Statement of Work.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW)

Project: Barley Transformation

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work:

We would like to generate malting barley lines transformed to either strongly express an

Arabidopsis transcription factor (AtEIL3) or to knockdown expression of a barley kinase

(HvMKK3).

For this work 2 transformation vectors will be synthesized and assembled by WCIC, vectors A (AtEIL3OX) and B (HvMKK3RNAi).

The WCIC will transform those vectors into Agrobacteria and then transform barley varieties as specified below.

Three transformations will be performed by WCIC: malting barley variety GemCraft will be transformed with vector A and vector B separately, and malting barley variety Conrad will be transformed with vector B.

The WCIC has experience transforming GemCraft, and transformation events with vector

A and vector B are expected. Plants from up to 6 independent transformation events per vector will be grown by WCIC to T1 seed and delivered to CCRU scientists.

The WCIC has not previously attempted to transform Conrad, but they will attempt to deliver T1 seeds from up to 6 independent transformation events.

2.0 Background:

Early maturity and total leaf area are two traits that may become increasingly important to farmers as the climate changes. Crops with greater leaf area will tend to capture more light energy, have better weed suppression without the use of herbicides, and will be more water efficient due to less evaporation from soil. Crops such as barley tend to be most susceptible to abiotic stresses such as heat and drought around heading stage.

Earlier maturing barley can help farmers avoid those abiotic stress periods that tend to intensify later in the growing season.

High expression of the transcription factor AtEIL3 in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana results in plants that have approximately 2-fold greater leaf area and flower 15% earlier. With this project we would like to test whether high expression of AtEIL3 in barley also results greater leaf area and earlier maturity.

Preharvest sprouting in barley causes significant losses to producers of malting barley since barley that shows signs of pre-germination fails to meet malting quality specifications and is sold as feed at a substantial economic loss. Precocious germination manifests itself when non-dormant malting barley varieties incur late season precipitation causing barley seeds to sprout (or initiate sprouting) in the field. Prevention of preharvest sprouting is considered a high priority research target based on stockholder and industry censuses.

Numerous studies investigating associations between DNA markers (SNPs)/sequence variability within genes known to modulate dormancy levels have homed in on the gene

HvMKK3 as a primary genic driver of preharvest sprout susceptibility. This project would attempt to silence HvMKK3 in 2 barley varieties that have different levels of preharvest sprout resistance to better understand the effect of HvMKK3 loss of function on germination/dormancy as well as characterize potential pleiotropic effects on malt quality traits.

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

The contractor performs the services without government supervision. The WCIC is well equipped to do this work as they have done in the past without any government supervision.

4.0 Government Furnished:

Target sequences for vectors

Conrad seed supply with at least 90% germination rate

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

2 transformation vectors (A, B)

Transformation of GemCraft barley variety with vector A and vector B

Transformation of Conrad with vector B

T1 seed for up to 6 transformation events for vector A in GemCraft, for vector B in

GemCraft, and for vector B in Conrad

T1 seed for the transformation events specified above will be delivered within 18 months.

6.0 Travel: NA

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel: NA

8.0 Security Requirements: NA

9.0 Data Rights: We own the data rights and any use of the data will require government permission.

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards: NA

Attachment: NA