Futureproofing crop health: integrating modelling and experimentation to understand plant-pathogen interactions in legumes under the climate change scenarios.

Project: Research

Project Details

Description

Smallholder farmers in ODA countries rely on legumes to meet the protein requirement in their diets and to improve their soil quality. However, changing climate is leading to an upsurge in crop losses due to abiotic (drought) and biotic (pest and disease) stresses. The temperature rise, increasing frequency of high-heat periods, and elevated CO2 levels impact the host-pathogen systems. The poorest and most vulnerable communities are particularly affected, as they are limited in how they can respond to these challenges. Breeding programs that develop climate-resilient and pest- and disease-resistant varieties are essential for improving their food security but are often hampered by low efficiency and slow development.

The aim of our project is to investigate the impact of climate change (elevated temperature and CO2) on a legume crop (pigeonpea – Cajanus cajan L) and pathogen (Sterility Mosaic Virus) system. Our project builds on, and significantly expands, the collaboration between Strathclyde and ICRISAT-India. We will use the state-of-the-art climate change facilities at ICRISAT and their high-throughput phenotyping scanning and artificial intelligence system, LeasyScan. The Strathclyde team will develop a novel data analysis and modelling approach, resulting in a unique world-leading pipeline to develop new pigeonpea cultivars, extendable to other crops.
StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/04/2431/03/25

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