My latest first author paper is now out! (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) In this study we generated giant starch granules in wheat. These granules are twice as big as we see in nature and may have uses in food and industry. (1/6)

Targeting granule initiation and amyloplast structure to create giant starch granules in wheat

Targeting granule initiation and organellar space massively increases starch granule size in wheat.

science.org

The unique cereal starch created by the Seung group at the JIC could lead to healthier, slower digesting pasta and bread. It could also reap dividends for many multi-million-pound industries which use starch in processing and may benefit from larger granules 🌾 www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...

Giant wheat starch granules - a big biotech breakthrough with potential benefits for manufacturing industries | John Innes Centre

Scientists have grown wheat containing super-sized starch granules — a leap forward in biological engineering with potential benefits for our daily diets and a raft of industrial applications…

jic.ac.uk

PRESS RELEASE - Giant wheat starch granules - a big biotech breakthrough with potential benefits for manufacturing industries Scientists have grown wheat containing super-sized starch granules — a biological leap forward with potential benefits for our daily diets and  industrial applications.

Giant wheat starch granules - a big biotech breakthrough with potential benefits for manufacturing industries | John Innes Centre

Scientists have grown wheat containing super-sized starch granules — a leap forward in biological engineering with potential benefits for our daily diets and a raft of industrial applications…

jic.ac.uk

Congratulations to Bernice Waweru! PhD student at the @johninnescentre.bsky.social and recent recipient of the 2026 Jeanie Borlaug Laube WIT Early Career Award 🎉🌱 bgri.cornell.edu/awards/wit-e...

2026 WIT Award winner Bernice Waweru

2026 WIT Award winner Bernice Ngina Waweru, from Kenya, focuses on uncovering the genetic basis of wheat disease resistance by integrating molecular biology, high-resolution phenotyping, genetics, and...

bgri.cornell.edu

New little data synthesis out in @fungal-ecology.bsky.social on Gaeumannomyces root fungi of cereals/wild grasses, using GlobalFungi to identify global incidence and summarising what we know about host/lifestyle range 🍄🌾🌍 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.fu... @earlhaminst.bsky.social @dsw-isp.bsky.social

Today we’re delighted to be co-hosting an event at #UKFlourMillers in London. More than 40 experts from across the wheat–to–bread supply chain come together for a @rankprize.bsky.social forum to discuss the adoption of improved wheat varieties, focusing on increasing #fibre in our staple foods.

🆕 A new international network chaired by Dr Rachel Rusholme-Pilcher at the Earlham Institute is looking to overcome computational challenges of generating plant pangenome graphs, through a culture of openness and collaboration. Read more ⤵️ buff.ly/vNi07lz #PlantScience #Pangenomes #CropScience

Breaking the silos: How open collaboration is transforming plant pangenomics

Pangenomes are transforming plant genomic research by capturing the vast genetic diversity that traditional, single reference genomes often miss.

buff.ly

"I am truly honoured to receive this recognition," said Emre. "I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to my late supervisor, @philippaborrill.bsky.social, who nominated me for this award. I will carry her encouragement with me throughout my journey." 2/2

Congratulations to Mustafa Emre Gül, PhD student at the @johninnescentre.bsky.social, named as one of the 20 Most Promising Young Plant Breeders in Europe 2026 by Seed World Europe! 🎉🌱

Seed World Europe@seedworldeu.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The wait is over — Seed World Europe’s 20 Most is live. Meet the 20 Most Promising Young Plant Breeders in Europe—innovators and leaders shaping the future of plant breeding. Congratulations to all nominees. #SeedWorldEurope #20Most #PlantBreeding www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

🆕 Blog! Research Scientist Dr Martina Vidmar and PhD Student Stefan Harper reflect on a recent trip to Nepal collaborating with local researchers to share DNA sequencing expertise and learn more about the microbiomes of fermented foods 🦠 ➡️ buff.ly/asO7iBP

Really nice piece in Nature this week by @aislingirwin.bsky.social about airborne DNA which includes a little mention of some of our work (with Matt Clark) and the spinout of @agnosbiosciences.com. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The air is full of DNA — here’s what scientists are using it for

Airborne genetic material can be used to paint a picture of ecosystem health, watch for invasive species and even identify humans.

nature.com

The award, presented at the #Agricultural #Genomics meeting of @agbt.bsky.social - Advances in Genome Biology and Technology, recognises outstanding early-career scientists and graduate students whose work and potential is shaping the future of agricultural genomics.

Congratulations to PhD Researcher Jade Van Wijk who is one of the Next Gen Leadership Award Recipients at this year's #AGBTAg2026! 👏 Jade's PhD research is using air #sequencing methods to identify and monitor cereal rust fungi. 🌱🧬 @nrpdtp.bsky.social @richardmleggett.bsky.social

💡 PhD Blog: What's the importance of training during your first PhD year? Heading into her second-year, #PhD researcher Marine has shared her insights and experience of enhancing her skills and knowledge over the last 12 months, and practical advice for other students. Read here: buff.ly/xOhpq0S

Applications for paid summer research projects from the Royal Society of Biology are now open, closing 28th April! Work with leading plant health researchers on 8-10 week placements, including Rothamsted. Apply now: www.rsb.org.uk/plant-health-ug-studentships.html #studentship #internship

We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our Wheat Transformation and Gene Editing team. This is an exciting opportunity to work with cutting edge technologies at the forefront of crop science, contributing to innovative research in wheat improvement.

John Innes Centre@johninnescentre.bsky.social · 4mo ago

VACANCY - We’re recruiting for a Research Assistant to support our Wheat Transformation and Gene Editing (WTGE) facility, working on cutting-edge precision breeding technology. www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/re... Deadline - 27 April 2026 Contract - Until 30 April 2028, full-time

We are devastated to announce that our colleague and friend Professor Philippa Borrill died over the Easter weekend following a rare immune system disorder (HLH). She was a fantastic scientist, collaborator and mentor, and a close friend to many: www.jic.ac.uk/news/profess...

New paper out! We found that zero tillage reduced macroporosity and increased penetration resistance, but enhanced connected porosity. Despite structural differences, yield was not compromised even we observed increased rooting at depth in two genotypes @dsw-isp.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.ej...

BLOG - Green Horizons: plant science careers for a food-secure future The Delivering Sustainable Wheat virtual training course recently returned with renewed energy, offering university students an opportunity to engage directly with modern plant science www.jic.ac.uk/blog/green-h...

#Monogram2026 Session 8 - Regenerative, Precision, Profitable: Practices that Work 🍺 Christoph Dockter @carlsbergfondet.dk 📏 Stephen Pearce @rothamsted.bsky.social 🌾 Anisa Blower @niab-uk.bsky.social 🧬 Pooja Satpathy @leibnizipk.bsky.social

#Monogram2026 Session 7 - Measure What Matters: Traits, Throughout, Translation 🔬 Malcolm Bennett @uonresearch.bsky.social 🖥️ Lei Ju @niab-uk.bsky.social 🌾 Maxwell Asiedu, UoN 👉 Annalene Hansen @ibers.bsky.social

Really excellent talk on day 2 of #Monogram2026 by @ecarmosilva.bsky.social on improving wheat’s resilience to heat by studying rubisco activity during photosynthesis. Funded by @dsw-isp.bsky.social

#Monogram2026 Session 6 - From Meristem to Harvest: Building the Plant (Continued!) ❇️ Yunchuan Liu @johninnescentre.bsky.social 🌾 Kenan Tan @leibnizipk.bsky.social 🧬 Becca Testa @beccatesta.bsky.social

#Monogram2026 Session 5 - Climate-proofing Monocots: Physiology that Delivers 🌾 Miles Curl @johninnescentre.bsky.social ❄️ Dominique Hirsz @leibnizipk.bsky.social 🍬 Catherine Famelton @cathplantsci.bsky.social @rothamsted.bsky.social

Some lovely spring sunshine in Cambridge this morning as we begin Day 2 of #Monogram2026 with a great talk from Elizabete Carmo-Silva on the effects of temperature on photosynthetic productivity 🌾 @ecarmosilva.bsky.social @dsw-isp.bsky.social #plantscience

#Monogram2026 Session 1: Staying Ahead of the Outbreak - Biotics Threats & Defences 💪 🌪️ Jade van Wijk @earlhaminst.bsky.social 🧬 Katie Hawkins @uonresearch.bsky.social 🌾 Bernice Waweru @johninnescentre.bsky.social

#Monogram2026 Session 3 - Beyond Yield: Grain Quality & Human Nutrition 🍞 Alison Lovegrove @rothamsted.bsky.social @dsw-isp.bsky.social 🌍 Sibongile Zimba @bristolbiosci.bsky.social 🍺 Nupur Tailor @harperadamsuni.bsky.social

Year in industry student Poppy Leslie is presenting her great work on the evolution of wheat-infecting root fungi, check it out at poster 47! 🌾🍄 #CMINorwich26 @earlhaminst.bsky.social @norwichmicro.bsky.social @dsw-isp.bsky.social @mcmullan0.bsky.social

Earlham Institute@earlhaminst.bsky.social · 5mo ago

🦠 Today and tomorrow microbial researchers from across the Norwich Research Park and beyond gather for the Centre for Microbial Interactions conference. @norwichmicro.bsky.social #CMINorwich26

This afternoon at the #DeliveringSustainableWheat conference at @johninnescentre.bsky.social we're discussing a strand of the programme that focuses on developing sustainable data frameworks for the wheat community. @dsw-isp.bsky.social

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the @dsw-isp.bsky.social annual meeting today! From tackling wheat diseases to investigating the building blocks of plant growth, the event has been full of engaging discussion. To find out more about Delivering Sustainable Wheat, visit jic.link/DSW