application-of-dna-fingerprinting-using-the-d1s80-locus-in-lab-classes

Application of DNA Fingerprinting using the <em>D1S80</em> Locus in Lab Classes

In biological sciences, DNA fingerprinting has been widely used for paternity testing, forensic applications and phylogenetic studies. Here, we describe a ...

Heinrich-Heine-University

Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences "SMART Plants for Tomorrow's Needs"

Awn length was mapped using a multiparent population derived from cv. Morex and four wild accessions. One QTL was fine mapped and candidate genes were identified in NILs by RNA-seq. Barley awns are photosynthetically active and contribute to grain yield. Awn length is variable among both wild and cultivated barley genotypes and many mutants with alterations in awn length have been identified. Here, we used a multiparent mapping population derived from cv. Morex and four genetically diverse wild barley lines to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for awn length. Twelve QTLs, distributed over the barley genome, were identified with the most significant one located on chromosome arm 7HL (QTL AL7.1). The effect of AL7.1 was confirmed using near isogenic lines (NILs) and fine-mapped in two independent heterogeneous inbred families to a < 0.9 cM interval. With exception of a small effect on grain width, no other traits such as plant height or flowering time were affected by AL7.1. Variant calling on transcripts obtained from RNA sequencing reads in NILs was used to narrow down the list of candidate genes located in the interval. This data may be used for further characterization and unravelling of the mechanisms underlying natural variation in awn length.

Fine mapping of a major QTL for awn length in barley using a multiparent mapping population.

Inflorescence architecture dictates the number of flowers and, ultimately, seeds. The architectural discrepancies between two related cereals, barley and wheat, are controlled by differences in determinacy of inflorescence and spikelet meristems. Here, we characterize two allelic series of mutations named  () and  () that convert barley indeterminate inflorescences into wheat-like determinate inflorescences bearing a multifloreted terminal spikelet and spikelets with additional florets. / encodes an APETALA2-like transcription factor (HvAP2L-H5) that suppresses ectopic and precocious spikelet initiation signals and maintains meristem activity. HvAP2L-H5 inhibits the identity shift of an inflorescence meristem (IM) to a terminal spikelet meristem (TSM) in barley. Null mutations in  lead to fewer spikelets per inflorescence but extra florets per spikelet. In wheat, prolonged and elevated AP2L-A5 activity in  mutants delays but does not suppress the IM-TSM transition. We hypothesize that the regulation of  orthologs and downstream genes contributes to the different inflorescence determinacy in barley and wheat. We show that AP2L-5 proteins are evolutionarily conserved in grasses, promote IM activity, and restrict floret number per spikelet. This study provides insights into the regulation of spikelet and floret number, and hence grain yield in barley and wheat.

Agatha Walla

Institute of Plant Genetics

Heinrich-Heine-University

Application of DNA Fingerprinting using the D1S80 Locus in Lab Classes

Agatha Walla

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Heinrich-Heine-University

Application of DNA Fingerprinting using the D1S80 Locus in Lab Classes

Institute of Plant Genetics