Phenological growth stages of Brachypodium distachyon: codification and description

Abstract

Hong S‐Y, Park J‐H, Cho S‐H, Yang M‐S & Park C‐M (2011). Phenological growth stages of Brachypodium distachyon: codification and description. Weed Research51, 612–620. Summary Brachypodium distachyon is being used as a new model monocotyledon for grass crop research and bioenergy grass biotechnology. With the recent completion of the full genome sequencing project, one of the next major challenges is to determine the functional activities of many genes. In an attempt to aid the rapid determination of gene function in crop plants, a high throughput phenotypic analysis system has been established through phenological analyses of a series of defined growth stages. The codification follows the BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemische Industrie) scale, a numerical system that differentiates between principal and secondary growth stages from seed germination to flower head emergence and seed ripening. We present here analyses of the phenological development stages of B. distachyon to illustrate a methodological framework that can be used to identify and interpret phenotypic differences derived from genetic variations and environmental stress responses in this plant species. This scale may greatly contribute to the B. distachyon research in the future, particularly to functional determination of genes that mediate biomass productivity. It may also serve as a suitable tool for defining the growth stages of other grass species.

Recreating Stable Brachypodium hybridum Allotetraploids by Uniting the Divergent Genomes of B. distachyon and B. stacei

“…The two synthetic allotetraploids exhibited similar morphology during the early stages of leaf development and tillering (as defined by [68] (Fig 5A). However, they showed differences in stem elongation.…”

Silicon affects seed development and leaf macrohair formation in Brachypodium distachyon

“…The plants cultivated in soil were additionally supplemented with 1.5 m M Si in the form of sodium metasilicate mixed into the nutrient solution. Plants were harvested at the stage corresponding to the BBCH scale developmental stages of ripening (BBCH 85‐89) (Hong et al ) and subdivided into: (1) leaf blades and sheaths, (2) stems and (3) spikelets (bracts and seeds). A total of 15 plants, sampled as 3 pools of 5 plants, were harvested for each treatment and the material was frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80°C.…”

Cell wall composition throughout development for the model grass Brachypodium distachyon

“…After 12 days, plants were transferred to a greenhouse maintained at 25–35°C, supplemented with Na-lamp light for a total average photon flux of 270 μmol s −1 m −2 for a 20-h light cycle, and grown to either of the two most mature developmental stages for tissue collection. The two mature developmental stages correspond to the BBCH-scale developmental stages of expanding inflorescence/heading (BBCH stage range 57–61) and seed fill (BBCH stage range 69–75; Hack et al, 1992; Hong et al, 2011). Under our growth conditions, heading occurred after approximately 3 weeks and seed fill after 4.5–5 weeks in the greenhouse.…”

“…The plant developmental maturities used correspond to Biologische B undesanstalt, B undessortenamt und CH emische Industrie (BBCH)-scale developmental stages of (1) expanding inflorescence/heading (BBCH stage range 57–61; “expanding”) and (2) seed fill (BBCH stage range 69–75; “mature”; Hack et al, 1992; Hong et al, 2011). Cell wall analyses were performed on (3) 12-day-old seedlings to complement earlier studies (Christensen et al, 2010).…”