New gene could be a step closer to developing perennial rice

A gene that enables annual plants to continue growing after flowering could be a step closer to developing perennial rice, wheat, and other staples.

Discovered by scientists at the Institute of Biology Leiden, the AHL15 gene determines whether growing points of a plant will remain vegetative after flowering instead of dying and enter into new reproductive phases.

Practical applications of the AHL15 gene include modifying annual crops like rice to produce several yields without replanting.

Read the full story at PhysOrg.

More information on the role of genes in improving rice:

• Bacterial blight-resistance gene discovered in wild rice from South America
• New gene metrics eliminate hit-or-miss in emerging rice breeding technologies
• Gene discovery leads way to more rice