And we’re off!

In first place we have Ivana with Glasker, which was first under controlled conditions, coming up closely behind.

The first RNAseq samples for the GEMINI project, which have now all passed QC, will start untangling the genetic reasons behind flowering times.

It's milling time for the @MycotoxI project!

Naoise is busy milling the oats from the 2023 field trials. These samples will be tested for 30+ mycotoxins at Queen's University Belfast 🎓 School of Biological Sciences

One sample down, over one hundred to go

The DUS lab has submitted samples for Gemination and Fluorescence testing.

The Seed Testing lab grow grass samples on a Copenhagen tank and seedlings are categorised before the roots are examined on a transilluminator.

Italian grasses display root fluorescence under UV light.

Mallow (Malva Sylvestris L.) is a novel agronomic crop.
It contains a bioactive compound that can be used as an immune raising animal feed.
Patrick Heron's PhD research will identify the most sustainable way to cultivate this crop in Northern Ireland for best agronomic return.

The Herbage VCU team have been out at the 2022 & 2023 National List trials measuring Red Clover plots and dividing with burn lines for the harvests in the months ahead

InnoVar completed 84 field trials across Europe, marking a big milestone in our journey towards revolutionising crop variety testing and decision-making.

Read the full article here to learn more about our groundbreaking research:
ow.ly/B3M550QHb1b

The @InnoVar_EU project is developing the concept of High-Performance Low-Risk varieties. This focuses on providing information to farmers on how resilient varieties are to biotic and abiotic stresses in their environment, and identifying sustainability traits.

Making progress sowing the herbage DUS varieties, filling up all the empty space!

These varieties will be assessed out in the field next year for a range of morphological characters.

GPC III training, hosted by Queen's University Belfast 🎓 and Irish Nutrient Sustainability Platform going splendidly. Professional development, trips to AFBI & AFBI Crossnacreevy, + #interdisciplinary workshops on #GIS , #BacterialDiversity , & #EnvironmentalMeteorology . And perhaps some time with the animals

It's go time for sowing!
🌱🌱🌱
We're prepped and ready to sow the herbage DUS varieties.

On the farm this week we're starting off trial management with early weed control of the DUS space plants.

Brown rust is a major crop pathogen, the infection destroys green leaf area and significantly reduces the rate of photosynthesis. Average yield losses are 15% but severe infections can reduce yields by up to 40%. InnoVar aims to identify traits for pathogen resistance.

A very interesting lecture from Dr Falloon- and great to hear a discussion about the importance of testing crop varieties for climate resilience.

Taking a nosey are some fusarium culmorum under the microscope today!
Mycotox-I AFBI Crossnacreevy Queen's University Belfast 🎓

The seed testing lab here at Crossnacreevy is very busy just now, processing samples for purity

The Herbage VCU team presented a poster on the strategic significance of plant testing for ‘Value, Cultivation & Use’ in Herbage and Cereal crops and it’s benefits in increasing crop performance for Breeders and Farmers alike at the Ulster Arable Conference hosted by CAFRE

Great talk this morning by Naoise of AFBI Crossnacreevy and IGFS this morning at the Alltech meeting AFBI Hillsborough on preliminary results from her Mycotox-I PhD project. This work is funded by @daera and DAFM Doohancropslab Prof Chris Elliott OBE

So excited to be presenting preliminary findings from Mycotox-I PhD studies. Lisa Black AFBI Crossnacreevy

Septoria tritici blotch is one of the most damaging diseases in wheat crops. In InnoVar we are using genomics to identify new sources of resistance to this potentially devastating fungus.

Last week's UlsterArableSociety Ulster Farmers' Union conference was a great oppertunity to gather feedback from farmers on the @InnoVar_EU project.

Project manager Hazel Brown and Coordinator @LisaClareBlack presented the project poster.

More info on the website: h2020innovar.eu