425 / 2019-02-25 10:27:02

Translating the ABC-model from Arabidopsis to Barley

inflorescence,MADS,barley

From models to crops > From models to crops

Inflorescence development in cereals is an important factor for yield. Understanding the genetics underlying inflorescence development would be very useful for more effective targeted breeding. The ABCDE model of floral organ development is described in most detail for Arabidopsis, and is mostly applicable to inflorescence development in cereals. However there are also several differences, like the neofunctionalisation of A- and E-class genes into roles in vernalisation and inflorescence branching. Our detailed expression data of all MIKCc MADS-box genes in barley show the expression of a floral repressor in the stamen, divergent roles for E-class genes and the apparent lack of antagonism between the A- and C-class genes' expression. While work on the ABC-model in Arabidopsis is of great value in crop research, a cereal specific model will require some key adaptations.