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Farming Today: 26/04/23 Circadian rhythm of plants, Love Island farmer Will, Grain robots

26/04/23 Circadian rhythm of plants, Love Island farmer Will, Grain robots

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 26/04/23 Circadian rhythm of plants, Love Island farmer Will, Grain robots

Isolating plant gene controlling circadian rhythms, Love Island farmer Will, grain robot.

Scientists identify gene that controls plant circadian rhythms. Social media farmer Will Young back in lambing shed after Love Island. Burrowing robot to check grain stores.

Frosty mornings and bright sunlight can be damaging for crops in the field. Now, scientists have discovered that crops which face those conditions have a special gene to repair the damage, but it's only switched on by the plant's own circadian clock, which recognises night and day. Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have been working in a special light-restricted laboratory and their findings could lead to precision breeding crops which will cope better in northerly latitudes.

He has millions of followers on social media, but manages to get up at the crack of dawn to help with lambing: Will Young, also known as Farmer Will on ITV's Love Island. He's now back in Buckinghamshire on the family farm, and he's also been joined by his TV partner, Jessie.

Engineers have developed a unique burrowing robot which ‘swims’ through grain stores to ensure the seeds are kept properly. The t-shaped robot has been launched by an agritech developer at Scotland's National Robotarium, based at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. It's designed to help farmers look after their grain more efficiently, without having to carry out labour-intensive checks.

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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26/04/23 Circadian rhythm of plants, Love Island farmer Will, Grain robots

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