Translational research in agriculture. Can we do it better?
John B. Passioura
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Email: john.passioura@csiro.au
Crop and Pasture Science 71(6) 517-528 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP20066
Submitted: 27 February 2020 Accepted: 4 June 2020 Published: 12 June 2020
Journal compilation © CSIRO 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
‘Translational research’ became an increasingly common term when it was realised that much agriculturally inspired basic research failed to contribute to the improvement of crops. Most of the failure has come from laboratory-based attempts to ameliorate abiotic stresses. Dealing with biotic stress has been much more successful; the control of pests and weeds is often enabled by transforming crops with single genes, for such genes have little or no influence on a crop’s metabolism. By contrast, abiotic stress varies with the weather; i.e. crops respond systemically, over a range of levels of organisation (e.g. cells, tissues, organs), with many feedbacks and feedforwards. Drought is the most pervasive form of abiotic stress. There are 4600 papers that have searched, ineffectively, for ‘drought resistance’, a term that usually defies useful definition. By contrast, dealing with a measured, limited water supply (e.g. seasonal rainfall), rather than with ‘drought’, has effectively increased water-limited yield through agronomic innovation based on improving water-use efficiency. ‘Salt tolerance’ has similar difficulties; nevertheless, physiological knowledge has revealed effective single genes, in contrast to the failures of empirical gene prospecting. Another important goal has been to increase potential crop yield by exploring mechanistic opportunities to improve photosynthetic efficiency. These attempts have not, so far, succeeded, perhaps because they have rarely broached physiological responses beyond carbon balance, such as metabolic responses to environmental challenges that may affect meristematic development. A major reason for the predominant failure of translational research from laboratory to field is that the peer-review system is too narrow; i.e. reviewers have the same backgrounds as the authors. Effective translation will require the addition of reviewers who can assess the pathway from laboratory to field.
Additional keywords: genetic transformation, photosynthesis, temperate field crops, water use efficiency.
References
Angus JF, van Herwaarden AF (2001) Increasing water use and water use efficiency in dryland wheat. Agronomy Journal 93, 290–298.| Increasing water use and water use efficiency in dryland wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Araus JL, Serret MD, Lopes MS (2019) Transgenic solutions to increase yield and stability in wheat: shining hope or flash in the pan? Journal of Experimental Botany 70, 1419–1424.
| Transgenic solutions to increase yield and stability in wheat: shining hope or flash in the pan?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30856274PubMed |
Boyer JS, McLaughlin JE (2007) Functional reversion to identify controlling genes in multigenic responses: analysis of floral abortion. Journal of Experimental Botany 58, 267–277.
| Functional reversion to identify controlling genes in multigenic responses: analysis of floral abortion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17105969PubMed |
Cassman KG (2016) Long-term trajectories: crop yields, farmland, and irrigated agriculture. Economic Review, Special Issue 2016, pp. 21–46. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, MO, USA. Available at: https://www.kansascityfed.org/~/media/files/publicat/econrev/econrevarchive/2016/si16cassman.pdf/
Cassman KG, Grassini P (2020) A global perspective on sustainable intensification research. Nature Sustainability 3, 262–268.
| A global perspective on sustainable intensification research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cornish P, Murray G (1989) Low rainfall rarely limits wheat yields in southern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29, 77–83.
| Low rainfall rarely limits wheat yields in southern New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Delhaize E, Ma JF, Ryan PR (2012) Transcriptional regulation of aluminium tolerance genes. Trends in Plant Science 17, 341–348.
| Transcriptional regulation of aluminium tolerance genes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22459757PubMed |
Donald CM, Hamblin J (1976) The biological yield and harvest index of cereals as agronomic and plant breeding criteria. Advances in Agronomy 28, 361–405.
| The biological yield and harvest index of cereals as agronomic and plant breeding criteria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fischer RA (1979) Growth and water limitations to dryland wheat yield in Australia; a physiological framework. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 45, 83–95.
Fischer RA (2015) Definitions and determination of crop yield, yield gaps and of rates of change. Field Crops Research 182, 9–18.
| Definitions and determination of crop yield, yield gaps and of rates of change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flohr BM, Hunt JR, Kirkegaard JA, Evans JR (2017) Water and temperature stress define the optimal flowering period for wheat in south-eastern Australia. Field Crops Research 209, 108–119.
| Water and temperature stress define the optimal flowering period for wheat in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
French RJ, Schultz JE (1984a) Water use efficiency of wheat in a Mediterranean type environment. I. The relation between yield, water use and climate. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 743–764.
| Water use efficiency of wheat in a Mediterranean type environment. I. The relation between yield, water use and climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
French RJ, Schultz JE (1984b) Water use efficiency of wheat in a Mediterranean type environment. II. Some limitations to efficiency. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 765–775.
| Water use efficiency of wheat in a Mediterranean type environment. II. Some limitations to efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gilliham M, Able JA, Roy SJ (2017) Translating knowledge about abiotic stress tolerance to breeding programmes. The Plant Journal 90, 898–917.
| Translating knowledge about abiotic stress tolerance to breeding programmes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27987327PubMed |
Gonsalves D (1998) Control of papaya ringspot virus in papaya: a case study. Annual Review of Phytopathology 36, 415–437.
| Control of papaya ringspot virus in papaya: a case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15012507PubMed |
González FG, Rigalli N, Miranda PV, Romagnoli M, Otegui ME, Ribichich KF, Trucco F, Portapila M, Otegui ME, Chan RL (2020) An interdisciplinary approach to study the performance of second-generation genetically modified crops in field trials: a case study with soybean and wheat carrying the sunflower HaHB4 transcription factor. Frontiers in Plant Science 11, 178
| An interdisciplinary approach to study the performance of second-generation genetically modified crops in field trials: a case study with soybean and wheat carrying the sunflower HaHB4 transcription factor.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 32210989PubMed |
Hall AJ, Richards RA (2013) Prognosis for genetic improvement of yield potential and water-limited yield of major grain crops. Field Crops Research 143, 18–33.
| Prognosis for genetic improvement of yield potential and water-limited yield of major grain crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hochman Z, Gobbett DL, Horan H (2017) Climate trends account for stalled wheat yields in Australia since 1990. Global Change Biology 23, 2071–2081.
| Climate trends account for stalled wheat yields in Australia since 1990.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28117534PubMed |
Hunt JR, Hayman PT, Richards RA, Passioura JB (2018) Opportunities to reduce heat damage in rain-fed wheat crops based on plant breeding and agronomic management. Field Crops Research 224, 126–138.
| Opportunities to reduce heat damage in rain-fed wheat crops based on plant breeding and agronomic management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunt J, Kirkegaard JA, Celestina C, Porker K (2019a) Transformational agronomy: restoring the role of agronomy in modern agricultural research. In ‘Australian agriculture in 2020, from conservation to automation’. Ch. 23. (Eds J Pratley, J Kirkegaard) pp. 373–388. (Agronomy Australia and Charles Sturt University: Wagga Wagga, NSW) Available at: http://agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/index.php/special-publications
Hunt JR, Lilley JM, Trevaskis B, Flohr BM, Peake A, Fletcher A, Zwart AB, Gobbett D, Kirkegaard JA (2019b) Early sowing systems can boost Australian wheat yields despite recent climate change. Nature Climate Change 9, 244–247.
| Early sowing systems can boost Australian wheat yields despite recent climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
James RA, Blake C, Zwart AB, Hare RA, Rathjen AJ, Munns R (2012) Impact of ancestral wheat sodium exclusion genes Nax1 and Nax2 on grain yield of durum wheat on saline soils. Functional Plant Biology 39, 609–618.
| Impact of ancestral wheat sodium exclusion genes Nax1 and Nax2 on grain yield of durum wheat on saline soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 32480813PubMed |
Kirkegaard JA, Hunt JR (2010) Increasing productivity by matching farming system management and genotype in water-limited environments. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 4129–4143.
| Increasing productivity by matching farming system management and genotype in water-limited environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20709725PubMed |
Kirkegaard JA, Gardner PA, Angus JF, Koetz E (1994) Effect of brassica break crops on the growth and yield of wheat. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 45, 529–545.
| Effect of brassica break crops on the growth and yield of wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kirkegaard JA, Hunt JR, McBeath TM, Lilley JM, Moore A, Verburg K, Robertson M, Oliver Y, Ward PR, Milroy S, Whitbread AM (2014) Improving water productivity in the Australian grains industry—a nationally coordinated approach. Crop & Pasture Science 65, 583–601.
| Improving water productivity in the Australian grains industry—a nationally coordinated approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Körner C (2015) Paradigm shift in plant growth control. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 25, 107–114.
| Paradigm shift in plant growth control.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26037389PubMed |
Morran S, Eini O, Pyvovarenko T, Parent B, Singh R, Ismagul A, Eliby S, Shirley N, Langridge P, Lopato S (2011) Improvement of stress tolerance of wheat and barley by modulation of expression of DREB/CBF factors. Plant Biotechnology Journal 9, 230–249.
| Improvement of stress tolerance of wheat and barley by modulation of expression of DREB/CBF factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20642740PubMed |
Muller B, Pantin F, Genard M, Turc O, Freixes S, Piques M, Gibon Y (2011) Water deficits uncouple growth from photosynthesis, increase C content, and modify the relationships between C and growth in sink organs. Journal of Experimental Botany 62, 1715–1729.
| Water deficits uncouple growth from photosynthesis, increase C content, and modify the relationships between C and growth in sink organs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21239376PubMed |
Munns R, James RA, Xu B, Athman A, Conn SJ, Jordans C, Byrt CS, Hare RA, Tyerman SD, Tester M, Plett D, Gilliham M (2012) Wheat grain yield on saline soils is improved by an ancestral transporter gene. Nature Biotechnology 30, 360–364.
| Wheat grain yield on saline soils is improved by an ancestral transporter gene.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22407351PubMed |
Munns R, Passioura JB, Colmer TD, Byrt CS (2020) Osmotic adjustment and energy limitations to plant growth in saline soil. Tansley Insight. New Phytologist 225, 1091–1096.
| Osmotic adjustment and energy limitations to plant growth in saline soil. Tansley Insight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31006123PubMed |
Neff MW (2020) How academic science gave its soul to the publishing industry. Issues in Science and Technology 36, 35–43.
Nix HA, Fitzpatrick EA (1969) An index of crop water stress related to wheat and grain sorghum yields. Agricultural Meteorology 6, 321–337.
| An index of crop water stress related to wheat and grain sorghum yields.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parent B, Tardieu F (2012) Temperature responses of developmental processes have not been affected by breeding in different ecological areas for 17 crop species. New Phytologist 194, 760–774.
| Temperature responses of developmental processes have not been affected by breeding in different ecological areas for 17 crop species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22390357PubMed |
Passioura JB (1972) Effect of root geometry on the yield of wheat growing on stored water. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 745–752.
| Effect of root geometry on the yield of wheat growing on stored water.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Passioura JB (1977) Grain yield, harvest index, and water use of wheat. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 43, 117–121.
Passioura JB (1999) Can we bring about a perennially peopled and productive countryside? Agroforestry Systems 45, 411–421.
| Can we bring about a perennially peopled and productive countryside?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Passioura JB (2002) Soil conditions and plant growth. Plant, Cell & Environment 25, 311–318.
| Soil conditions and plant growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Passioura JB (2010) Scaling up, the essence of effective agricultural research. Functional Plant Biology 37, 585–591.
| Scaling up, the essence of effective agricultural research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Perry MW (1980) The Three Tonne Club, pioneering a new cropping era? Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia 21, 113–114.
Petrie JR, Shrestha P, Mansour MP, Nichols PD, Liu Q, Singh SP (2010) Metabolic engineering of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plants using an acyl-CoA Δ6-desaturase with ω3-preference from the marine microalga Micromonas pusilla. Metabolic Engineering 12, 233–240.
| Metabolic engineering of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plants using an acyl-CoA Δ6-desaturase with ω3-preference from the marine microalga Micromonas pusilla.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20004733PubMed |
Pratley J, Kirkegaard J (2019) From conservation to automation in the search for sustainability. In ‘Australian agriculture in 2020: from conservation to automation’. Ch. 26. (Eds J Pratley, J Kirkegaard) pp. 419–435. (Agronomy Australia and Charles Sturt University: Wagga Wagga, NSW) Available at: http://agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/index.php/special-publications
Rebetzke GJ, Jimenez-Berni J, Fischer RA, Deery DM, Smith DJ (2019) High-throughput phenotyping to enhance the use of crop genetic resources. Plant Science 282, 40–48.
| High-throughput phenotyping to enhance the use of crop genetic resources.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31003610PubMed |
Richards RA, Cavanagh CR, Riffkin P (2019) Selection for erect canopy architecture can increase yield and biomass of spring wheat. Field Crops Research 244, 107649
| Selection for erect canopy architecture can increase yield and biomass of spring wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sadras VO (2019) Effective phenotyping applications require matching trait and platform and more attention to theory. Frontiers in Plant Science 10, 1339
| Effective phenotyping applications require matching trait and platform and more attention to theory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31695718PubMed |
Sadras VO, Denison RF (2016) Neither crop genetics nor crop management can be optimised. Field Crops Research 189, 75–83.
| Neither crop genetics nor crop management can be optimised.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sadras VO, Alston J, Aphalo P, Connor D, Denison DR, Fischer T, Gray R, Hayman P, Kirkegaard J, Kirchmann H, Kropff M, Lafitte R, Langridge P, Lenne J, Mínguez MI, Passioura JB, Porter JR, Reeves T, Rodriguez D, Ryan M, Villalobos FJ, Wood D (2020) Making science more useful for agriculture. Advances in Agronomy,
| Making science more useful for agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | In press
Sinclair TR, Rufty TW, Lewis RS (2019) Increasing photosynthesis, unlikely solution for world food problem. Trends in Plant Science 24, 1032–1039.
| Increasing photosynthesis, unlikely solution for world food problem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31488354PubMed |
Sonnewald U, Fernie AR (2018) Next-generation strategies for understanding and influencing source–sink relations in crop plants. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 43, 63–70.
| Next-generation strategies for understanding and influencing source–sink relations in crop plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29428477PubMed |
Stokes DE (1997) ‘Pasteur’s quadrant: basic science and technological innovation.’ (Brookings Institution Press: Washington, DC, USA)
Telfer P, Edwards J, Kuchel H, Reinheimer J, Bennett D (2013) Heat stress tolerance of wheat. Update Papers 7 February 2013. GRDC, Barton, ACT. Available at: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2013/02/heat-stress-tolerance-of-wheat (accessed 20 May 2020)
Thomas H, Sadras VO (2001) The capture and gratuitous disposal of resources by plants. Functional Ecology 15, 3–12.
| The capture and gratuitous disposal of resources by plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Herwaarden AF, Farquhar GD, Angus JF, Richards RA, Howe GN (1998) ‘Haying-off’ the negative grain yield response of dryland wheat to nitrogen fertiliser I. Biomass grain yield and water use. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 1067–1082.
| ‘Haying-off’ the negative grain yield response of dryland wheat to nitrogen fertiliser I. Biomass grain yield and water use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weiss PA (1969) The living system, determinism stratified. In ‘Beyond reductionism’. (Eds A Koestler, JR Smythies) (Hutchinson: London)
Xue Z-Y, Zhi D-Y, Xue G-P, Zhang H, Zhao Y-X, Xia G-M (2004) Enhanced salt tolerance of transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) expressing a vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter gene with improved grain yields in saline soils in the field and a reduced level of leaf Na+. Plant Science 167, 849–859.
| Enhanced salt tolerance of transgenic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) expressing a vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter gene with improved grain yields in saline soils in the field and a reduced level of leaf Na+.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
