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SUMMARY:The role of gibberellins in the control of bolting and flowering i
 n sugar beet  - Helen Holmes
DTSTART:20130613T150000Z
DTEND:20130613T153000Z
UID:TALK44302@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Megan Cooper
DESCRIPTION:Half of the UK’s sugar demand is met by domestic supply from
  sugar beet. Field-grown sugar beet varieties are long day biennials and h
 ave an obligate requirement for vernalization (prolonged exposure to cold 
 temperatures) to induce reproductive development. The UK commercial crop i
 s spring-sown\, and vegetative roots\, which contain up to 19% sugar\, are
  harvested the following autumn and winter. Plants can become vernalized i
 n cool springs\, resulting in bolting (the stem extension which precedes f
 lowering) with reduced sugar yields. One tall bolter per square metre redu
 ces yield by up to 11% due to shading and competition. Understanding the g
 enetic control of the beet vernalization requirement and bolting can enabl
 e development of bolting resistant varieties that can be sown earlier in s
 pring\, or in autumn\, allowing flexibility of farm management and greater
  yields. Important sugar beet flowering genes have been identified\, but t
 he role of gibberellin (GA) in control of bolting\, flowering\, or both pr
 ocesses has not been defined. The amount of bioactive GAs at the beet shoo
 t apex increases after vernalization\, and GA deficiency causes late bolti
 ng and sterility. Exogenous GA induces bolt elongation in biennial types i
 n non-inductive short day photoperiods\, but only after vernalization. The
  mechanism of this block on the response to GA is unknown\, but has great 
 potential to be harnessed for bolting resistant varieties. Using transcrip
 tomics\, qRT-PCR\, in-situ hybridization and morphological studies\, we ar
 e investigating the role of GA in bolting and flowering in beet. The wider
  impact of our research is being considered by investigating how earlier s
 pring or autumn sowing of bolting resistant varieties would change future 
 farm practice.
LOCATION:Biffen Lecture Theater\, Department of Genetics
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