Sequencing Trait-Associated Mutations (STAM) to Clone Rust Resistance Genes.

Sequencing trait-associated mutations (STAM) is a simple and straightforward gene cloning method that was developed in wheat. It uses full-length isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq) of the wild type as the reference and employs transcriptome sequencing of multiple, independently derived mutants for gene cloning. The STAM method eliminates the need for fine-mapping or a high-quality whole genome assembly of a specific wheat cultivar, and it could also be used in other plant species with complex genomes.

Manipulation of the brown glume and internode 1 gene leads to alterations in the colouration of lignified tissues, lignin content and pathogen resistance in wheat.

Lignin is a crucial component of the cell wall, providing mechanical support and protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. However, little is known about wheat lignin-related mutants and their roles in pathogen defence. Here, we identified an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-derived Aegilops tauschii mutant named brown glume and internode 1 (bgi1), which exhibits reddish-brown pigmentation in various tissues, including internodes, spikes and glumes.

ZmMS1/ZmLBD30-orchestrated transcriptional regulatory networks precisely control pollen exine development.

Because of its significance for plant male fertility and, hence, direct impact on crop yield, pollen exine development has inspired decades of scientific inquiry. However, the molecular mechanism underlying exine formation and thickness remains elusive. In this study, we identified that a previously unrecognized repressor, ZmMS1/ZmLBD30, controls proper pollen exine development in maize.

Role of reactive oxygen species in lesion mimic formation and conferred basal resistance to in barley lesion mimic mutant .

This study investigated the barley lesion mimic mutant (LMM) , evidenced by a leaf brown spot phenotype localized on the chromosome 3H, and its conferred basal resistance to . RNA-seq analysis identified 1453 genes that were differentially expressed in LMM compared to those in the wild type. GO and KEGG functional annotations suggested that lesion mimic formation was mediated by pathways involving oxidation reduction and glutathione metabolism.

The CC-NB-LRR protein BSR1 from Brachypodium confers resistance to Barley stripe mosaic virus in gramineous plants by recognising TGB1 movement protein.

Although some nucleotide binding, leucine-rich repeat immune receptor (NLR) proteins conferring resistance to specific viruses have been identified in dicot plants, NLR proteins involved in viral resistance have not been described in monocots. We have used map-based cloning to isolate the CC-NB-LRR (CNL) Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) resistance gene barley stripe resistance 1 (BSR1) from Brachypodium distachyon Bd3-1 inbred line. Stable BSR1 transgenic Brachypodium line Bd21-3, barley (Golden Promise) and wheat (Kenong 199) plants developed resistance against BSMV ND18 strain.

Overexpression of isochorismate synthase enhances drought tolerance in barley.

Isochorismate synthase (ICS) is a key enzyme for the synthesis of salicylic acid (SA) in plants. SA mediates plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. In previous studies, we found that overexpression of ICS (ICS) or suppression of ICS (ICS) affected the host response to Fusarium graminearum in barley.

Overexpression of isochorismate synthase enhances salt tolerance in barley.

Isochorismate synthase (ICS) is a key enzyme for the synthesis of salicylic acid (SA) in plants. SA plays an important role in the response of plants to abiotic stress. In this study, transgenic barley was constructed to evaluate the function of ICS under salt stress.

An ancestral NB-LRR with duplicated 3'UTRs confers stripe rust resistance in wheat and barley.

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a global threat to wheat production.

Sequence-based mapping identifies a candidate transcription repressor underlying awn suppression at the B1 locus in wheat.

Awns are stiff, hair-like structures which grow from the lemmas of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and other grasses that contribute to photosynthesis and play a role in seed dispersal. Variation in awn length in domesticated wheat is controlled primarily by three major genes, most commonly the dominant awn suppressor Tipped1 (B1). This study identifies a transcription repressor responsible for awn inhibition at the B1 locus.

The anther-specific CYP704B is potentially responsible for MSG26 male sterility in barley.

Plant male sterility is a valuable trait in breeding and hybrid seed production. The barley male-sterility gene msg26 was mapped to a 0.02-cM region that anchors to a 506-kb low-quality assembly between two cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers, SP1M14 and SP1M49.

The involvement of cytokinin and nitrogen metabolism in delayed flag leaf senescence in a wheat stay-green mutant, tasg1.

In the present study on a wheat stay-green mutant, tasg1, we found that its delayed senescence at the late filling stage was related to the high cytokinin (CK) and N contents. RNA sequencing suggested that several genes may be responsible for the different senescence processes between wild-type (WT) and tasg1 plants. WT and tasg1 seedlings were treated with NHNO, lovastatin, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and the results suggested that the feedback of CK with N content regulated the leaf senescence in the tasg1 plants.

FLOWERING LOCUS T2 regulates spike development and fertility in temperate cereals.

FLOWERING LOCUS T2 (FT2) is the closest paralog of the FT1 flowering gene in the temperate grasses. Here we show that overexpression of FT2 in Brachypodium distachyon and barley results in precocious flowering and reduced spikelet number, while down-regulation by RNA interference results in delayed flowering and a reduced percentage of filled florets. Similarly, truncation mutations of FT2 homeologs in tetraploid wheat delayed flowering (2-4 d) and reduced fertility.

Isochorismate-based salicylic acid biosynthesis confers basal resistance to Fusarium graminearum in barley.

Salicylic acid (SA) plays an important role in signal transduction and disease resistance. In Arabidopsis, SA can be made by either of two biosynthetic branches, one involving isochorismate synthase (ICS) and the other involving phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). However, the biosynthetic pathway and the importance of SA remain largely unknown in Triticeae.

Remapping of the stripe rust resistance gene Yr10 in common wheat.

Yr10 is an important gene to control wheat stripe rust, and the search for Yr10 needs to be continued. Wheat stripe rust or yellow rust is a devastating fungal disease caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp.

Identification and evaluation of resistance to powdery mildew and yellow rust in a wheat mapping population.

Deployment of cultivars with genetic resistance is an effective approach to control the diseases of powdery mildew (PM) and yellow rust (YR). Chinese wheat cultivar XK0106 exhibits high levels of resistance to both diseases, while cultivar E07901 has partial, adult plant resistance (APR). The aim of this study was to map resistance loci derived from the two cultivars and analyze their effects against PM and YR in a range of environments.

Wheat Ms2 encodes for an orphan protein that confers male sterility in grass species.

Male sterility is a valuable trait for plant breeding and hybrid seed production. The dominant male-sterile gene Ms2 in common wheat has facilitated the release of hundreds of breeding lines and cultivars in China. Here, we describe the map-based cloning of the Ms2 gene and show that Ms2 confers male sterility in wheat, barley and Brachypodium.

Fine mapping of barley locus Rps6 conferring resistance to wheat stripe rust.

Barley resistance to wheat stripe rust has remained effective for a long time and, therefore, the genes underlying this resistance can be a valuable tool to engineer durable resistance in wheat. Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp.

Wheat Stripe Rust Resistance Protein WKS1 Reduces the Ability of the Thylakoid-Associated Ascorbate Peroxidase to Detoxify Reactive Oxygen Species.

Stripe rust is a devastating fungal disease of wheat caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp tritici (Pst). The WHEAT KINASE START1 (WKS1) resistance gene has an unusual combination of serine/threonine kinase and START lipid binding domains and confers partial resistance to Pst.

Characterization of FLOWERING LOCUS T1 (FT1) gene in Brachypodium and wheat.

The phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is a critical event in the life cycle of flowering plants. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) plays a central role in the regulation of this transition by integrating signals from multiple flowering pathways in the leaves and transmitting them to the shoot apical meristem. In this study, we characterized FT homologs in the temperate grasses Brachypodium distachyon and polyploid wheat using transgenic and mutant approaches.

Regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS T by a microRNA in Brachypodium distachyon.

The highly conserved florigen gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) functions at the core of the flowering pathways. Extensive studies have examined the transcriptional regulation of FT; however, other layers of FT regulation remain unclear. Here, we identified miR5200 a Pooideae-specific microRNA that is expressed in leaves and targets Brachypodium distachyon FT orthologs for mRNA cleavage.

Comparative analysis of protein-protein interactions in the defense response of rice and wheat.

Background: Despite the importance of wheat as a major staple crop and the negative impact of diseases on its production worldwide, the genetic mechanisms and gene interactions involved in the resistance response in wheat are still poorly understood. The complete sequence of the rice genome has provided an extremely useful parallel road map for genetic and genomics studies in wheat. The recent construction of a defense response interactome in rice has the potential to further enhance the translation of advances in rice to wheat and other grasses.