Newton Institutional Links Program:
Phenotyping photosynthesis for sustainable Thai rice production
The Institutional links program (IL), funded by the British Council and the Thailand Research fund (TRF), is designed to meet the objectives of the Newton UK- Thailand research and innovation partnership. The anticipated outcomes of the grant involve developing capacity for high-throughput physiological phenotyping and training the research community at Khon Kaen University. One component of the project is helping to build and establish phenotyping capabilities for research and education at KKU to aid in establishing KKU as a centre for plant phenotyping. Other aims of the grant include supporting the widespread use of simple phenotyping devices in the Thai rice community including local farmers. As part of the project, farmers will participate in pilot data collection; data and findings will be disseminated through websites, flyers and podcasts. Two workshops, in Thailand, will be used to transfer knowledge and techniques in phenotyping between Essex and KKU as well as transferring this information to local landowners, policy-makers and the agricultural community. This will provide a platform to showcase plant physiology, phenomics developments and tools that will eventually be incorporated into local farming practises.
As part of the grant two annual workshops will be organised and delivered. The first workshop took place at Khon Kaen University, Thailand between January 31st – February 1st and focused on providing theoretical and practical information on key phenotyping tools, including infra-red gas exchange, thermography, chlorophyll fluorescence as well as in inexpensive NDVI imaging tools developed using Raspberry Pi components.
As part of the grant two annual workshops will be organised and delivered. The first workshop took place at Khon Kaen University, Thailand between January 31st – February 1st and focused on providing theoretical and practical information on key phenotyping tools, including infra-red gas exchange, thermography, chlorophyll fluorescence as well as in inexpensive NDVI imaging tools developed using Raspberry Pi components.
FIRST WORKSHOP: FEBRUARY 2019
Objectives
The aim of the 1st workshop was to develop high through-put and innovative physiological approaches to phenotyping rice, and to communicate this information to local farmers and end-users in order to provide training, enhance capacity building and develop inexpensive phenotyping tools for end users. This 2-day workshop was aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange between Essex and Thai researchers and academics as well as Thai rice researchers and farmers with the long-term goal of improving the sustainability of rice production.
The workshop provided theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on experience in a number of key phenotyping techniques using a combination of theory lectures, practical demonstrations and hands-on sessions, in which participants had the opportunity to become familiar with currently available tools and techniques.
The format focussed on:
The workshop provided theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on experience in a number of key phenotyping techniques using a combination of theory lectures, practical demonstrations and hands-on sessions, in which participants had the opportunity to become familiar with currently available tools and techniques.
The format focussed on:
- Infra- red gas exchange
- Chlorophyll fluorescence
- NDVI imaging
- Thermal imaging
- Leaf epidermal analysis
programme
Thursday 31st January 2019:
- Theory on Infra-red gas exchange (IRGA)
- Theory on chlorophyll fluorescence
- Practical demonstration of A/Ci and A/Q measurements with instructions to analyse and interpret results
- Hands-on IRGA practical session
- Theory and practical assembly of NDVI, and thermal imaging
- Theory on stomatal impression technique
- Practical sessions with stations setup for each technique
- Q&A session
organisers & instructors
University of Essex
Prof. Tracy Lawson: Professor in the plant productivity group and director of plant phenotyping at the University of Essex, Prof. Lawson completed her PhD in Dundee in 1997 before carrying out postdoc roles at Dundee and Nottingham as well as a visiting fellowship at Australia National University. With over 20 years of experience in photosynthesis and plant physiology research, she has developed significant expertise, particularly in Infra-red gas exchange analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Dr. Phil Davey: Research technician with the plant productivity group and has worked at UoE since 2002. He has significant experience in using gas exchange methods in both the lab and field and has spent 2 years working at the University of Illinois carrying out field measurements of gas exchange.
Mr John Stamford: PhD student in his completion year, His research focusses on combining existing and new image-based techniques such as spectral reflectance, chlorophyll fluorescence and thermography. John’s expertise includes developing low cost NDVI systems.
Mr Joe Chadwick: Joe is the designated technician for the Newton funded workshop and has worked for the Lawson lab since 2018. He has experience in Infra-red gas exchange, imaging techniques and analysing stomatal physiology. Joe completed his undergraduate degree in biological sciences at UoE in 2018 and spent a year studying tropical plants at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
Khon Kaen University
Prof. Piyada Theerakulpisut: Leading the team from Khon Kaen University, Prof. Theerakulpisut will oversee and manage the KKU side of the project including the coordination of the planned 2 practitioner workshops at KKU, assembly of plant physiology imaging tools and coordination of field trials at local farming sites, as well as facilitating knowledge transfer to the end users in Thailand. Prof. Theerakulpisut has extensive experience in plant molecular biology and completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Dr Anoma Dongsansuk: Researcher from KKU’s department of agriculture who has a large role in the organizing and running of the workshops. Dr. Dongsansuk was previously awarded a Newton Links researcher travel scholarship by the British Council, where she conducted research on the impact of temperature on rice photosynthesis at Essex University. She used the opportunity to gain experience in plant physiology measurements which she is now applying in her research at KKU, A joint publication is currently in preparation from this collaboration.
Dr. Paweena Pongdontri: Dr. Pongdontri completed her PhD at The University of East Anglia in 2000 and is now a research lecturer in the department of biology at Khon Kaen. She has major experience in rice photosynthesis and will help facilitate the project from the Thailand side.
Prof. Tracy Lawson: Professor in the plant productivity group and director of plant phenotyping at the University of Essex, Prof. Lawson completed her PhD in Dundee in 1997 before carrying out postdoc roles at Dundee and Nottingham as well as a visiting fellowship at Australia National University. With over 20 years of experience in photosynthesis and plant physiology research, she has developed significant expertise, particularly in Infra-red gas exchange analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Dr. Phil Davey: Research technician with the plant productivity group and has worked at UoE since 2002. He has significant experience in using gas exchange methods in both the lab and field and has spent 2 years working at the University of Illinois carrying out field measurements of gas exchange.
Mr John Stamford: PhD student in his completion year, His research focusses on combining existing and new image-based techniques such as spectral reflectance, chlorophyll fluorescence and thermography. John’s expertise includes developing low cost NDVI systems.
Mr Joe Chadwick: Joe is the designated technician for the Newton funded workshop and has worked for the Lawson lab since 2018. He has experience in Infra-red gas exchange, imaging techniques and analysing stomatal physiology. Joe completed his undergraduate degree in biological sciences at UoE in 2018 and spent a year studying tropical plants at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
Khon Kaen University
Prof. Piyada Theerakulpisut: Leading the team from Khon Kaen University, Prof. Theerakulpisut will oversee and manage the KKU side of the project including the coordination of the planned 2 practitioner workshops at KKU, assembly of plant physiology imaging tools and coordination of field trials at local farming sites, as well as facilitating knowledge transfer to the end users in Thailand. Prof. Theerakulpisut has extensive experience in plant molecular biology and completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Dr Anoma Dongsansuk: Researcher from KKU’s department of agriculture who has a large role in the organizing and running of the workshops. Dr. Dongsansuk was previously awarded a Newton Links researcher travel scholarship by the British Council, where she conducted research on the impact of temperature on rice photosynthesis at Essex University. She used the opportunity to gain experience in plant physiology measurements which she is now applying in her research at KKU, A joint publication is currently in preparation from this collaboration.
Dr. Paweena Pongdontri: Dr. Pongdontri completed her PhD at The University of East Anglia in 2000 and is now a research lecturer in the department of biology at Khon Kaen. She has major experience in rice photosynthesis and will help facilitate the project from the Thailand side.