title: Genetic and molecular basis of grass cell-wall biosynthesis and degradability. III. Towards a forage grass ideotype.
abstract: Lignification of cell walls is the major factor controlling the digestibility of forage grasses. Thus far, from QTL analysis, about 15 locations involved in cell-wall lignification or digestibility have been identified in the maize genome, many of which colocalise with QTLs involved in corn borer susceptibility. Genetic diversity for enhancing cell-wall digestibility in maize must be identified in novel germplasm, but genetic engineering is also a relevant way both to design specific cell-wall characteristics for improved digestibility and to identify genes involved in these traits for further discovery of alleles of interest in grass germplasm.
authors.affiliation: US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 1925 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ralph
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillaumie
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Grabber
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barrière
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008031:Lignin