Bio Briefs

Posted By

Matt Nelson

Recent Posts on This Topic | See All >

Nov 16, 2009
Research-icon-large

Regulation of Early Endosperm Development in Maize

Tags: bioargiculture, genomics, university of arizona

[Source: UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences] - The starchy endosperm in cereal grains supplies more than 50 percent of the calories in the human diet worldwide and serves as raw material for many industrial products. Yet not much is known about the earliest stages of the endosperm's development, when critical genetic processes can influence a grain crop's yield, nutritional content, milling properties and other traits that affect its biological and economic value.

Using maize as a model, scientists and students at the University of Arizona, the University of Utah, Central Michigan University and New College of Florida will identify the gene networks that control endosperm development and function during the first eight to 10 days after pollination.

The National Science Foundation has granted $4.93 million for the five-year project, with the University of Arizona as the lead institution.

For more information: Regulation of Early Endosperm Development in Maize