Scientists Discover Gene for Dev't of Lettuce for Hot Weather

Scientists at University of California, Davis, discovered the lettuce gene and the enzyme responsible for halting germination during hot weather. This study could lead to the development of lettuces that can better germinate and grow to maturity grow anytime of the year, even at high temperatures.

The researchers studied the genetics of lettuce to comprehend the temperature-related mechanisms involved in seed germination. This led them tothe region in chromosome six of a wild ancestor of commercialized lettuce varieties which can germinate in warm temperatures. Further genetic mapping led them to a particular gene responsible for the production to the plant hormone known as abscisic acid. This hormone inhibits seed germination. The identified gene is activated in most lettuce seeds when exposed to warm temperature, but is inactive in the wild ancestor, thus abscisic acid is not produced.

The team of researchers is also composed of experts from Arcadia Biosciences and Archaya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University based in India.

Read more at http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10546.