March 28, 2012

whiffy wheat to ward off aphids: a field trial

Speakers:
Prof Johnathan Napier, Scientific Leader for Lipid Research, Rothamsted Research
Prof John Pickett, Michael Elliott Distinguished Research Fellow and Scientific Leader of Chemical Ecology, Rothamsted Research
Professor Maurice Moloney, Director and Chief Executive, Rothamsted Research

Scientists at Rothamsted have produced a variety of wheat that produces an aphid alarm pheromone, with the aim of making wheat production less reliant on pesticides. The wheat was developed to fight off aphids using the same odour that peppermint plants release naturally. The team is planting the wheat in what will be only the third field trial of a genetically modified crop variety in the UK.