UNIVERSITY of Adelaide researchers have identified several genes in barley that could eventually lead to better, and larger-yielding crops.
The research – carried out at the university’s Waite Research Institute – used genetic techniques and molecular biology to examine several historical multiovary barley mutants, and determine which genes boost fertility and make the plants more receptive to cross-pollination.
Lead researcher Dr Caterina Selva carried out the work as part of her PhD studies in the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.
“Although the mutant varieties appeared to be quite similar when grown in the glasshouse, we found one type was more fertile than the others and was capable of producing up to three times the number of seeds than the other plants,” she said.
“The genes in that mutant variety of barley could hold the key to increasing the yield of cereal crops.”
The multiovary barley mutants, discovered in the 1980s, have different features compared to typical Australian barley varieties, producing extra female reproductive organs in each single flower.
This is the first time the genes responsible for increasing fertility have been identified.
The sequences obtained from the mutant varieties could be used to modify the flower structure of conventional barley, making it more receptive to hybrid breeding, according to Dr Selva.
“By mixing the mutant with other varieties of barley, we can create stronger, more resilient crops that produce higher yields in even the most challenging of environments,” she said.
The breeding process, known as hybrid vigour, has been successfully used in maize and rice. It relies on cross-pollination, which can be challenging for wheat and barley due to flower structure.
“This research is an example of how changing one gene can have a positive effect on grain yields,” said senior author Associate Professor Matthew Tucker from the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.
“We can overcome barriers to cross pollination by using the more fertile, mutated plants to produce stronger barley and more of it.
“This is even more important in the face of rapid urbanisation, volatile international markets, and extreme weather conditions, which are making growing barley more challenging.”
Barley is one of the nation’s most widely grown crops, with just over nine million tonnes produced annually, and the majority exported to Asia.
The research was published in the Journal of Experimental Botany (tinyurl.com/4bswst96) and could be used to help improve the agricultural industry, both nationally and on a global scale.
“These findings are a promising step towards facilitating hybrid breeding in wheat and barley and ultimately increasing grain yield,” said Dr Selva.
“It could pave the way for enhanced food security and a more sustainable agricultural future.”
