Brachypodium distachyon: making hay with a wild grass.
Brachypodium distachyon is a wild grass with a short life cycle. Although it is related to small grain cereals such as wheat, its genome is only a fraction of the size. A draft genome sequence is currently available, and molecular and genetic tools have been developed for transformation, mutagenesis and gene mapping. Accessions collected from across its ancestral range show a surprising degree of phenotypic variation in many traits, including those implicated in domestication of the cereals. Thus, given its rapid cycling time and ease of cultivation, Brachypodium will be a useful model for investigating problems in grass biology.
Opanowicz
Magdalena
M
John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
Vain
Philippe
P
Draper
John
J
Parker
David
D
Doonan
John H
JH
D002523:Edible Grain / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D018745:Genome, Plant; D023281:Genomics; D010802:Phylogeny; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*