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Core Skills


Biochemistry
NIAB's biochemistry laboratories have the capability to undertake the screening of large numbers of samples, derived from agricultural crops, for quality traits.  These include
 
Barley:                            Micromalting and analysis
Wheat:                            Predictive bread making tests
Herbage:                        Feed quality (Digestibility)
Forage Maize:               Feed quality (Digestibility, Soluble Sugar and Starch) 
Oilseeds:                       Fatty acid composition and glucosinolates
Sugar Beet:                    Sugar and impurity levels
Variety Identification:    Electrophoresis and DNA fingerprint
 
Contact: Peter Fletcher
 
Seed Biology

The Official Seed Testing Station for England & Wales is based at NIAB.

We test a wide range of species for germination, analytical purity, moisture, thousand seed weight or contamination by other species.

Seed identification is one of our specialities with a wide range of reference material and our own Seed ID handbook.

We also offer training in seed sampling and seed analysis.

 
 
Key areas of interest
Seed biology

Seed dormancy

Seed physiology

Seed identification

Seed and grain sampling

Image analysis

 
Contact: Steve Jones
 
Phenotyping

Laboratory – Interpretation of chemical reactions on seed and plant material. Variety identification, descriptions, comparisons and variety uniformity and stability on seed and plant material
 

Field – variety identification, descriptions, comparisons and variety uniformity and stability.
 

Glasshouse - variety identification, variety description, variety comparison and variety uniformity and stability.
 
Contact:  Jennifer Wyatt (agricultural crops) or Elizabeth Scott (ornamental crops).
 
Data Collection and analysis – recording of large amounts detailed plant data using bespoked ‘Dataentry’ C++ programs with Allegro ™ data loggers. Collation of large amounts of recorded data for statistical analysis including ‘T-Test’ and ‘COYD’. High throughput of simple plant characters, including width, length, area and shape, using Digitial image analysis. 
 
Contact: David Smith

Functional Genomics

The centre’s activity is focussed on plant functional genomics which involves discovery and creation of new alleles associated with important traits in various crops. We achieve this by screening for natural variation in germplasms as well as by creating novel alleles via large scale mutagenesis and creation of mutant populations. Populations are then phenotyped using a range of expertise available at NIAB. For example, we use the high throughput image analysis system wherever necessary as well as screen in the glass-house and field for various traits. Lines identified in the screen are selected for backcrossing and further studies.