Plant Science Innovation, Center for

 

MSH1-Induced Non-Genetic Variation Provides a Source of Phenotypic Diversity in Sorghum bicolor

Roberto de la Rosa Santamaria, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Mon-Ray Shao, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Guomei Wang, Chesterfield Village Research Center
David O. Nino-Liu, Chesterfield Village Research Center
Hardik Kundariya, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Yashitola Wamboldt, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Ismail Dweikat, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sally Ann MacKenzie, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Document Type Article

Copyright 2014 de la Rosa Santamaria et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Abstract

MutS Homolog 1 (MSH1) encodes a plant-specific protein that functions in mitochondria and chloroplasts. We showed previously that disruption or suppression of the MSH1 gene results in a process of developmental reprogramming that is heritable and non-genetic in subsequent generations. In Arabidopsis, this developmental reprogramming process is accompanied by striking changes in gene expression of organellar and stress response genes. This developmentally reprogrammed state, when used in crossing, results in a range of variation for plant growth potential. Here we investigate the implications of MSH1 modulation in a crop species. We found that MSH1-mediated phenotypic variation in Sorghum bicolor is heritable and potentially valuable for crop breeding. We observed phenotypic variation for grain yield, plant height, flowering time, panicle architecture, and above-ground biomass. Focusing on grain yield and plant height, we found some lines that appeared to respond to selection. Based on amenability of this system to implementation in a range of crops, and the scope of phenotypic variation that is derived, our results suggest that MSH1 suppression provides a novel approach for breeding in crops.