Farmers want their cereal grains to germinate, but they want it to
happen at the right time.
That’s what University of Saskatchewan plant biologist Lawrence Gusta
is trying to ensure.
Every year, millions of dollars are lost as a result of pre-harvest
sprouting of cereal grains. Some crops are particularly vulnerable,
such as Canada Prairie Spring white wheat and malting barley.
Now, in a just completed research study, Gusta has identified a genetic
key that could help prevent unwanted sprouting.
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“Our study is the first to show that germination of seeds is strongly
correlated with the uptake of water into the embryo, which is regulated
by aquaporin genes,” he said.
Armed with that knowledge, plant breeders could be able to develop
varieties with aquaporin profiles that reduce the risk of sprouting and
other moisture-related problems.
They can use the results of the study to develop markers for genetic
lines that are susceptible to sprouting.
For example, the study established a close connection between
susceptible CPS wheat and the presence of four specific aquaporin genes.
Gusta said it’s clear that the uptake of water into the embryo is
crucial to the germination process.
“Based on these results, the key to preventing pre-harvest sprouting is
to select lines that do not produce aquaporins quickly when seeds are
exposed to wet conditions.”
The key, he said, is to develop the right level of dormancy, without
delaying germination, something that’s particularly important for
malting barley. Ideally, the new lines would not readily produce
aquaporins until several weeks after harvest.
The results of the study may also lead to a genetically based solution
for a problem in stored barley known as anoxia, in which seeds stored
at high temperature in high humidity absorb moisture in sufficient
quantity to germinate and, in effect, drown.
Gusta said that if he can get more funding for the project, the next
logical step will be to discover what factors regulate the production
of aquaporins. That could make it possible to directly regulate a
plant’s water uptake.
