Manifestation of Triploid Heterosis in the Root System after Crossing Diploid and Autotetraploid Energy Willow Plants.

Successful use of woody species in reducing climatic and environmental risks of energy shortage and spreading pollution requires deeper understanding of the physiological functions controlling biomass productivity and phytoremediation efficiency. Targets in the breeding of energy willow include the size and the functionality of the root system. For the combination of polyploidy and heterosis, we have generated triploid hybrids (THs) of energy willow by crossing autotetraploid willow plants with leading cultivars (Tordis and Inger).

Limited water stress modulates expression of circadian clock genes in Brachypodium distachyon roots.

Organisms have evolved a circadian clock for the precise timing of their biological processes. Studies primarily on model dicots have shown the complexity of the inner timekeeper responsible for maintaining circadian oscillation in plants and have highlighted that circadian regulation is more than relevant to a wide range of biological processes, especially organ development and timing of flowering. Contribution of the circadian clock to overall plant fitness and yield has also long been known.

Triploid Hybrid Vigor in Above-Ground Growth and Methane Fermentation Efficiency of Energy Willow.

Hybrid vigor and polyploidy are genetic events widely utilized to increase the productivity of crops. Given that bioenergy usage needs to be expanded, we investigated triploid hybrid vigor in terms of the biology of biomass-related willow traits and their relevance to the control of biomethane production. To produce triploid hybrid genotypes, we crossed two female diploid Swedish cultivars (Inger, Tordis) with two male autotetraploid willow ( variants (PP-E7, PP-E15).

RING-Type E3 Ubiqitin Ligase Barley Genes () Control Characteristics of Both Vegetative Organs and Seeds as Yield Components.

Previously, studies on RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases in cereals were preferentially focused on genes primarily controlling seed parameters in rice and wheat. Here we report cloning two genes from barley that share significant homology with rice gene. In antisense genotypes efficiency of gene silencing varied between genes and transgenic lines: AS: 30-50% and AS 20-27%.

Characterization of the LBD gene family in Brachypodium: a phylogenetic and transcriptional study.

An unambiguous nomenclature is proposed for the twenty-eight-member LOB domain transcription factor family in Brachypodium . Expression analysis provides unique transcript patterns that are characteristic of a wide range of organs and plant parts. LOB (lateral organ boundaries)-domain proteins define a family of plant-specific transcription factors involved in developmental processes from embryogenesis to seed production.

Prediction of new abiotic stress genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa according to enumeration-based statistical analysis.

Plants undergo an extensive change in gene regulation during abiotic stress. It is of great agricultural importance to know which genes are affected during stress response. The genome sequence of a number of plant species has been determined, among them Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa, whose genome has been annotated most completely as of yet, and are well-known organisms widely used as experimental systems.

Characterization of a novel long-chain n-alkane-degrading strain, Dietzia sp. E1.

The newly isolated strain E1, identified as a Dietzia sp., proved to have an excellent ability to degrade n-C12 to n-C38 alkane components of crude oil. The preferred substrate was the very long-chain alkane n-eicosane at an optimal temperature of 37 degrees C and an optimal pH of 8 under aerobic conditions.