RUI: Shoot Architecture: A Systems Approach in Pea

苏珊河开花植物的分枝模式（枝条结构）影响种子和果实产量。本研究的长期目标是利用系统方法了解豌豆芽结构的发育调控。将开发基于过程的预测模型，以在多个组织层次上整合有关芽发育，特别是花序发育的信息。花序结构的进化涉及一个共同的工具包，开花基因以不同的方式使用，以创造不同的形态，这可以显着影响生殖成功。创建和比较不同物种中基于系统的枝条发育模型可能会揭示导致不同模式的细微变化。例如，拟南芥花序结构基因的直系同源物如何用于豌豆花序的发育？豌豆遗传传递的研究历史悠久，已经产生了许多改变地上部结构的发育突变体。许多潜在的候选基因已被确定和克隆在拟南芥中的这些突变体。Singer实验室计划优化这些资源，以继续确定豌豆芽结构形成中的关键调控基因，并研究它们如何相互作用以创造新的芽形态。 目前的焦点是影响豌豆中的决定性和不对称性的突变。基因表达研究，候选基因检测，通过定位和克隆策略，表征遗传相互作用，并在数学上描述豌豆分枝和器官起始之间的时空关系，将进一步加深我们对花序结构的理解。这种理解可能会导致新的豆类结构，可以提高产量。这项工作将为本科生提供机会，将数学方法融入生物问题的研究，并促进与澳大利亚研究人员的合作。

Susan R. Singer0422840Branching patterns (shoot architecture) in flowering plants affect seed and fruit yield. The long-term goal of this research is to understand the developmental regulation of shoot architecture in peas using a systems approach. Process-based, predictive models will be developed to integrate information about shoot development, especially inflorescence development, at multiple levels of organization. The evolution of inflorescence architecture involves a common toolkit of flowering genes used in different ways to create diverse morphologies, which can dramatically affect reproductive success. Creating and comparing systems-based models of shoot development in different species may reveal subtle variations that result in distinct patterns. For example, how are orthologs of Arabidopsis inflorescence architecture genes used in the development of pea inflorescences? A long history of the study of transmission genetics in pea has yielded many developmental mutants that alter shoot architecture. Many potential candidate genes for these mutants have been identified and cloned in Arabidopsis. The Singer lab plans to optimize these resources to continue to identify key regulatory genes in pea shoot architecture formation and investigate how they interact to create novel shoot morphologies. The current focus is on mutations affecting determinancy and asymmetry in pea. Gene expression studies, candidate gene testing, through mapping and cloning strategies, characterizing genetic interactions, and mathematically describing the spatial and temporal relationship between branching and organ initiation in pea will all further our understanding of inflorescence architecture. This understanding could lead to novel legume architectures that could increase yield. The work will provide opportunities for undergraduates to integrate mathematical approaches into the study of biological questions and foster collaboration with Australian researchers.