (Farm Management), British Poultry Council, Home Grown Cereals Agency, BPEX
Sponsors: This project is being funded under the Defra LINK Sustainable Arable programme.
Project duration: April 2006 – March 2010
The aim of this recently completed project was to provide adapted germplasm and tools for marker assisted breeding of High Available Phosphate (HAP) wheat, which will have the potential to significantly reduce diffuse phosphate [P2O5] (P) pollution when used in the diets of pigs and poultry. In addition, the effect of P fertiliser treatment on the P metabolism within the wheat plant and grain, and on the grain composition of other important nutrients and micronutrients, was determined.
Currently available mutations in maize and barley lines have already been reported to reduce phosphate excretion in feeding trials.
Five feeding trials were undertaken using both pigs and poultry to demonstrate the potential reduction in P excretion when HAP wheat was used in formulated diets. The animal performance was not as anticipated and the development of specialised diets was necessary to start understanding the potential mechanisms involved. The results demonstrated that under certain conditions P excretion could be reduced in both pigs and poultry using HAP wheat. In one trial this equated to approximately a 20 – 25% reduction in pig faecal P.
Using the data from the feeding trials it can be calculated that by replacing conventional feed with a low phytate alternative it would be possible to reduce P load to waters by 0.53% (321 tonnes P per year) and the agricultural contribution to the total P load to British waters by 2.73%. Significant further reductions could be envisaged in the industrial fish farming and human nutrition sectors.
UK adapted wheat germplasm was developed using three different techniques. This has provided germplasm with several different mutations resulting in the reduction of phytate and potentially an increased uptake of phosphate. Within the period of the project full characterization has not been possible but this work is ongoing. The development of the toolkit for marker-assisted breeding will improve the efficiency of this process.
There was no evidence for altered performance or need for altered agronomy with HAP wheat. This will need to be confirmed with the UK adapted material and the new mutations. However, since phytate is associated with iron, zinc etc., the micronutrient levels should be monitored when new germplasm is developed as this was seen to differ in the analysis conducted on the US variety.
During this project the cost of phosphate used in formulated diets increased to over £600/T due to the demand from the fertiliser industry. Therefore making the plant phosphate more available to rapidly growing young animals in combination with the use of phytase enzymes will have an increasing cost benefit and mitigate against animal welfare issues.
Future EU water legislation for the mitigation of phosphate pollution will make the development of HAP wheat of significant value to the farming industry as it adapts to meet any future requirements.
Pig International press article - read here
Page last updated
08-Apr-2011