ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4059-0212
Current Organisation
Murdoch University
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Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 04-09-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-02-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JIPB.13214
Abstract: Nitrogen is a major determinant of grain yield and quality. As excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer leads to environmental pollution and high production costs, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is fundamental for a sustainable agriculture. Here, we dissected the role of the barley abnormal cytokinin response1 repressor 1 ( HvARE1 ) gene, a candidate for involvement in NUE previously identified in a genome‐wide association study, through natural variation analysis and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9)‐mediated gene editing. HvARE1 was predominantly expressed in leaves and shoots, with very low expression in roots under low nitrogen conditions. Agrobacterium ‐mediated genetic transformation of immature embryos ( cv . Golden Promise) with single guide RNAs targeting HvARE1 generated 22 T 0 plants, from which four T 1 lines harbored missense and/or frameshift mutations based on genotyping. Mutant are1 lines exhibited an increase in plant height, tiller number, grain protein content, and yield. Moreover, we observed a 1.5‐ to 2.8‐fold increase in total chlorophyll content in the flag leaf at the grain filling stage. Delayed senescence by 10–14 d was also observed in mutant lines. Barley are1 mutants had high nitrogen content in shoots under low nitrogen conditions. These findings demonstrate the potential of ARE1 in NUE improvement in barley.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-05-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S00122-021-03865-4
Abstract: Using genomic structural equation modelling, this research demonstrates an efficient way to identify genetically correlating traits and provides an effective proxy for multi-trait selection to consider the joint genetic architecture of multiple interacting traits in crop breeding. Breeding crop cultivars with optimal value across multiple traits has been a challenge, as traits may negatively correlate due to pleiotropy or genetic linkage. For ex le, grain yield and grain protein content correlate negatively with each other in cereal crops. Future crop breeding needs to be based on practical yet accurate evaluation and effective selection of beneficial trait to retain genes with the best agronomic score for multiple traits. Here, we test the framework of whole-system-based approach using structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate how one trait affects others to guide the optimal selection of a combination of agronomically important traits. Using ten traits and genome-wide SNP profiles from a worldwide barley panel and SEM analysis, we revealed a network of interacting traits, in which tiller number contributes positively to both grain yield and protein content we further identified common genetic factors affecting multiple traits in the network of interaction. Our method demonstrates an efficient way to identify genetically correlating traits and underlying pleiotropic genetic factors and provides an effective proxy for multi-trait selection within a whole-system framework that considers the joint genetic architecture of multiple interacting traits in crop breeding. Our findings suggest the promise of a whole-system approach to overcome challenges such as the negative correlation of grain yield and protein content to facilitating quantitative and objective breeding decisions in future crop breeding.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-05-2020
Abstract: Nitrogen (N) fertilization plays an important role in crop production however, excessive and inefficient use of N fertilizer is a global issue that incurs high production costs, pollutes the environment and increases the emission of greenhouse gases. To overcome these negative consequences, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) would be a key factor for profitable crop production either by increasing yield or reducing fertilizer cost. In contrast to soil and crop management practices, understanding the molecular mechanisms in NUE and developing new varieties with improved NUE is more environmentally and economically friendly. In this review, we highlight the recent progress in understanding and improving nitrogen use efficiency in barley, with perspectives on the impact of N on plant morphology and agronomic performance, NUE and its components such as N uptake and utilization, QTLs and candidate genes controlling NUE, and new strategies for NUE improvement.
No related grants have been discovered for Sakura Karunarathne.