A NAC Gene Regulating Senescence Improves Grain Protein, Zinc, and Iron Content in Wheat
United States Department of Agriculture · Carmel (Israel) · +3 more institutions
Abstract
Enhancing the nutritional value of food crops is a means of improving human nutrition and health. We report here the positional cloning of Gpc-B1, a wheat quantitative trait locus associated with increased grain protein, zinc, and iron content. The ancestral wild wheat allele encodes a NAC transcription factor (NAM-B1) that accelerates senescence and increases nutrient remobilization from leaves to developing grains, whereas modern wheat varieties carry a nonfunctional NAM-B1 allele. Reduction in RNA levels of the multiple NAM homologs by RNA interference delayed senescence by more than 3 weeks and reduced wheat grain protein, zinc, and iron content by more than 30%.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 76.13
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 15
Authors
5- CUCristóbal UauyCorresponding
United States Department of Agriculture, Carmel (Israel), Western Regional Research Center, University of California, Davis, University of Haifa
- ADAssaf DistelfeldCorresponding
United States Department of Agriculture, Carmel (Israel), Western Regional Research Center, University of California, Davis, University of Haifa
- TFTzion Fahima
United States Department of Agriculture, Carmel (Israel), Western Regional Research Center, University of California, Davis, University of Haifa
- AEAnn E. Blechl
United States Department of Agriculture, Carmel (Israel), Western Regional Research Center, University of California, Davis, University of Haifa
- JDJorge DubcovskyCorresponding
United States Department of Agriculture, Carmel (Israel), Western Regional Research Center, University of California, Davis, University of Haifa
Topics & keywords
- Locus (genetics)
- Senescence
- Biology
- Zinc
- Gene
- Allele
- Wheat grain
- Quantitative trait locus
- Zero hunger