Thermal stress effects on grain yield in Brachypodium distachyon occur via H2A.Z-nucleosomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Crop plants are highly sensitive to ambient temperature, with a 1 ºC difference in temperature sufficient to affect development and yield. Monocot crop plants are particularly vulnerable to higher temperatures during the reproductive and grain-filling phases. The molecular mechanisms by which temperature influences grain development are, however, unknown. In Arabidopsis thaliana, H2A.Z-nucleosomes coordinate transcriptional responses to higher temperature. We therefore investigated whether the effects of high temperature on grain development are mediated by H2A.Z-nucleosomes.

Results

We have analyzed the thermal responses of the Pooid grass, Brachypodium distachyon, a model system for crops. We find that H2A.Z-nucleosome occupancy is more responsive to increases i

SUBMITTER: Boden SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4062847 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature