Inositol hexaphosphate (Ins P6 or "phytic acid") typically accounts for 75 (± 10%) of seed total phosphorus (P). In some cases, genetic blocks in seed Ins P6 accumulation can also alter the distribution or total amount of seed P. In nonmutant barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) caryopses, ~80% of Ins P6 and total P accumulate in the aleurone layer, the outer layer of the endosperm, with the remainder i...

Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) causes scab (blight) in wheat and barley, and ear rot in corn. Since 1991, epidemics of Gibberella head blight have struck the Midwestern states with disastrous effects on wheat and barley growers. The fungus decreases yields and also contaminates grain with trichothecene mycotoxins that are harmful to human and animal health. To understand and co...

Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of their evolution is largely unknown, researchers assumed that they developed in tandem with cultivation since the appearance of agricultural habitats some 12,000 years ago. These rapidly-evolving plants invaded the human disturbed areas and thrived in the new habitat. Here we present unprecedented new ...

The naturally occurring wild barley mutant eibi1/hvabcg31 suffers from severe water loss due to the permeable leaf cuticle. Eibi1/HvABCG31 encodes a full ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, HvABCG31, playing a role in cutin deposition in the elongation zone of growing barley leaves. The eibi1 allele has pleiotropic effects on the appearance of leaves, plant stature, fertility, spike and gra...

Barley is one of the most important cereal crops grown worldwide. It has numerous applications, but its utility could potentially be extended by genetically manipulating its hormonal balances. To explore some of this potential we identified gene families of cytokinin dehydrogenases (CKX) and isopentenyl transferases, enzymes that respectively irreversibly degrade and synthesize cytokinin (CK) p...

Acidovorax radicis N35, isolated from surface-sterilized wheat roots (Triticum aestivum), showed irreversible phenotypic variation in nutrient broth, resulting in a differing colony morphology. In addition to the wild-type form (rough colony type), a phenotypic variant form (smooth colony type) appeared at a frequency of 3.2 × 10(-3) per cell per generation on NB agar plates. In contrast to th...

Two 21-d experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of low phytate barley (LPB) on Zn utilization by young broiler chicks and to determine the contribution of endogenous phytase, present in LPB. In the first experiment, ninety-six 1-d-old male chicks were assigned to a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (4 pens of 4 chicks/treatment). Factors were barley type [wild-type barley (W...

Barley powdery mildew (BPM) is caused by the pathogen Blumeria hordei (Bh) and can lead to severe yield loss. Plant pathologists are looking for new sources of resistance BPM. accessions, including wild subspecies Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum (Hvs), stored in many gene banks often a valuable source economically important characteristics. The barley Hvs could be aim presented investigation ...