Project Number: 5325-21430-011-04
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 26, 2006
End Date: Sep 25, 2011

Objective:
To discover genes important for wheat quality and productivity. Immediate targets are genes that control vernalization response, natural and modified HMW-glutenin genes, grain protein content genes, and genes designed to combat Fusarium head blight and/or reduce mycotoxin accumulation in Fusarium-infected plants. To evaluate transgenic wheat plants for their suitability for commercial production. To discover new promoter elements suitable for genetic engineering or cereal crop plants.

Approach:
Isolate candidate genes for important agronomic and quality traits of wheat by map-based cloning. Design anti-Fusarium and modified HMW-glutenin genes. Modify genes and add expression signals as needed to achieve high levels of protein accumulation in transgenic wheat and barley tissues. Transform genes into wheat or barley (vernalization genes) with the appropriate genotypes. Identify and propagate transformants with high expression levels. Collaborate to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of the transgenic plants and to test the effects of the transgenes on the traits of interest: grain protein quality and quantity, resistance to Fusarium head blight and vernalization response. Combine useful traits in the same genetic background by crossing. Conduct computer searches for expression patterns and isolate the sequence that regulate them. Test new promoters in transgenic wheat. Documents SCA with UC Davis. Formerly 5325-21430-011-01S 3-13-06.