Transcriptional switch for programmed cell death in pith parenchyma of sorghum stems.

ABSTRACT: Pith parenchyma cells store water in various plant organs. These cells are especially important for producing sugar and ethanol from the sugar juice of grass stems. In many plants, the death of pith parenchyma cells reduces their stem water content. Previous studies proposed that a hypothetical D gene might be responsible for the death of stem pith parenchyma cells in Sorghum bicolor, a promising energy grass, although its identity and molecular function are unknown. Here, we identify the D gene and note that it is located on chromosome 6 in agreement with previous predictions. Sorghum varieties with a functional D allele had stems enriched with dry, dead pith parenchyma cells, whereas those with each of six independent nonfunctional D alleles had stems e

SUBMITTER: Fujimoto M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6140496 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature