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Genetic control of plant organ size

Reference	BBS/E/J/000C0619
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Michael Lenhard
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	321,490
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/01/2007
End date	15/02/2011
Duration	49 months

Abstract

Growth, i.e. the irreversible accumulation of biomass, is a highly regulated process that allows animals and plants to reach their characteristic sizes and shapes. Understanding and thus being able to manipulate the control of biomass accumulation in plants will be important in our search for alternative and sustainable energy sources. We are applying several complementary strategies to isolate genes involved in the control of plant organ growth, using the Arabidopsis flower as an easily tractable model. From loss- and gain-of-function genetic screens, we have identified several factors (BIG BROTHER, KLUH, SLOW MOTION) that promote or limit organ growth, and are now unravelling their molecular mechanisms of action. In addition to genetic screens in Arabidopsis, natural variation between two closely related species in the genus Capsella, an emerging model that is a close relative of Arabidopsis, is being exploited to uncover additional regulatory factors that determine organ size and to address the evolution of size control. As we begin to understand mechanisms of size control in more detail in Arabidopsis, we are starting to translate the knowledge gained to related crop species, e.g. rapeseed and barley, to identify ways of rationally manipulating growth in economically important plants.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	Crop Science, 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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