description
- Starch is a major component of cereal grains and the size and shape of starch granules have significant impact on grain use. In wheat, there are two types of granules (A and B). The smaller, B-granules have negative impacts on many end-uses of wheat. To solve this problem, we have generated a new type of wheat, BlessT that lacks B-granules. This was achieved by identifying two regions of the genome harbouring genes required for B-granule initiation and then stacking deletions of these regions together in the same plant. A Pathfinder Report assessed the market potential of BlessT and concluded that the technology targets a number of large and growing markets. It identified how the changed processing ability of BlessT could be developed commercially. In this project, these targets will be pursued by providing: 1) Further data on processing properties 2) Bulk volumes of grain for further testing by potential commercial partners 3) Field trials that measure the effects on yield