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SUMMARY:Onobrychis viciifolia a natural alternative to ivermectin - Marina
  Mora Ortiz\, The Legume Plus Project\, NIAB\, Cambridge
DTSTART:20150513T150000Z
DTEND:20150513T160000Z
UID:TALK56852@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fiona Roby
DESCRIPTION:Ivermectin is an anthelmintic drug commonly used in ruminant a
 nimals to combat nematode infestations. However\, after three decades of i
 ntensive use\, Ivermectin resistance is now quite widespread. Resistance t
 o anthelmintic drugs is also seen in humans and it has been suggested that
  Ivermectin may be inducing genetic selection pressure on Onchocerca volvu
 lus\, a nematode that causes onchocerciasis\; also known as "river blindne
 ss" in humans. In this context\, the development of new alternatives to co
 ntrol nematode infections is needed. Onobrychis viciifolia\, commonly know
 n as sainfoin\, is a medicinal leguminous tanniferous forage crop. It has 
 beneficial nutraceutical\, anti-bloating and anti-parasitic\, activity. It
  also has indirect environmental benefits by reducing methane emissions fr
 om ruminant livestock\, when used in their feed\, and improving protein up
 take due to ‘rumen-escape’ protein metabolism. Sainfoin is therefore a
  possible alternative to alfalfa or clover in animal nutrition\, but since
  the 1950’s\, it has not benefited from genetic or agronomic improvement
 s and farmers are reticent to seriously consider it as an alternative. \n\
 nThis research is focused on targeting the key issues limiting sainfoin cu
 ltivation\; it is very difficult to establish and farmers often experience
  poor yields in the first year. In order to develop tools necessary for sy
 stematic genetic improvement\, we have undertaken an in-depth genetic char
 acterisation of O. viciifolia germplasm. Key molecular markers that will e
 nable Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) have been identified. Agronomic limi
 tations have been addressed by screening potential herbicide treatments to
  aid its establishment. We have utilised RNA-sequencing to generate a de-n
 ovo transcriptome assembly and enable gene discovery\, identification\, an
 notation and subsequent development of a suite of markers\, which will hel
 p selection of germplasm. In this study\, we have developed the first comp
 rehensive annotation of sainfoin and so far have identified nearly 3\,500 
 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers that will be available for further br
 eeding programs. In the herbicide trial\, a panel of nine herbicide treatm
 ents were tested. Biochemical analyses were also undertaken to assess qual
 itative differences in the harvested forage crop and suitable herbicides f
 or early establishment were identified.\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 2\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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