Miscanspeed sequencing procurement

Tender description

Researchers at IBERS, Aberystwyth University are undertaking a 3 year project to implement genomic selection (GS) in the perennial energy crop Miscanthus. The project is to establish genomic selection in 2 Miscanthus recurrent selection pools (M.sinensis and M.sacchariflorus). We need a rapid, high throughput genomic marker system to enable selections in time to make crosses within the same season in order to generate the subsequent generation. Lot 1: The projects has 2 phases: Phase 1. Training Set & parents: 111 diploid M. sinensis, 341 tetraploid M.sacchariflorus Phase 2: Progeny screening: Approx. 1000 progeny per species, per year. Max. 2000 per year, 6000 total over 3 years. Phase 1. Leaf samples will be taken from mature plants in July 2022. A.Genomic DNA will be extracted from leaf samples. We will prepare DNA in-house if necessary, but we would prefer all processing to be done by the company if at all possible. B.The company will process and sequence the DNA samples C.The company will generate genomic (SNP) markers (genotype calls rather than NGS sequence tags that then have to be mined for SNPs). Phase 2: Samples will be taken from the seedlings in Feb/March of 2023, 2024 and 2025. A. Genomic DNA will be extracted from leaf samples. We will prepare DNA in-house if necessary, but we would prefer all processing to be done by the company if at all possible. B. The company will process and sequence the DNA samples. This may be using the same technology or a modified version in relation to Phase 1. C. The company will generate genomic (SNP) markers (genotype calls rather than NGS sequence tags that then have to be mined for SNPs). Markers are required back by May/June at the latest. A rapid and robust process is essential or we will miss a year’s crossing and miss our project targets. We need the same SNPs for both GS training (Phase 1, 2022) and genotyping the seedlings (Phase 2, 2023-2025).