Norwich, United Kingdom
September 29, 2016
Dr Scott Boden, research fellow at the John Innes Centre, has been awarded a 5 year University Research Fellowship from the Royal Society, commencing in October 2016.
Dr Boden’s research will aim to improve our understanding of the processes that regulate the architecture of the wheat ear, called the ‘inflorescence’. The wheat ears contain numerous flowers that are an essential component in the production of grains. The outcomes of the research will inform future research into modifying wheat inflorescence architecture to improve yield.
The University Research Fellowship scheme aims to provide outstanding early career scientists, who have the potential to become leaders in their chosen fields, with the opportunity to build an independent research career. Many former University Research Fellows have gone on to enjoy significant national or international recognition for their work.
Dr Boden said, ‘I feel very privileged to be awarded this Royal Society University Research Fellowship, and am excited about the opportunities the Fellowship provides to develop my research. I am very grateful that the Royal Society is supporting the investigation of fundamental biology in wheat, as it has the potential to deliver yield benefits for this staple crop. ’
Very little is known about the processes that control inflorescence development in wheat. This is in part because wheat has some unique developmental features compared to other cereal crops, and because of the limited genetic resources that were traditionally available to wheat researchers. However, with the recent generation of a whole genome sequence for wheat, and the development of unprecedented mutant populations, it is now possible to perform advanced genetic analysis of important traits in wheat, such as inflorescence development.
This research will increase our understanding of molecular pathways that determine inflorescence architecture in wheat. It will also give Dr Boden and his team an important insight into general biological processes, such as the strategies used by plants to determine how available resources can be best used for seed production.
The project has great potential to deliver the biological understanding we need to significantly increase wheat grain production. It will expand our current knowledge of the critical stages of development that can be modified to optimize grain production, flower fertility, and resilience to abiotic stresses. It is hoped that Dr Boden’s research will be able to supply breeders with new genetic resources that will increase the number of flowers available for grain production.
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