The IPK research team has classified a key gene for cell division, highlighting its role in maintaining genome stability in plants. The study reveals that plant-specific duplicated genes have a significant impact on the centromere and kinetochore.
The newly published oat genome sequence provides insights into its health benefits and breeding potential. The hexaploid genome contains genes linked to human health and nutrition, supporting oat safety in gluten-free diets.
The Ustilago maydis effector Rip1 targets and binds Zmlox3, a maize gene from the lipoxygenase family, to suppress PTI and reduce susceptibility to fungal infection. This action leads to reduced ROS-burst formation in infected plant cells, highlighting the complex co-evolutionary forces between host and pathogen.
Ammonium toxicity triggers reactive oxygen species formation in plant roots, causing inhibited root elongation. A newly identified gene, PDX1.1, plays a crucial role in vitamin B6 biosynthesis, which neutralizes oxidative stress and protects roots from ammonium-induced damage.
An international research team found that the use of digital sequence information is more complex than a one-way street, with many countries providing access to genetic resources and benefiting from data sharing
Research at IPK Leibniz Institute reveals that grain number in barley is influenced by different factors depending on the row-type, with maximum spikelet number being key for two-rowed varieties and spikelet fertility for six-rowed ones.
Researchers at IPK Leibniz Institute have discovered a hormonal regulatory module that controls root elongation in response to nitrogen deficiency. The study reveals that brassinosteroids act upstream of auxin, triggering the local biosynthesis of auxin and inducing genes TAA1 and YUCCA8.
Genomic data analyzed over 10,000 pepper samples from worldwide genebanks to reconstruct the history of pepper's global expansion. The study found significant duplication of samples and regions with unique peppers, indicating human culture played a primary role in shaping pepper's spread globally.
A team of researchers from IPK used large-scale data to develop predictive models for yield stability in hybrid varieties of wheat. By analyzing over 13,000 genotypes and 125,000 yield plots, they were able to double the accuracy of their predictions.
Researchers from the IPK Leibniz Institute identified regulatory networks and signalling pathways controlling barley floral meristem development. The findings provide a deeper understanding of spikelet formation and offer an important tool for future studies.
Rye's complex genome has been fully sequenced, revealing a diverse wild gene pool that holds promise for breeding. The research team hopes to transfer beneficial traits from rye to wheat without affecting baking properties.
A new method of DNA sequencing using PacBio HiFi sequencing has been successfully applied to assemble the genome of barley with high accuracy and speed. The approach yielded better quality genome sequences compared to other methods, including more complete genes and accurate reassembly of non-coding regions.
An international team has made a significant step closer to understanding the genetic information of barley by sequencing and decoding its genome. The research identified twenty highly diverse genotypes with unique structural variations in their chromosomes.
Researchers found that trehalose 6-phosphate activates auxin biosynthesis, leading to increased embryo growth and reserve starch accumulation. The study used pea seeds, where a reduction in embryonic T6P content resulted in wrinkled seeds with impaired storage product accumulation.
Researchers developed a model that shows CAM-like metabolism can save more than 50% of water while maintaining 80% productivity in temperate climates. The study also identified an alternative CAM cycle involving mitochondrial enzyme ICDH, which can add up to 11% of total water savings.
The discovery of the COM1 gene reveals its role in controlling cell growth and influencing the properties of cell walls to form spikelets. This finding provides new insights into grass inflorescence architecture and may aid in increasing barley's yield potential.
Domestication led to reduced genetic diversity and elimination of beneficial traits like robustness in drought stress and resistance to pathogens. The study identified key genes and metabolites influencing fruit quality, including health-promoting flavonoids and defensive compounds.
The study reveals that ammonium uptake by roots provokes pH changes that bring auxin into a protonated form, triggering lateral root emergence. This process allows plants to adapt to fluctuating nutrient availabilities and optimize nutrient acquisition in agricultural settings.
A recent study published in Nature Genetics has shed light on the genetic diversity of European flint maize, revealing distinct differences between lines. The research highlights the importance of sequencing the entire pangenome of a species to fully understand its genetics.
A new study has successfully demonstrated a method for site-directed mutagenesis in wheat using haploid induction by maize. The technique resulted in the identification of 15 independent target gene-specific mutants in six different wheat backgrounds, with mutations found in all three genomic target motifs.
Researchers found that hybrids become more productive as genetic distance between parents increases, contradicting previous contradictory studies. The team's study provides clarity to the issue, enabling rational selection of crossing partners for breeding new hybrid varieties.
Scientists have uncovered the mechanism behind chromosome elimination in plants, which could enable removal of harmful genes for medical purposes. The process involves impaired transport of B chromosomes, resulting in their degradation and sparing of root cells from potentially toxic genes.
Researchers assembled jojoba genome into 26 chromosomes with 23,490 protein-coding genes, revealing evolutionary history and agronomic properties. The plant's ability to store wax in its seeds makes it a promising source of sustainable liquid wax esters for pharmacy, cosmetics, and hair care products.
The EU's new AGENT research project aims to establish a global network of actively cooperating gene banks and convert them into digital resource centers. The project seeks to standardize gene bank management and verification, making plant genetic resources more accessible to researchers and breeders worldwide.
Researchers discovered that the rhizosphere microbiota can shape and control root exudation through a systemic root-to-root signalling mechanism. This process, termed Systemically Induced Root Exudation of Metabolites (SIREM), triggers the secretion of acylsugars in the whole root system.
Scientists at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research discovered a new type of centromere in the European dodder, Cuscuta europaea. Unlike typical monocentric or holocentric species, the unique centromere in C. europaea was found to be independent of CENH3 histone distribution.
The new tool, 'Kmasker plants', enables researchers to identify repetitive sequences in plant genomes and assign them to positions. This allows for the rapid analysis of complex genomes and can help identify sequence candidate regions with agronomic importance.
Scientists have uncovered key regulatory candidate genes for hypericin biosynthesis in St. John's Wort, a plant with medicinal properties. The study provides unprecedented insight into the development of dark glands and associated biosynthetic pathways.
The Erythroxylum genus has been stigmatized due to its association with cocaine, but a new review article reveals its potential use in traditional medicine and modern medicine. The genus encompasses over 230 species, including E. coca, which has been used for thousands of years.
Researchers uncovered that Nodulin26-like-intrinsic-proteins in plants originated from bacterial arsenic detoxification units through horizontal gene transfer. This enabled efficient transport of essential micronutrients like boron and silicon.
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research have discovered a chaperone protein that affects CenH3 loading to centromeres, crucial for kinetochore assembly. This finding has potential applications in plant breeding, particularly in haploid induction, which can speed up breeding processes.
Researchers found that plants use the same transcription factor to regulate growth and defense, but require different levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for each process. This incompatibility leads to a trade-off between growth and defense, with implications for plant biomass production and disease resistance.
Researchers at Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research analyzed historical phenotypic data from the Federal Ex situ Gene Bank to develop statistical models leveraging maximal information from available datasets. The study provides blueprint strategies for correlated dataset preparation, complementing passport inform...
Researchers have identified the HvAST gene as the cause of variegation in albostrians barley, a breakthrough that sheds new light on chloroplast biogenesis. The discovery provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying chloroplast development and has significant implications for plant biology.
Gene banks are shifting to bioinformatics and big data analytics to enhance biodiversity preservation. Three major challenges arise: tracking accessions, avoiding duplications, and maintaining genetic integrity. A genomic-driven approach can address these issues by utilizing genotypic information.
Researchers have identified two distinct allelic variants, Jek1 and Jek3, within the Jekyll gene in barley, which has significant implications for understanding speciation and cellular processes.
Scientists from Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research identified a B chromosome-specific repeat and asymmetric spindle as key mechanisms behind the drive of B chromosomes. The study reveals that over 93% of B chromosomes accumulate in generative sperm nuclei, providing new insights into chromosome drive.
Researchers from IPK discovered a role of brassinosteroid-type plant hormones in shaping root systems under low nitrogen conditions. They found that BSK3 signaling modulates the extent of root elongation and activates brassinosteroid signaling under mild nitrogen deficiency.
A global study of 487 wheat genotypes has mapped the ancestry and genetic diversity of bread wheat, revealing a rich pool of genetic variation that can be used to improve crop resilience. The findings highlight the need for continuous breeding efforts to adapt wheat to changing climates.
The genome assembly of durum wheat has provided new insights into its domestication history and genetic properties. The study revealed a mutation that leads to high cadmium content in grains, enabling plant breeders to selectively breed modern durum cultivars with reduced cadmium levels.
A recent study has identified the Greek wild crocus species C. cartwrightianus as the sole progenitor of modern saffron, revealing its origins in Attica. This breakthrough could enable plant breeders to create new saffron genotypes with increased genetic diversity.
Researchers have developed an RNA-guided endonuclease - in situ labelling (RGEN-ISL) method that preserves chromatin intact and allows real-time visualization of DNA-labelling. This new tool outperforms conventional methods, enabling investigation of genome structure and function.
A study by Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research has identified the GNI-A1 gene as a key player in regulating floret fertility in wheat. The gene's reduced-function allele was found to increase fertile florets, leading to higher grain counts and yields.