The John Innes Centre and its industrial and academic partners have been awarded UK Government funding to help deliver four ambitious projects that unleash the potential of precision breeding.

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have identified a bacterial genus that promotes root growth and nitrogen uptake in plants. The findings open new possibilities for developing customized “plant probiotics” that could contribute to more resource-efficient agriculture by reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizer.

Rainbow trout fed a fish-free, plant-based diet from first feeding showed lower food intake and reduced growth compared with fish fed a conventional fishmeal and fish oil diet. Brain responses linked to hedonic control were time-dependent: opioid-system gene expression changes were limited in early fry but became pronounced after long-term exposure (8 months), alongside higher serotonin turnover. The results suggest that plant-based feeds may reduce palatability and that opioid markers could help assess feed acceptance and welfare.

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan recently examined how different kinds of pesticides and fertilizers affect mandarin oranges across Japan. Analysis showed that while reducing pesticides enhanced the diversity of microbes in the soil, it also led to an increase in fruit disease caused by leaf pathogens. The real-world data from commercial farms thus indicate a trade-off above ground with potential ecological benefits below ground. The study offers important insights for the advancement of sustainable agricultural technologies and future policy development.

Researchers in China comprehensively identified 54 AhPR10 genes in cultivated peanut, phylogenetically classified into eight distinct subgroups with supported gene structure and motif conservation. Segmental duplication was identified as the primary driver for the expansion of the AhPR10 gene family, as revealed by chromosomal distribution and synteny analysis. The recombinant AhPR10-33 protein demonstrated significant antifungal activity by inhibiting Aspergillus flavus mycelial growth in vitro, highlighting its potential role in pathogen resistance.

Concordia researchers developed a new way to measure snow water availability, revealing “creeping snow droughts” in western and southern Canada. Declines in snowpack water threaten rivers, agriculture, hydropower, shipping and communities, affecting 86 % of Canadians despite occurring in just 3 % of land. Findings published in Communications Earth & Environment