Thursday, 30 June 2011

08:00

Registration


Session: Growth Optimization for Food and Biofuels

09:30

Johnathan NapierKeynote Presentation

Metabolic Engineering of Transgenic Plants With the Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthetic Pathway - A Terrestrial Source of Fish Oils
Johnathan Napier, Principal Investigator, Rothamsted Research, United Kingdom

Fish oils have proven roles in preventing cardiovascular disease but a diminishing natural resource. We are using transgenic plants to provide an alternative, sustainable terrestrial source of these important fatty acids, ensuring optimal nutrition for all.

10:00

Systemic Protein and RNA Signaling in Flowering Induction
Yiguo Hong, Professor, Hangzhou Normal University, China

In this presentation, I will discuss how to convert a plant flowering time integrator into a useful gene allele for molecular breeding of novel crops with increasing seed yields, as well as a new twist to reveal the nature of florigen.

10:30

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

11:15

Jim DunwellKeynote Presentation

Crop Biotechnology: Prospects and Opportunities
Jim Dunwell, Professor, University of Reading, United Kingdom

This review summarizes important areas of activity in crop biotechnology likely to be exploited over the medium term (10–20 years), with an emphasis on agronomic traits.


Session: Systems-Based Approaches & Genomic Mapping

11:45

Michael PfafflKeynote Presentation

The Use of High-Throughput Transcriptomics for Biomarker Development in Agriculture
Michael Pfaffl, Professor, Technical University of Munich, Germany

This talk provides an overview of the latest transcriptomics based technologies in biomarker discovery after illegal hormone application. These –omics technologies can provide essential information on the mRNA expression of hormone regulated genes across multiple tissues, organs, treatment stages, and experimental trials. It highlights recent gene expression results on mRNA and microRNA level derived from quantitative RT-PCR and next generation sequencing. On the basis of the expression results reliable candidate biomarker were selected. To verify if these gene expression changes could act as first valid biomarkers bio-statistical methods were applied. Principal Components Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering were successfully used to demonstrate the potential of the transcriptomic approach for the development of a new screening system and to introduce new gene expression biomarkers.

12:15

KbiosystemsTechnology Spotlight:
Advancement in Technology For the Sealing of Mirco-Well and alternative Format Plate and Tubes
Alan Shepherd, Technical Director, Kbiosystems

As the MWP and sample tube manufacture has improved, and the demands for miniaturisation, the requirement for precision and repeatable sealing has become ever more essential, KBiosystems are now developing and manufacturing nextgen Sealing devices that provide both precision accurate seals with minimal deformation the MWP. The adoption of the MWP format into the clinical market has placed demands for data logging and real time information transfer during and post sealing operations the nextgen sealers ensure these demand are met. This spotlight session will highlight the new techniques for more reliable and robust sealing.

12:30

Lunch and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

12:45

SelectBioFree Workshop
Advancement of Separation, Purification and Crystallography from Agilent Technologies

13:30

SelectBioFree Workshop
High Content Screening for Compounds and Genes Affecting Bacterial and Viral Infections

13:30

Poster Session

14:15

The Search for New Genes Conferring Durable Disease Resistance
John Walsh, Research Leader, University of Warwick, United Kingdom

We have identified the major gene controlling broad-spectrum resistance to a plant virus. In collaboration with Syngenta Seeds, a gene-specific marker is now being used to introgress the resistance in to commercial plant lines. The nature of the resistance indicates that it may be durable.

14:45

Phloem micro RNAs and Their Involvement in the Systemic Regulation of Stress Responses and Development
Julia Kehr, Centre of Plant Biotechnology and Genomics, Polytechnic University of Madrid , Spain

This presentation will summarize the current knowledge about phloem micro RNAs and their long-distance mobility between organs. It will also discuss the potential roles their translocation plays during nutrient deficiency defense responses or the regulation of development.

15:15

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

16:00

Integration of Small RNA, mRNA and Degradome Profiling During Fruit Development
Tamas Dalmay, Director/Professor, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom

Combined analysis of small RNA, mRNA and degradome profiles during tomato fruit development revealed many new microRNAs and microRNA targets. Correlation between microRNAs and their targets will be discussed.

16:30

Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression by microRNAs
Wolfgang Frank, Assistant Professor, University of Freiburg, Germany

The targeted deletion of all DICER-LIKE genes in the moss Physcomitrella patens led to the elucidation of the complexity and function of endogenous small RNA pathways in this species.

17:00

Visualization of Plant Sequence and Genotype Data and Analysis
David Marshall, Head, Scottish Crop Research Institute, United Kingdom

17:30

Drinks Reception

Friday, 1 July 2011

08:00

SelectBioFree Workshop
PCR without DNA purification – Thermo Scientific Direct PCR


Session: Enhancing Plant Resistance to Disease

09:30

Marty DickmanKeynote Presentation

Tipping the Balance: Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum Regulates Autophagy, Apoptosis and Disease Development by Manipulating the Host Redox Environment
Marty Dickman, Professor/Director, Texas A&M University, United States of America

What can be more fundamental than whether a given cell lives or dies? Our work with economically important necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungi has suggested that, whomever (plant vs. pathogen), controls the form cell death “wins “ the battle.

10:00

Keys to Durable Resistance Strategies in Crop Plants
Richard Visser, Professor/Head, Wageningen University & Research Centre, Netherlands

Potato is the world's third largest food crop yet it continues to endure late blight (LB), a devastating disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Exploiting plant genetic resistance in combination with knowledge of the pathogen’s effector diversity will inform on the durability of Rpi genes and the best disease management strategy.

10:30

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

11:15

Map-Based Cloning of a Major Resistance Gene for Stripe Rust in Wheat
Alan Schulman, Group Leader/Professor, University of Helsinki, Finland

Wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) is a particularly promising source of resistance to the wheat diseases. Our goal is to positionally clone Yr15 from T. discoccoides, a key resistance gene to yellow rust. We have identified a BAC contig spanning this gene.

11:45

Ulvan, a Sulfated Polysaccharide From Green Algae, Activates Plant Immunity and Protection Against Powdery Mildew Pathogens
Bernard Dumas, Principal Investigator, University Paul Sabatier Toulouse, France

A new elicitor of plant defense responses was characterized from a crude extract of the green algae Ulva spp.

12:15

Lunch and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

12:45

SelectBioFree Workshop
Glosensor Technology: Intracellular Biosensors to Detect Signal Transduction in Living Cells

13:30

SelectBioFree Workshop
Automatic High Content Screening for Life Sciences

13:30

Poster Session

14:15

Latest Advances in KASPar SNP Genotyping and DNA Purification
Phil Robinson, Managing Director, KBioscience, United Kingdom

14:45

From Lab to Farmers: Improving Disease Resistance in Durum Wheat
Roberto Tuberosa, Professor, University of Bologna, Italy

The analysis of the rice-Brachypodium-wheat synteny provides the bases for SNP development and candidate gene identification. An overview of the results will be presented.

15:15

Coffee Break and Networking in the Exhibition Hall

16:00

Development of a Toolbox to Study Plant-Pathogen Interactions in Cereals
Goetz Hensel, Senior Scientist, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Germany

Lately, we have been pursuing a novel strategy to combat fungal pathogens, which relies on in planta expression of hairpin RNAi constructs specifically targeting fungal genes via host-induced gene silencing (HIGS).

16:30

Disease Susceptibility as a Potential Target for Engineering Resistance?
Ralph Hueckelhoven, Chair, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Plant factors that are required for successful host infection by microbial pathogens might be targets.

17:00

Close of Conference