<i>ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM 2</i> encodes a STERILE ALPHA MOTIF–containing protein that controls root growth angle in barley and wheat
Gwendolyn K. Kirschner, Serena Rosignoli, Li Guo, Isaia Vardanega, Jafargholi Imani, Janine Altmüller, Sara G. Milner, Raffaella Balzano, Kerstin Nagel, Daniel Pflugfelder, Cristian Forestan, Riccardo Bovina, Robert Koller, Tyll Stöcker, Martin Mascher, James Simmonds, Cristóbal Uauy, Heiko Schoof, Roberto Tuberosa, Silvio Salvi, Frank Hochholdinger
Abstract
Significance To date, the potential of utilizing root traits in plant breeding remains largely untapped. In this study, we cloned and characterized the ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM2 ( EGT2 ) gene of barley that encodes a STERILE ALPHA MOTIF domain–containing protein. We demonstrated that EGT2 is a key gene of root growth angle regulation in response to gravity, which is conserved in barley and wheat and could be a promising target for crop improvement in cereals.