Award details

Identifying the genetic basis of large-embryo mutants of barley affected at the Lys3 locus

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA560
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Cristobal Uauy
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Wendy Harwood
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	20,347
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2014
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	29 months

Abstract

Grain quality in cereals is determined by the composition and relative sizes of the three main components of the grain: the endosperm, embryo (or germ) and the husk. The endosperm is starch-rich and it provides the bulk of dietary calories. In contrast, the embryo accounts for a small proportion of grain weight but it is nutrient-rich. The embryo contains several essential nutrients that are lacking or less abundant in the other grain components. In barley, we have shown that a locus, Lys3 that controls grain lysine content also controls embryo size. Barley mutants affected at the Lys3 locus have embryos that are approximately twice the mass of normal embryos. As with the giant embryo mutants of maize, lys3 mutants of barley have also shown improved nutritional value as animal feed. Unfortunately, their uptake has been limited by reduced grain yield caused by reduced endosperm size and therefore low grain weight. In addition to the effects of lys3 mutations on grain quality and organ size, we recently discovered an unexpected side-effect on the efficiency of barley transformation. One of the lys3 mutants consistently gives transformation efficiencies equivalent to those of Golden Promise. To understand the biological basis of the control of embryo size in barley and in the long term, to manipulate this most effectively and efficiently in cereal species generally, we need to identify the Lys3 gene. To do this, we propose to fine map the region of the barley genome containing Lys3. In addition we aim to transfer a lys3 mutant allele to elite barley cultivars thus generating tools for future barley improvement by genetic engineering.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
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

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search