Abstract
Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv. is a temperate wild grass species; its morphological and genomic characteristics make it a model system when compared to many other grass species. It has a small genome, short growth cycle, self-fertility, many diploid accessions, and simple growth requirements. In addition, it is phylogenetically close to economically important crops, like wheat and barley, and several potential biofuel grasses. It exhibits agricultural traits similar to those of these target crops. For cereal genomes, it is a better model than Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa (rice), the former used as a model for all flowering plants and the latter hitherto used as model for genomes of all temperate grass species including major cereals like barley and wheat. Increasing interest in this species has resulted in the development of a series of genomics resources, including nuclear sequences and BAC/EST libraries, together with the collection and characterization of other genetic resources. It is expected that the use of this model will allow rapid advances in generation of genomics information for the improvement of all temperate crops, particularly the cereals.
Highlights
This study revealed structural uniformity of the diploid accessions ABR1 and ABR5, confirming their status as model genotypes, from which two BAC libraries have recently been prepared for functional genomics analysis [23]
The large and complex genomes of some members of the tribe are a main constraint for genomics research within this tribe, which would be greatly facilitated with the availability of a suitable model species like B. distachyon
With the small genome size and simple growth requirements, Brachypodium provides us with a genome, which is a model for in-depth understanding of functional genomics of temperate grass genome
Summary
Beauv (from the Greek brachys “short” and podion “a little foot,” referring to its subsessile spikelets, [1]) is a genus representing some temperate wild grass species. Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv., described as “purple false broom,” has recently emerged as a new model plant for the diverse and economically important group of temperate grasses and herbaceous energy crops [2]. Temperate crops such as wheat, barley, and forage grasses are the basis for the food and feed supply. The present status of genomics research conducted in this model grass species is briefly summarized in this review
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