Award details

Genetic Regulation of Shoot Architecture

Reference	BBS/E/J/00000608
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Mary Byrne
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,015,106
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	07/04/2004
End date	31/05/2010
Duration	74 months

Abstract

Shoots are derived from a group of cells at the apex of the plant. These cells are organized into a defined structure called the shoot meristem. Stem cells in the centre of the meristem are undifferentiated and divide to give rise to daughter cells in the peripheral region of the meristem. Some of these peripheral region cells are recruited to form lateral organs such as leaves. Leaves initiate in an ordered arrangement from the peripheral region of the shoot apical meristem and so establish a specific phyllotaxy along the shoot axis. Subsequent to site selection, organ primordia are established by cell recruitment and specification of planes along which outgrowth and development of lamina proceed. We are identifying genes and defining genetic pathways required for meristem function and organ patterning, in order to understand these developmental processes and how regulatory gene networks might vary to generate diversity of plant architecture. We are using the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system because of the strong molecular, genetic and genomics tools available in this organism. We are also developing functional genomics resources to exploit the monocot species Brachypodium distachyon to identify genes involved in shoot development within grasses, particularly genes that regulate meristem function and contribute to plant and inflorescence architecture. These studies will provide a point for comparative developmental genetics between two major higher land plant groups. Importantly, our work identifying genes involved in plant architecture has potential to map onto significant yield traits in crop species such as wheat.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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