Accurate staging of reproduction development in Cadenza wheat by non-destructive spike analysis. (7th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernández-Gómez, José; Talle, Behzad; Tidy, Alison C; Wilson, Zoe A
• Editors: Rebetzke, Greg
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental botany. Volume 71:Number 12(2020)
• Page Start: 3475
• Page End: 3484
• Publication Date: 2020-04-07
• Subjects: Anther -- barley -- growth staging -- last flag elongation -- pollen development -- Zadoks stage; Botany -- Periodicals; Botany, Experimental -- Periodicals; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa156
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0957

Abstract

Abstract: Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world; however, loss of genetic variability and abiotic stress caused by variable climatic conditions threaten future productivity. Reproduction is critical for wheat yield; however, pollen development is amongst the developmental stages most sensitive to stresses such as heat, cold, or drought. A better understanding of how anther and pollen development is regulated is needed to help produce more resilient crops and ensure future yield increases. However, in cereals such as wheat, barley, and rice, flowers form within the developing pseudostem and therefore accurate staging of floral materials is extremely challenging. This makes detailed phenotypic and molecular analysis of floral development very difficult, particularly when limited plant material is available, for example with mutant or transgenic lines. Here we present an accurate approach to overcome this problem, by non-destructive staging of reproduction development in Cadenza, the widely used spring wheat research variety. This uses a double-scale system whereby anther and pollen development can be predicted in relation to spike size and spike position within the pseudostem. This system provides an easy, reproducible method that facilitates accurate sampling and analysis of floral materials, to enable anther and pollen developmental research. Abstract : We describe non-destructive staging of reproduction development in Cadenza, using a double-scale system whereby anther/pollen development can be predicted in relation to spike size and spike position within the pseudostem.