Plant and Soil Health

Plant and Soil Health Healthy plants and soil are the foundation of productive and sustainable agriculture. At KPU's Applied Genomics Centre (AGC), we work directly with clients to provide cutting-edge research and innovation services, helping them become more innovative and sustainable in their agricultural practices.

Leveraging the power of genomics, the AGC employs advanced genetic tools such as Sanger sequencing, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), qPCR, and genotyping to analyze soil microbial communities and evaluate the effects of various treatments. Through these technologies, we help our clients identify beneficial and harmful microbes, uncover their roles in nutrient cycling and disease suppression, and assess their impact on overall soil health.

We also collaborate with partners to evaluate how agricultural practices—such as the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and soil enhancements—affect plants and the soil microbiome. By understanding these interactions at a molecular level, the AGC delivers tailored strategies to improve crop yields, enhance plant resilience, and support environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Animal Health and Production

Maintaining healthy animals and optimizing production efficiency are vital for ensuring successful agricultural practices.

By partnering with us, our clients gain access to genomics tools to verify animal parentage and genetic lineage, understand the genetic basis of important health traits, disease resistance, and other desirable traits in production animals.

Our research expertise and infrastructure can also be used to assess the efficacy of different treatments such as vaccinations and medications.

By developing collaborative research partnerships to regularly monitor and improve animal heath and production, we provide valuable insights to the agricultural community, supporting sustainable and responsible animal production practices.

Pathogen Detection

Rapid and accurate detection of plant and animal pathogens is essential for protecting agricultural production and ensuring food security. At KPU's Applied Genomics Centre (AGC), we work directly with clients to develop rapid and reliable molecular diagnostic tools that can be deployed in the field. These tools enable early detection and intervention, helping our clients respond swiftly to emerging threats.

The AGC also employs advanced techniques such as whole genome sequencing and genotype-by-sequencing to identify specific pathogen strains, understand their virulence mechanisms, and investigate their genetic diversity.

Through our state-of-the-art genomics expertise, we provide the agricultural sector with tailored solutions to safeguard animal and plant health. By partnering with clients, we help them develop effective strategies to mitigate the impact of pathogens and enhance the sustainability of their operations.

Varietal Development and Consistency

Different varieties of a plant species can have very similar appearance (phenotype) throughout different stages of growth and development, even when their genetic information (genotype) is different. By looking at the genetics of a plant, a grower can be much more confident of the variety at any stage of development from seed to adult.

The Applied Genomics Centre has a range of tools - including DNA microsatellites, single nucleotide polymorphism, next-generation genotype by sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - that can be used to determine the genetic 'fingerprint' (genotype) of any individual plant for accurate identification of species, subspecies, strain or variety.

These are being used in the lab to ensure varietal consistency for our partners during product development of numerous crops, including ornamental plants, fungi, and hops. Genetic fingerprinting is also used to aid in product registration and in securing patents.

Plant Breeding

At the Applied Genomics Centre, we’re leveraging our research expertise in plant breeding to help our clients produce new varieties of plants. Through collaborative research with local greenhouses, we can utilize genetic technologies and gene editing techniques to develop new traits, employ tissue culture methods to propagate desirable plant varieties, and create new cultivars with enhanced qualities. We can also focus on breeding plants with desirable traits such as increased disease resistance, drought tolerance, and longer flowering periods.

Animal Breeding

Prioritizing the health and welfare of production animals in a changing environment is essential for sustainable agriculture. The Applied Genomics Centre is dedicated to supporting the local agriculture sector by helping them advance animal breeding practices through genetic expertise and innovative approaches. We can enable our partners to utilize techniques such as cross-breeding to select for desirable traits such as extreme weather tolerance, disease resistance, and increased productivity. By applying our expertise in genetics, we strive to support a more resilient and productive agricultural sector, while improving animal health and welfare.

Environmental DNA Analysis

At KPU's Applied Genomics Centre (AGC), we partner with clients to uncover the hidden complexities of ecosystems using environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. By analyzing DNA present in soil and water, we provide actionable insights into ecosystem health and the presence of key species, helping our clients adopt more sustainable farming practices.

Through next-generation DNA sequencing techniques, we assist partners in tracking the composition of microbial communities, identifying beneficial and harmful organisms, and monitoring the presence and movement of endangered species. This cutting-edge approach allows us to evaluate ecosystem health comprehensively and provide clients with the information needed to inform conservation efforts and develop effective environmental management strategies.