Genetic and molecular basis of grass cell-wall biosynthesis and degradability. III. Towards a forage grass ideotype.
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.
Ralph
John
J
US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 1925 Linden Drive West, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Guillaumie
Sabine
S
Grabber
John H
JH
Lapierre
Catherine
C
Barrière
Yves
Y
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*
D008031:Lignin