Grain development in Brachypodium distachyon (NatGrain)

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Grasses are one of the most important groups of plants for human well-being: Domesticated grasses constitute the major source of dietary calories and wild species define many terrestrial ecosystems. The major cereals evolved from wild grasses during the last 10,000 years as the result of human selection for traits that improved their utility for humans. The biology of wild grasses is poorly understood either at a population level or in terms of the traits that underpin their success. This project exploits the new genomic resources and advanced imaging techniques to investigate the cellular, molecular and genetic basis of natural variation in Brachypodium. We will focus on variation in grain-related traits associated with cell proliferation and cell growth. For example, grain size is an important trait in agriculture, often associated with yield, and its regulation is poorly understood.

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