Chemical mutation gives more colour to nature

BRIEFS: Plant traitsA RESEARCH discovery made years ago has been given new life in a new context. It provides a way to develop unique plant traits such as colour or size, something of huge value to plant breeders and the horticultural sector.

New plant traits can arise naturally through genetic mutation, a slow process.

Breeders have learned to speed things up by exposing plant cells to radioactivity or to mutagenic chemicals, then regenerating them to see if anything new has arisen, according to Dr Paul McCabe, who heads the plant cell biology group in the school of biology and environmental science at University College Dublin.

He developed a form of chemical mutation while conducting basic research as a PhD student.

The goal was to find antibiotic resistance markers, not plant display traits, he says, and once the PhD was completed the research was left to sit.

Things changed, however, after discussions with a plant-breeding nursery based in Kilkenny that was using plant irradiation services in the Netherlands.

Dr McCabe realised that his method, if commercialised, would provide a more targeted mutation service but also supply this at home. “If you use that technology you have a much better chance to develop valuable traits,” he says.

He received a proof of concept Technology Innovation Development Award from Science Foundation Ireland and is now turning the earlier basic research into a commercial service.

He believes it could be delivered as a technology platform available to plant breeders hoping to develop valuable new plants.

UL opens up to Chinese institutes

Education linksWITH EVER more focus on the Chinese market, the University of Limerick has opened an office in Beijing, hoping to increase the profile of the Irish university in what has increasingly become a key market for the Irish education sector. The university has more than 100 Chinese students at all levels studying at the institution.

It has already established relationships with several Chinese universities, including Jilin University, Tianjin University, Xidian University, the University of Science and Technology Beijing and Tongji University Shanghai. Joint programmes have been set up in disciplines including financial services, computational finance, software engineering, and interactive media.

The office was opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny during his recent visit to China.

“The opening of UL’s office in Beijing is a commitment to building vital educational links in China,” he said. “UL’s partnerships with leading Chinese universities is a great example of an Irish university being an innovative and pioneering leader in education. The exchange of students between UL and China will have benefits for our students and our continued growth.”