High- or Low-Yielding F Progeny of Wheat Is Result of Specific Gene Coexpression Patterns in Association with Grain Yield in Paternal Parent.

Members of the gene family (GFM) encode oxidase/dehydrogenase cytokinin degrading enzymes (CKX), which play an important role in the homeostasis of phytohormones, affecting wheat development and productivity. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to test how the expression patterns of the yield-related genes and () measured in 7 days after pollination (DAP) spikes and the seedling roots of parents are inherited to apply this knowledge in the breeding process. The expression patterns of these genes were compared between parents and their F progeny in crosses of one mother with different paterns of awnless cultivars and reciprocal crosses of awned and awnless lines.

Are TaNAC Transcription Factors Involved in Promoting Wheat Yield by -Regulation of Gene Family?

NAC transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest TF families in plants, and TaNACs have been known to participate in the regulation of the transcription of many yield-regulating genes in bread wheat. The gene family members (GFMs) have already been shown to regulate yield-related traits, including grain mass and number, leaf senescence, and root growth. The genes encode cytokinin (CK) degrading enzymes (CKXs) and are specifically expressed in different parts of developing wheat plants.

Controls Salt Tolerance and Yield through the Brassinosteroid Signaling Pathway in Barley.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of plant steroid hormones that are essential for plant growth and development. BRs control important agronomic traits and responses to abiotic stresses. Through the signaling pathway, BRs control the expression of thousands of genes, resulting in a variety of biological responses.

Transgenerational Paternal Inheritance of GFMs Expression Patterns Indicate a Way to Select Wheat Lines with Better Parameters for Yield-Related Traits.

Members of the gene family (GFMs) encode the cytokinin oxygenase/dehydrogenase enzyme (CKX), which irreversibly degrades cytokinins in the organs of wheat plants; therefore, these genes perform a key role in the regulation of yield-related traits. The purpose of the investigation was to determine how expression patterns of these genes, together with the transcription factor-encoding gene , and yield-related traits are inherited to apply this knowledge to speed up breeding processes. The traits were tested in 7 days after pollination (DAP) spikes and seedling roots of maternal and paternal parents and their F progeny.

-Regulation by : A Promising Frontier in Wheat Crop Improvement.

Crop traits are controlled by multiple genes; however, the complex spatio-temporal transcriptional behavior of genes cannot be fully understood without comprehending the role of transcription factors (TFs) and the underlying mechanisms of the binding interactions of their -regulatory elements. NAC belongs to one of the largest families of plant-specific TFs and has been associated with the regulation of many traits. This review provides insight into the -regulation of genes by wheat s (s) for the improvement in yield-related traits, including phytohormonal homeostasis, leaf senescence, seed traits improvement, root modulation, and biotic and abiotic stresses in wheat and other cereals.

Graph Pangenomes Track Genetic Variants for Crop Improvement.

Global climate change and the urgency to transform crops require an exhaustive genetic evaluation. The large polyploid genomes of food crops, such as cereals, make it difficult to identify candidate genes with confirmed hereditary. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been proficient in identifying genetic variants that are associated with complex traits, the resolution of acquired heritability faces several significant bottlenecks such as incomplete detection of structural variants (SV), genetic heterogeneity, and/or locus heterogeneity.

Barley Resistance to Infections: From Transcriptomics to Field with Food Safety Concerns.

Global climate change and the urgency to transform food crops require substantial breeding efforts to meet the food security challenges. Barley, an important cereal, has remained a preferential host of phytotoxic diseases caused by the that not only severely reduces the crop yield but also compromises its food quality due to the accumulation of mycotoxins. To develop resistance against infections, a better understanding of the host-pathogen interaction is inevitable and could be tracked through molecular insights.

Genotype-Dependent Effect of Silencing of and on Phytohormone Crosstalk and Yield-Related Traits in Wheat.

The influence of silenced and on coexpression of other gene family members (GFMs), phytohormone regulation and yield-related traits was tested in awned-spike cultivar. We documented a strong feedback mechanism of regulation of GFM expression in which silencing of upregulated expression of genes and vice versa. Additionally, downregulation of highly upregulated the expression of and .

Genome-Wide Identification of Barley Long Noncoding RNAs and Analysis of Their Regulatory Interactions during Shoot and Grain Development.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules with gene regulatory functions in plant development and the stress response. Although the number of lncRNAs identified in plants is rapidly increasing, very little is known about their role in barley development. In this study, we performed global identification of barley lncRNAs based on 53 RNAseq libraries derived from nine different barley tissues and organs.

Genes Coordinate Expression of Other Family Members, Regulate Phytohormone Content and Yield-Related Traits of Wheat.

gene family members (GFMs) play essential roles in the regulation of cytokinin during wheat development and significantly influence yield-related traits. However, detailed function of most of them is not known. To characterize the role of genes we silenced all homoeologous copies of both and by RNAi technology and observed the effect of silencing in 7 DAP spikes of T and T generations.

Different sets of TaCKX genes affect yield-related traits in wheat plants grown in a controlled environment and in field conditions.

Background: TaCKX wheat gene family members (GFMs) encode the enzyme cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX), which irreversibly degrades cytokinins. The genes are important regulators of cytokinin content and take part in growth and development, with a major impact on yield-related traits. The goal of this research was to test whether these genes might be differentially expressed in the field compared to laboratory conditions and consequently differently affect plant development and yield.

Silencing of -A GSK3/SHAGGY-Like Kinase-Enhances Barley ( L.) Growth in Normal and in Salt Stress Conditions.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a highly conserved kinase present in all eukaryotes and functions as a key regulator of a wide range of physiological and developmental processes. The kinase, known in land plants as GSK3/SHAGGY-like kinase (GSK), is a key player in the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway. The genes, through the BRs, affect diverse developmental processes and modulate responses to environmental factors.

Silencing of Mediates Expression of Other Genes to Increase Yield Parameters in Wheat.

, (cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase) family genes influence the development of wheat plants by the specific regulation of cytokinin content in different organs. However, their detailed role is not known. The , highly and specifically expressed in developing spikes and in seedling roots, was silenced by RNAi-mediated gene silencing via and the effect of silencing was investigated in 7 DAP (days after pollination) spikes of T and T generations.

TaWAK6 encoding wall-associated kinase is involved in wheat resistance to leaf rust similar to adult plant resistance.

In wheat, adult plant resistance (APR) to leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), is effective in restricting pathogen growth and provides durable resistance against a wide range of virulent forms of P. triticina. Despite the importance, there is limited knowledge on the molecular basis of this type of resistance.

Knockout of the or Gene in Barley ( L.) by RNA-Guided Cas9 Nuclease Affects the Regulation of Cytokinin Metabolism and Root Morphology.

Barley is among four of the most important cereal crops with respect to global production. Increasing barley yields to desired levels can be achieved by the genetic manipulation of cytokinin content. Cytokinins are plant hormones that regulate many developmental processes and have a strong influence on grain yield.

Specificity of expression of TaCKX family genes in developing plants of wheat and their co-operation within and among organs.

Multigene families of CKX genes encode cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase proteins (CKX), which regulate cytokinin content in organs of developing plants. It has already been documented that some of them play important roles in plant productivity. The presented research is the first step of comprehensive characterization of the bread wheat TaCKX gene family with the goal to select genes determining yield-related traits.

A simple and efficient CRISPR/Cas9 platform for induction of single and multiple, heritable mutations in barley ( L.).

Background: Genome editing of monocot plants can be accomplished by using the components of the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR associated Cas9) technology specifically optimized for these types of plants. Here, we present the development of RNA-guided Cas9 system for simplex and multiplex genome editing in barley.

Results: We developed a set of customizable RNA-guided Cas9 binary vectors and sgRNA modules for simplex and multiplex editing in barley.

Annotation and profiling of barley GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE3/Shaggy-like genes indicated shift in organ-preferential expression.

GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE3/Shaggy-like kinases (GSKs) represent a highly conserved group of proteins found in all eukaryotes. In plants they are encoded by multigene families and integrate signaling of brassinosteroids, auxin and abscisic acid in wide range of physiological and developmental processes with a strong impact on plant responses to environmental and biotic factors. Based on comprehensively studied structures of 10 Arabidopsis thaliana GSK genes and encoded proteins we report identification and phylogenetic reconstruction of 7 transcriptionally active GSK genes in barley.

Major genes determining yield-related traits in wheat and barley.

Current development of advanced biotechnology tools allows us to characterize the role of key genes in plant productivity. The implementation of this knowledge in breeding strategies might accelerate the progress in obtaining high-yielding cultivars. The achievements of the Green Revolution were based on a specific plant ideotype, determined by a single gene involved in gibberellin signaling or metabolism.

Artificial MicroRNA-Based Specific Gene Silencing of Grain Hardness Genes in Polyploid Cereals Appeared to Be Not Stable Over Transgenic Plant Generations.

Gene silencing by RNA interference is a particularly important tool in the study of gene function in polyploid cereal species for which the collections of natural or induced mutants are very limited. Previously we have been testing small interfering RNA-based approach of gene silencing in wheat and triticale. In this research, artificial microRNAs (amiRs) were studied in the same species and the same target genes to compare effectiveness of both gene silencing pathways.

Pathogen-regulated genes in wheat isogenic lines differing in resistance to brown rust Puccinia triticina.

Background: Inoculation of wheat plants with Puccinia triticina (Pt) spores activates a wide range of host responses. Compatible Pt interaction with susceptible Thatcher plants supports all stages of the pathogen life cycle. Incompatible interaction with TcLr9 activates defense responses including oxidative burst and micronecrotic reactions associated with the pathogen's infection structures and leads to complete termination of pathogen development.

Expression patterns of HvCKX genes indicate their role in growth and reproductive development of barley.

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase proteins (CKX) are encoded by a multigene family of CKX genes with a varying number of members depending on species. For some of the genes, spectacular effects on grain production in selected cereals have been observed. Despite the fact that partial or full length sequences of most HvCKX genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare) have already been published, in most cases their specific biological functions have not been reported.

Oat (Avena sativa L.).

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a suitable method to transform different cultivars using different systems of A. tumefaciens strains and binary vectors as well as selection cassettes. We describe here a detailed protocol for two cultivars, one naked and one husked, using the AGL1 strain and the pGreen vector containing the nptII selection cassette ( http://www.

Sina and Sinb genes in triticale do not determine grain hardness contrary to their orthologs Pina and Pinb in wheat.

Background: Secaloindoline a (Sina) and secaloindoline b (Sinb) genes of hexaploid triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) are orthologs of puroindoline a (Pina) and puroindoline b (Pinb) in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). It has already been proven that RNA interference (RNAi)-based silencing of Pina and Pinb genes significantly decreased the puroindoline a and puroindoline b proteins in wheat and essentially increased grain hardness (J Exp Bot 62:4025-4036, 2011).

HvCKX2 gene silencing by biolistic or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in barley leads to different phenotypes.

Background: CKX genes encode cytokinin dehydrogenase enzymes (CKX), which metabolize cytokinins in plants and influence developmental processes. The genes are expressed in different tissues and organs during development; however, their exact role in barley is poorly understood. It has already been proven that RNA interference (RNAi)-based silencing of HvCKX1 decreased the CKX level, especially in those organs which showed the highest expression, i.