Beneficiaries
Immediate beneficiaries of AdVAB will be researchers and plant breeders who require information relating to genetic markers or genes associated with specific crop traits, and a functional understanding of the role of specific genes. Delivery of information and material relating to integrated linkage maps using a common format and nomenclature is of direct use to Brassica oilseed and vegetable plant breeders who need to transfer information about genetic trait loci to their own breeding material. Researchers will also be able to provide more specific information to guide selection of breeding material and screening the diverse Brassica genepool. The reverse genetic resources and information will allow plant and crop scientists to test hypotheses about functionality of specific candidate genes in relation to crop phenotypes.
End-user beneficiaries include those involved in the production, distribution, retail and processing supply chain of oilseed and vegetable brassicas and derived products. This includes public-good benefits for environmental and regional economic sustainable production as well as health benefits to the human population.
Oilseed rape is the primary source of vegetable oil in Northern Europe, with huge potential to enhance human diet, and to provide renewable energy and a diverse range of sustainable derived products. It is a relatively recent crop that has risen to worldwide prominence over the past 30 years as a result of genetic selection, and has an increasing impact on UK agriculture, being grown annually on 558,000 ha as the primary break crop in the cereal rotation. As well as primary production traits that enhance yield efficiency, added value from genetic improvement is expected to derive from optimising raw material and end product quality fit for purpose, including nutritional, prophylactic health or renewable non-food use such as biopolymers and lubricants. Brassica species contain elevated amounts of anti-oxidants, vitamins and anti-carcinogenic compounds, with the different crops providing alternative routes into the human food chain. The Brassicaceae are genetically more variable in seed oil fatty acid composition than other major vegetable oils, and have considerable genetic variation for accumulation of these secondary products, as well as for uptake of valuable minerals such as zinc and iron.
Vegetable brassicas are important crops for the UK horticulture industry. In 2003 the brassica vegetable crops grown on 28,000 ha in the UK had a combined farm gate value of £154.5m. However, the value increases significantly further down the supply chain. Vegetable brassicas are important components of the UK diet supplying important beneficial nutrients and anticarcinogenic compounds. Broccoli is the most popular brassica vegetable, being recognised as rich in nutrients and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. In addition, broccoli and other Brassica vegetables contain valuable phytochemicals that have been shown to have a positive effect on human health. For example, glucosinolate compounds and their breakdown products such as sulforophane and various isothiocyanates have been implicated as cancer preventing agents and boost antioxidant activity to protect from heart disease and strokes. Quality attributes are extremely important in brassica vegetables, and the majority of these are quantitative traits. Pest and disease resistance is also a high priority for crop improvement programmes in response to consumer concerns over pesticide usage. There is an increasing interest among vegetable brassica breeders to move away from monogenic resistance to QTL based resistance which may have improved durability. Developing and making available key brassica resources such as refrence mapping populations and DFFSs together with associated linkage maps and data sets will facilitate the handling of quantitative traits in targeted breeding programmes to produce improved brassica varieties for the UK.
