CR/2018/26 - The Effects of Grass Seed Intentionally containing Endophytes on the Environment

Descriptions

The research objectives for this project are as follows: - The primary objective of this project is to create a risk assessment procedure that can be used before standard variety testing on behalf of an applicant. This will allow any negative impacts of a variety of grass containing an endophyte to be understood before the seed goes through standardised testing and then potentially for commercial use. It should also mitigate against any health and safety concern that may arise from its introduction into the UK; - To conduct glasshouse trials and, if appropriate, field trials over two years with grass seed intentionally containing an endophyte(s). It is recommended that a single endophyte with a known action that deters insects in the soil and/or on the grass sward will be used throughout the trial however, bids that wish to uses more than one type of endophyte will still be considered and will not be at a disadvantage. This will allow investigative work to be carried out on the impact upon the local environment and how this could affect local ecosystems allowing the effects on a wider population to be assessed. On the conclusion of these trials it will be possible to ascertain if augmented endophytes in grass seed present any environmental risks, particularly with regards to soil biota, herbivorous invertebrates and vertebrates, and potential subsequent trophic chains effects, as well as understand the risk of horizontal transfer and potential implications for native grassland ecosystems; - To establish a risk assessment procedure considering the findings of the first two years of trials and other published data available in peer-reviewed literature. The procedure would allow the UK to understand and measure any potential threats to the environment that can possibly arise from endophytes in grass seed marketed within the UK; - To determine whether the effects from the endophyte occur during the grass establishment phase only, or throughout the grass life cycle; and whether the presence of endophytes can have a lasting effect that could cause standard variety testing to be inaccurate; - To develop or employ an existing method (e.g. metabarcoding) to identify and quantify live endophytes, including whether it is the inoculated or naturally occurring endophyte. Validate the method in the laboratory to ISO standards and prepare a plan for an inter-laboratory validation trial which could be conducted after this study, if required. Potential Contractors should note that they will need to supply their own equipment and facilities for all aspects of field, glasshouse and laboratory work. Along with this, it will be the responsibility of the contractor to supply any grass seed needed, whether this is with or without intentionally containing endophytes. The species, varieties of grass and types of endophyte(s) used within the trial will need to be agreed by mutual consent between the contractors and the Scottish Government. It is important to specify what species of endophyte(s) may be considered, whether they are native or non-native and, whether they have a sexual stage. The potential contractors should also provide a risk assessment for the trial and how risks will be managed.