A Gene Encoding a SHINE1/WAX INDUCER1 Transcription Factor Controls Cuticular Wax in Barley

All land plants seal their above ground body parts with a lipid-rich hydrophobic barrier called the cuticle to protect themselves from dehydration and other terrestrial threats. Mutational studies in several model species have identified multiple loci regulating cuticular metabolism development. Of particular importance are eceriferum (cer) mutants characterized by loss of wax. Some barley cer mutants, including cer-x, show defects distinctive β-diketone-enriched wax bloom on reproductive stage leaf sheaths, stems, spikes. We exploited extensive allelic populations, near-isogenic lines, powerful genotyping platforms identify variation HvWAX INDUCER1 (HvWIN1) gene, encoding SHINE transcription factor, as underlying cer-x. Comparing cer-x glossy sheath4.l Bowman Near Isogenic Line BW407 cv. revealed an increased permeability tissues showing reduced accumulation β-diketones altered metabolic gene expression BW407. Analyses across pangenome hundreds exome-capture datasets high sequence conservation HvWIN1 two non-synonymous variants exclusive cultivated germplasm. Taken together, we suggest that controls features barley.