Project description
New insights into molecular networks for crop yield improvement
Rice, a starchy cereal grain, is a food staple that millions of people around the world are dependent on. The EU-funded GainGrain project aims to increase grain yield by focussing on the genetic hubs in rice inflorescence architecture – the spikelets bearing flowers that produce the grain. By identifying new functions coupled with an analysis of the regulatory networks of conserved transcription factors, the project will determine and enhance rice inflorescence morphogenesis, a critical factor in the yield equation. The project envisages the application of the knowledge obtained to other crops too.
Objective
GainGrain addresses grain (fruit) production in rice, which is one of the most important cereals species, a major staple food and the most important model plant for the wide and important phylogenetic group of monocots.
GainGrain intends to improve yield by dissecting the regulatory mechanisms that control the branched inflorescence architecture of rice, aiming to both identify new functions and analyze the regulatory networks of conserved transcription factors. This will enable us to determine, and eventually optimize, rice inflorescence morphogenesis. Nevertheless, GainGrain is designed to transfer the knowledge and molecular tools obtained in rice to other crops, not just other cereals but even eudicot crops. Identifying and understanding the role of molecular networks, their direct targets and interactors, and their involvement in regulating the number of inflorescence branches and flowers in each species, would provide evolutionary and developmental insights and new major targets for crop yield improvement.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panelCoordinator
28006 Madrid
Spain