set reproductive biologists of KeyGene identified a DNA part from dandelion that is substantive for apomixis , the process that enables plant to clonally form seeds without fertilisation . This breakthrough in apomixes research was reported in a paper in the Special Issue of the diary Genes on the ' Molecular Basis of Apomixis in works ' .
Introducing apomixis into a wide range of commercial crop will radically commute industrial plant genteelness and seed production . crop that possess apomixis can take shape seeds without dressing . cum from such plant have exactly the same genetic make - up as the female parent plant that produces them . This leave the easy propagation of gamy give intercrossed variety that are vital to run a apace growing world universe .
While plant breeders have been extremely motivated to breed apomixis into any craw , for over twenty class there has been limited molecular understanding of the gene that see apomixis , despite a lot of inquiry efforts in both academe and commercially . To understand the apomixis outgrowth KeyGene scientists chose to focalise on dandelion , a uncouth lawn green goddess . An early groundbreaking success of the team was the cloning of the DIP gene , the only gene known to verify diplospory and the vital first measure in apomixis .
In their new publication , the squad made a breakthrough in empathise the 2d crucial step , parthenogenesis , which is the lineal formation of an conceptus from an unfertilised ballock . The squad describe a region of the dandelion ’s DNA where genes may be place that control parthenogenesis that they named the PAR locus . To do this , they made crosses with agamic plants that resulted in progeny with and without the PAR locale . Much to the team ’s surprisal , dandelion plants without the crucial PAR locus were still capable to autonomously form endosperm , a seed tissue usually produce by fertilization that curb the nutrients which enable seeds to germinate .
While it is still a mystery how dandelion control autonomous endosperm formation , rule the locus controlling parthenogenesis is important for further research on apomixis and for the succeeding practical app of apomixis to crop .
“ The identification of the PAR locale is a major step towards the molecular identification of the parthenogenesis factor in dandelion . Having the power to cover DIP and PAR into plants cause KeyGene that much closer to bring in apomixis in major crops , one of the most important technical challenges in all of agriculture , ” said Dr Peter van Dijk , first author of the scientific paper . “ Enabling the usage of high yielding hybrids in all crops will go a long way in ensure that there is enough good for you food for the entire world for generations to come . ”
