Brachypodium distachyon
Encyclopedia
Brachypodium distachyon, commonly called purple false brome, is a grass
species
native to southern Europe
, northern Africa
and southwestern Asia
east to India
. It is related to the major cereal grain species wheat
, barley
, oats
, maize
, rice
, rye
, sorghum
, and millet
. It has many qualities that make it an excellent model organism
for functional genomics
research in temperate grasses, cereals, and dedicated biofuel crops such as switchgrass
. These attributes include small genome
(~270 Mbp) diploid accessions, a series of polyploid accessions, a small physical stature, self-fertility, a short lifecycle, simple growth requirements, and an efficient transformation system. The genome of Brachypodium distachyon (diploid inbred line Bd21)has been sequenced and published in Nature on 11 February 2010. Full text of the paper can be found at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7282/full/nature08747.html#a43
for understanding the genetic
, cellular
and molecular biology
of temperate grasses. The relatively small size of its genome
makes it useful for genetic mapping and sequencing
. At about 272 million base pairs and with five chromosome
s, it has a small genome for a grass species. Brachypodium distachyons small size and rapid life cycle are also advantages. For early-flowering accessions it takes about three weeks from germination to flower (under an appropriate inductive photoperiod). The small size of some accessions makes it convenient for cultivation in a small space. As a weed
it grows easily without specialized growing conditions.
Brachypodium is emerging as a powerful model with a growing research community. The International Brachypodium Initiative (IBI) held its first genomics meeting and workshop at the PAG XIV conference in San Diego, California
in January 2006. The goal of the IBI is to promote the development of B. distachyon as a model system and will develop and distribute genomic, genetic, and bioinformatics
resources such as reference genotypes, BAC libraries, genetic markers, mapping populations, and a genome sequence database. Recently, efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems have been developed for a range of Brachypodium genotypes enabling the development of T-DNA mutant collections.. The characterization and distribution of T-DNA insertion lines has been initiated to facilitate the understanding of gene function in grasses. Besides researchers already working with B. distachyon, other plant research communities will benefit from the availability of these resources. Researchers also are hopeful that Brachypodium may one day unlock the mystery behind biofuels. Using Brachypodium as a model organism, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service
have developed a successful method to insert genes into the plant and hope to use this method to break down the plant’s cell wall in order to produce the necessary ethanol from the cellulosic biomass. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100210.htm
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
native to southern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, northern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and southwestern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
east to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is related to the major cereal grain species wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, oats
OATS
OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology Software - is a source code repository or "forge" for assistive technology software. It was launched in 2006 with the goal to provide a one-stop “shop” for end users, clinicians and open-source developers to promote and develop open source assistive...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, and millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
. It has many qualities that make it an excellent model organism
Model organism
A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Model organisms are in vivo models and are widely used to...
for functional genomics
Functional genomics
Functional genomics is a field of molecular biology that attempts to make use of the vast wealth of data produced by genomic projects to describe gene functions and interactions...
research in temperate grasses, cereals, and dedicated biofuel crops such as switchgrass
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum, commonly known as switchgrass, is a perennial warm season bunchgrass native to North America, where it occurs naturally from 55°N latitude in Canada southwards into the United States and Mexico...
. These attributes include small genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
(~270 Mbp) diploid accessions, a series of polyploid accessions, a small physical stature, self-fertility, a short lifecycle, simple growth requirements, and an efficient transformation system. The genome of Brachypodium distachyon (diploid inbred line Bd21)has been sequenced and published in Nature on 11 February 2010. Full text of the paper can be found at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7282/full/nature08747.html#a43
Model organism
Although Brachypodium distachyon has little or no direct agricultural significance, it has several advantages as an experimental model organismModel organism
A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Model organisms are in vivo models and are widely used to...
for understanding the genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, cellular
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
and molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
of temperate grasses. The relatively small size of its genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
makes it useful for genetic mapping and sequencing
Sequencing
In genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure of an unbranched biopolymer...
. At about 272 million base pairs and with five chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s, it has a small genome for a grass species. Brachypodium distachyons small size and rapid life cycle are also advantages. For early-flowering accessions it takes about three weeks from germination to flower (under an appropriate inductive photoperiod). The small size of some accessions makes it convenient for cultivation in a small space. As a weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
it grows easily without specialized growing conditions.
Brachypodium is emerging as a powerful model with a growing research community. The International Brachypodium Initiative (IBI) held its first genomics meeting and workshop at the PAG XIV conference in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in January 2006. The goal of the IBI is to promote the development of B. distachyon as a model system and will develop and distribute genomic, genetic, and bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
resources such as reference genotypes, BAC libraries, genetic markers, mapping populations, and a genome sequence database. Recently, efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation systems have been developed for a range of Brachypodium genotypes enabling the development of T-DNA mutant collections.. The characterization and distribution of T-DNA insertion lines has been initiated to facilitate the understanding of gene function in grasses. Besides researchers already working with B. distachyon, other plant research communities will benefit from the availability of these resources. Researchers also are hopeful that Brachypodium may one day unlock the mystery behind biofuels. Using Brachypodium as a model organism, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
have developed a successful method to insert genes into the plant and hope to use this method to break down the plant’s cell wall in order to produce the necessary ethanol from the cellulosic biomass. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100210.htm
External links
- www.brachypodium.org - The Brachypodium distachyon Information Resource
- www.brachybase.org - The Brachypodium distachyon genome browser and annotation database
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Brachypodium distachyon
- THE INTERNATIONAL BRACHYPODIUM INITIATIVE
- Brachypodium distachyon Genomics Workshop
- Inbred Brachypodium distachyon Lines and Genetic Resources
- Mazama Technologies, Inc. - a plant biotechnology company in Corvallis, OR USA that is using Brachypodium distachyon to discover trait genes for crops.
- BrachyTAG – Understanding genes in Brachypodium to unlock the potential of cereal crops and biomass grasses for food and energy.