Comparative Genomics of Shoot Branching

茎系统结构具有重要的农业意义。自然界中发现的许多分枝特征被选择用于在长时间内产生的许多小种子之间分配资源，并允许灵活地响应不断变化的环境条件，例如营养物质的可用性或草食动物的损害。这些特征经常与农业优先事项背道而驰，例如，在较窄的时间窗口内生产较少数量的较大种子，在分枝习性上具有更大的一致性可能是优选的。因此，提高产量稳定性的育种与茎系统结构特征的改善密切相关。在这个项目中合作的小组包括世界级的专业知识，在关键的基因系统，调节分支。已经很清楚，这些系统在高等植物中起作用。然而，同样清楚的是，这些系统在不同物种中的运作方式存在重要差异。因此，我们提出了一个系统的比较研究，这些基因系统，它们的行动，以及它们在一系列物种的相互作用。这将形成一个工具包的开发基础上，标记辅助育种优化分支的习惯，并为遗传修饰的分支，当它成为公众接受的。

Shoot system architecture is of major agricultural significance. Many of the branching characteristics found in nature are selected to distribute resources between many small seed produced over an extended time period, and to allow flexibility in response to changing environmental conditions such as nutrient availability, or damage by herbivory. These features frequently work against agricultural priorities where, for example, the production of a smaller number of larger seed over a narrow window of time, with a greater uniformity in branching habit may be preferred. Thus breeding for improved yield stability is intimately associated with improvements in shoot system architectural characteristics. The groups collaborating in this project encompass world class expertise across the key gene systems that regulate branching. It is already clear that these systems operate throughout higher plants. However, it is equally clear that there are important differences in the way the systems operate in different species. We therefore propose a systematic comparative study of these gene systems, their actions, and their interactions in a range of species. This will form the basis for the development of a tool kit for marker assisted breeding for optimised branching habit, and for genetic modification of branching, when it becomes publicly acceptable.