Alanine aminotransferase controls seed dormancy in barley

Kazuhiro Sato (), Miki Yamane, Nami Yamaji, Hiroyuki Kanamori, Akemi Tagiri, Julian G. Schwerdt, Geoffrey B. Fincher, Takashi Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Takeda and Takao Komatsuda
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Kazuhiro Sato: Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University
Miki Yamane: Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University
Nami Yamaji: Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University
Hiroyuki Kanamori: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
Akemi Tagiri: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
Julian G. Schwerdt: ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide
Geoffrey B. Fincher: ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide
Takashi Matsumoto: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
Kazuyoshi Takeda: Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University
Takao Komatsuda: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Dormancy allows wild barley grains to survive dry summers in the Near East. After domestication, barley was selected for shorter dormancy periods. Here we isolate the major seed dormancy gene qsd1 from wild barley, which encodes an alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT). The seed dormancy gene is expressed specifically in the embryo. The AlaAT isoenzymes encoded by the long and short dormancy alleles differ in a single amino acid residue. The reduced dormancy allele Qsd1 evolved from barleys that were first domesticated in the southern Levant and had the long dormancy qsd1 allele that can be traced back to wild barleys. The reduced dormancy mutation likely contributed to the enhanced performance of barley in industrial applications such as beer and whisky production, which involve controlled germination. In contrast, the long dormancy allele might be used to control pre-harvest sprouting in higher rainfall areas to enhance global adaptation of barley.

Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11625

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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11625

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