Soft Fruit Genetic Improvement Network hopes to make major strides in improving UK self-sufficiency
A new five-year £3.5 million genetic research programme is aiming to advance the breeding of more sustainable and resilient varieties of soft fruit in the UK.
The Soft Fruit Genetic Improvement Network (GIN) is funded by Defra and will be jointly led and managed by the James Hutton Institute and NIAB. Work will begin this autumn, with the James Hutton team led by Dr Julie Graham.
The project will introduce a coordinated research approach to the genetics of pre-breeding in soft fruit to address the needs of industry and to tackle some of the longer-term issues such as changing climatic conditions, as well as pests and diseases that are resistant to current forms of eradication.
Soft Fruit GIN is setting out to deepen experts’ genetic understanding and help develop improved genetic resources and tools that could lead to the breeding of more sustainable varieties, which could be used to increase the domestic supply of soft-fruit crops.
It will focus on the main soft-fruit crops currently grown in the UK, namely strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. However it will also support the development and expansion of blackberries, while assessing the potential of honeyberries as a novel crop for growers to consider.
James Hutton and NIAB will also support two PhD projects funded through the GIN, increasing skills in the sector.
Graham said: “If we wish to support our soft-fruit industry in this country, then we need to develop new varieties that not only deliver on quality, flavour, texture and yield; but which are resistant to pest and disease, require less input from growers and which can handle the impact that the changing climate is having on soil and the atmosphere.
“This needs a team effort where scientists work with industry to develop, utilise and share knowledge of genetic and genomic tools. The Soft Fruit GIN will bring together our collective skills and expertise to improve breeding, benefit UK production and have less environmental impact than practices and varieties currently being grown allow”.
The project will be run in close partnership with the soft-fruit industry, with the research data made freely available.
The research priorities for the Soft Fruit GIN were developed with significant industry stakeholder involvement, and an advisory committee will oversee the work to ensure it remains relevant to industry challenges. It runs until June 2029.
Professor Xiangming Xu, director of research at NIAB, explained that biotechnology tools will help generate significant genetic data and resources. “Specific targets within the programme include understanding genetics of improved tolerance to pests and diseases and increased water and nutrient use efficiency in strawberry and raspberry,” he said.
“The project will also develop genetic tools and resources for two underutilised soft-fruit crops – blackberry and honeyberry – to assess whether there is potential to increase their production in the UK.
“The Soft Fruit GIN will bring together multidisciplinary expertise from NIAB, The James Hutton Institute and ADAS, to provide the sector with the data and knowledge to transform soft-fruit breeding and production in the UK. The timing of this project means that we can harness the opportunities created by the recently passed Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, developing cutting-edge genetic tools to develop new resilient and economically viable varieties, with reduced environmental impact.”
