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Strigolactones coordinate barley tillering and grain size
Jack H Kelly1, Andrew J Gilmore1, Apriadi Situmorang1
1Waite Research Institute, School of Agriculture Food & Wine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5064, Australia.
Journal of Experimental Botany
|June 4, 2025
Summary
Strigolactones (SLs) impact barley plant architecture and grain size. SLs indirectly promote grain size during vegetative growth but directly repress it during reproduction, offering insights into crop yield enhancement.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Hormone Signaling
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones known to inhibit tiller bud outgrowth.
- SLs also affect plant height, grain number, and grain size, but their precise roles in these traits are not fully understood.
- Understanding the connection between SLs and grain development is crucial for improving crop yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the distinct roles of strigolactones in regulating barley plant architecture, grain size, and overall yield.
- To differentiate the indirect effects of SLs on vegetative growth from their direct effects on grain development.
- To investigate the implications of SL pathway manipulation for enhancing barley crop productivity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized SL barley mutant plants under various conditions.
- Applied exogenous hormone-related treatments to assess direct hormonal effects.
- Analyzed gene expression of SL-related genes during key grain development stages.
Main Results:
- SL mutants consistently exhibited reduced average grain mass, irrespective of tiller number.
- Direct hormone treatments on developing grains reduced grain size, while pathway inhibition increased it.
- Expression of SL-related genes was observed throughout critical stages of grain development.
Conclusions:
- Strigolactones exert a dual action on barley grain development: promoting grain size indirectly via vegetative stages and directly repressing it during reproductive stages.
- SLs play a significant role in determining grain mass and size.
- Targeting the SL pathway presents a promising strategy for increasing barley crop yield.
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