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1000
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Abstract/Summary
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Inflorescence architecture in small-grain cereals has a direct effect on yield and is an important selection target in breeding for yield
improvement.We analyzed the recessivemutation laxatum-a (lax-a) in barley (Hordeum vulgare), which causes pleiotropic changes in
spike development, resulting in (1) extended rachis internodes conferring a more relaxed inflorescence, (2) broadened base of the
lemma awns, (3) thinner grains that are largely exposed due to reduced marginal growth of the palea and lemma, and (4) and
homeotic conversion of lodicules into two stamenoid structures. Map-based cloning enforced by mapping-by-sequencing of the
mutant lax-a locus enabled the identification of a homolog of BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and BOP2 as the causal gene.
Interestingly, the recently identified barley uniculme4 gene also is a BOP1/2 homolog and has been shown to regulate tillering
and leaf sheath development. While the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) BOP1 and BOP2 genes act redundantly, the barley genes
contribute independent effects in specifying the developmental growth of vegetative and reproductive organs, respectively.
Analysis of natural genetic diversity revealed strikingly different haplotype diversity for the two paralogous barley genes, likely
affected by the respective genomic environments, since no indication for an active selection process was detected.
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