Genetic diversity of a Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. germplasm collection revealed by DNA Diversity Array Technology (DArTseq).

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. is a multipurpose crop native to the Mediterranean and middle east regions and mainly known for the hepatoprotective properties of fruit-derived silymarin.

Photoperiod-1 regulates the wheat inflorescence transcriptome to influence spikelet architecture and flowering time.

Photoperiod insensitivity has been selected by breeders to help adapt crops to diverse environments and farming practices. In wheat, insensitive alleles of Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) relieve the requirement of long daylengths to flower by promoting expression of floral promoting genes early in the season; however, these alleles also limit yield by reducing the number and fertility of grain-producing florets through processes that are poorly understood. Here, we performed transcriptome analysis of the developing inflorescence using near-isogenic lines that contain either photoperiod-insensitive or null alleles of Ppd-1, during stages when spikelet number is determined and floret development initiates.

Mining the A.E. Watkins Wheat Landrace Collection for Variation in Starch Digestibility Using a New High-Throughput Assay.

Breeding for less digestible starch in wheat can improve the health impact of bread and other wheat foods. The application of forward genetic approaches has lately opened opportunities for the discovery of new genes that influence the digestibility of starch, without the burden of detrimental effects on yield or on pasta and bread-making quality. In this study we developed a high-throughput in vitro starch digestibility assay (HTA) for use in forward genetic approaches to screen wheat germplasm.

MicroRNA-resistant alleles of modify inflorescence branching and increase grain protein content of wheat.

Plant and inflorescence architecture determine the yield potential of crops. Breeders have harnessed natural diversity for inflorescence architecture to improve yields, and induced genetic variation could provide further gains. Wheat is a vital source of protein and calories; however, little is known about the genes that regulate the development of its inflorescence.

TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 regulates height and stem internode length in bread wheat.

Regulation of plant height and stem elongation has contributed significantly to improvement of cereal productivity by reducing lodging and improving distribution of assimilates to the inflorescence and grain. In wheat, genetic control of height has been largely contributed by the Reduced height-1 alleles that confer gibberellin insensitivity; the beneficial effects of these alleles are associated with less favourable effects involving seedling emergence, grain quality, and inflorescence architecture that have driven new research investigating genetic variation of stem growth. Here, we show that TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (TB1) regulates height of wheat, with TB1 being expressed at low levels in nodes of the main culm prior to elongation, and increased dosage of TB1 restricting elongation of stem internodes.