J. Simmonds

Delayed development of basal spikelets in wheat explains their increased floret abortion and rudimentary nature

This study identifies delayed development and reduced developmental age of basal florets in wheat as the cause of their abortion and rudimentary nature, challenging the assimilate availability hypothesis.

Population Transcriptome and Phenotype Reveal that Rht-D1b Contributes a Larger Seedling Root to Modern Bread Wheat

The paper investigates the impact of GR alleles on wheat root systems, finding that Rht-D1b increases seedling root size by enhancing cell length and meristem size, while Rht-B1b has no significant effect on root traits.

High expression of VRT2 increases the number of rudimentary basal spikelets in wheat

The paper identifies a transcriptional gradient in wheat spikes associated with rudimentary basal spikelet development, leading to the lanceolate spike shape.

Trend, Population Structure And Trait Mapping From 15 Years Of National Varietal Trials Of UK Winter Wheat

The paper analyzes 15 years of UK winter wheat variety trial data to identify phenotypic trends and genetic associations for yield and quality traits.

Evolution of the bread wheat D-subgenome and enriching it with diversity from Aegilops tauschii

The paper sequences 242 Ae. tauschii accessions to study genetic diversity in the bread wheat D-subgenome, identifies disease resistance genes, and demonstrates their functional transfer into wheat.

ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM 2 encodes a STERILE ALPHA MOTIVE containing protein that controls root growth angle in barley and wheat

This study identifies EGT2 as a conserved gene regulating root growth angle in barley and wheat through gravity response, with potential for crop improvement.

Increased and ectopic expression of Triticum polonicum VRT-A2 underlies elongated glumes and grains in hexaploid wheat in a dosage-dependent manner

An intron-1 rearrangement in the MADS-box transcription factor VRT-A2 leads to its misexpression and defines the long-glume phenotype of Polish wheat (T. polonicum).

Deforestation and bird habitat loss in Colombia

This study assesses the impact of deforestation on bird habitats in Colombia, finding widespread habitat loss and projecting increased threat levels by 2040.

A carbohydrate-binding protein, FLOURY ENDOSPERM 6 influences the initiation of A- and B-type starch granules in wheat.

This paper identifies FLOURY ENDOSPERM 6 (FLO6) as a gene influencing starch granule initiation in wheat, with differential effects on A- and B-type granules depending on developmental stage.

Identification of transcription factors regulating senescence in wheat through gene regulatory network modelling

This study identifies transcription factors regulating senescence in wheat using gene regulatory network modelling and time-series gene expression data.

Speed breeding in growth chambers and glasshouses for crop breeding and model plant research

This paper presents speed breeding protocols for various crops and model plants, detailing conditions and methods to accelerate generation advancement in growth chambers and glasshouses.

Ubiquitin-related genes are differentially expressed in isogenic lines contrasting for pericarp cell size and grain weight in hexaploid wheat

The paper identifies differentially expressed genes and pathways in wheat isogenic lines contrasting for pericarp cell size and grain weight, highlighting ubiquitin-related processes and potential causal genes for a grain weight QTL.

Speed breeding: a powerful tool to accelerate crop research and breeding

This paper introduces speed breeding, a method that accelerates crop research and breeding by shortening generation times and enabling more generations per year.

Increased pericarp cell length underlies a major QTL for grain weight in hexaploid wheat

The paper identifies a major QTL on wheat chromosome 5A associated with increased grain weight, showing that pericarp cell length contributes to grain size and weight in hexaploid wheat.