Contributions

CoA 5.3 Enabling technologies

Deployment of modern tools and technology platforms is the main objective of this CoA. Most of these tools and technologies being common between legumes and cereals, provide an excellent leverage for applications to these two groups, especially when facilities are located in the regions where these crops grow²⁷⁴. A Community of Practice (CoP) for these enabling technologies and platforms is proposed. The CoP will provide an effective mechanism for information- and experience-sharing, mutual learning and problem-solving that will map existing knowledge, identify gaps for proactive interventions, promote innovations by creating new knowledge, and develop new capabilities. The CoP will connect with other CoPs and experts with similar interests to facilitate the development and efficient use of enabling technologies and platforms for trait discovery in GLDC crops. The current status and targets for some of these tools/technologies for achieving the proposed outputs of FPs 5 and FP4 are summarized in Table FP5.1. This CoA will also have close association with the EiB and BigData Platforms.

These include genome sequencing, resequencing, and high-throughput marker platforms for facilitating the application of genomic tools in FP5 and FP4 based on ongoing efforts in the HTPG and GOBII projects. Identification, validation and deployment of available diagnostic markers for priority traits are also being addressed and will be further expanded in forward breeding of GLDC crops.

These platforms will enable the development or validation of functional gene-to-phenotype associations through medium-throughput model systems or target crop transformation, and/or through reverse/forward breeding with systematically-induced mutant or activation-tagged populations. The genetic transformation platforms will be based on ‘gain of function’ or ‘loss of function’ approaches including genome editing through new technologies like CRISPR/Cas9²⁷⁵ to generate events for screening and functional validation of traits. The importance of genetic engineering and genome editing technologies is important for the genetic improvement of GLDC crops. While using genetic engineering as the technology of last resort, some of the key constraints that are otherwise difficult to address, due to low or non-existent natural genetic variability, will be tackled through transgenic interventions. However, transgenic work is only targeted to countries that have biosafety legislation and guidelines in place. The intent is to transfer transgenics that are well characterized under pre-field and/or field conditions with the NARES partners in compliance with the respective regulatory regimes. Hence, it is imperative that efforts will be on the capacity building of NARES scientists on the technology, biosafety and stewardship for its effective deployment. ICRISAT’s policy on genetically engineered crops will be followed. In addition, induced mutation breeding approach will include development and use of systematic mutant population(s) such as TILLING²⁷⁶ and other mutant populations.