Our Research
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Agricultural Research
From trash to stash – converting yeast lytic vacuoles into protein storage vacuoles
This Medical and Life Sciences Research Fund project in Warwick Life Sciences aims to discover the full capabilities of using the yeast vacuole as a protein storage facility by expressing seed storage proteins within them.
What role do African buffalo play in virus circulation?
This Medical and Life Sciences Research Fund sponsored project hopes to characterise seroprevalence of RVF in African buffalo, characterise seroprevalence of RVF outside Kruger in cattle and finally estimate spill-over potential by determining which species mosquitoes are feeding on at both sides of the interface.
Out of the water! What is Tetracladium doing on land?
Previous work suggests that some species of Tetracladium colonise roots and increase productivity. This would be an excellent and non-GMO way of enhancing crop yields and the Medical and Life Sciences Research Fund is pleased to support this work.
Impacting global food security
Solving the X-ray structure of a critical auxin signal transduction protein if successful would have massive impact in food production and food security.
Keeping time for better nitrogen fixation
Matching rhizobial rhythms with the crop host to maximise nitrogen fixation.
Improving plant immunity and crop yield
In order to meet our targets for food security and production sustainability, it is important to develop resistant crops.
Improving tomatoes for us all.
Classic crop breeding methods rely on the genetic diversity present in elite lines, however recent studies have revealed that most of this diversity is hidden and inaccessible to classical breeders due to the so-called epigenetic (above genetics) regulation.
Reducing arsenic accumulation in rice grains
A research bursary has been awarded to Dr Mohan Thotegowdanapalya Chandrashekaraiah from the Warwick University School of Life Sciences. This will fund his project, entitled 'Development of a novel strategy to reduce arsenic accumulation in rice grains'.
Testing epigenomic approaches to characterise environmental adaptation in crops and related wild species
Carrots are a nutritionally and economically important crop, with a market value of £290 million in 2014. The UK Vegetable Genebank holds a globally significant collection of carrot seed, with over 1,500 samples, including old varieties and seeds from wild relatives of carrot. Characterising and conserving the diversity contained within our collections ensures their utility for agricultural improvement and food security.
Understanding the cause of sheep foot rot
Sheep are an important source of milk and meat to many people throughout the world. Footrot is an infectious disease of sheep and occurs in all sheep farming countries of the world. It affects the sheep by causing painful inflammation of the skin between the digits and causes lameness and so is a major concern of animal welfare.