Coordinator's report: Semidwarf genes

J.D. Franckowiak

Department of Plant Sciences
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND 58105, U.S.A.

The collection of barley semidwarf accessions is highly variable and has few set criteria for inclusion and exclusion of specific lines. The primary restriction is that the mutants are viable in homozygous stocks. A list of the accessions and mutants included in the semidwarf collection has been published with a little phenotypic information (Pecio and Franckowiak 1992). The mutant genes in some accessions has been well characterized and assigned gene and locus symbols [see individual BGS descriptions in Davis et al. (1997)]. Some attempts were made to conduct allelism tests among accessions (Franckowiak, 1992) and to group the accessions into phenotypic groups (Franckowiak, 1995a).

However, phenotypic classification of the accessions is difficult because some mutants affect expression of more than one characteristic and the level of expression may be altered by the genetic background and environmental factors. The accessions were crossed to a common parent, the two- rowed cultivar Bowman, to study the inheritance of the mutant genes. In many F2 progenies, it was difficult identify a simply inherited mutant phenotype because the parents varied for maturity and plant height genes. When possible, plants that exhibited anticipated mutant characteristics were harvested from F2 progenies. In the next generation, a representative plant from each accession was crossed again to Bowman. Because the mutant phenotype could not identified in some accessions and the number of accessions was relatively large, only a portion of the accessions were repeatedly backcrossed to Bowman.

Those accessions that showed distinct phenotypic characteristics were placed in the Barley Genetics Stocks Collection held at the USDA-ARS National Small Grains Germplasm Research Facility, Aberdeen ID and assigned GSHO numbers. The Bowman backcross-derived lines for some accessions were also forwarded to the USDA-ARS station at Aberdeen and assigned GSHO numbers. Barley Genetic Stock (BGS) descriptions have been published for some semidwarf genes (Davis et al. 1997) and the internet at http://wheat.pw.usda.gov/ggpages/bgn or through the AMBA internet site http://www.ambainc.org/index.htm.

The semidwarf collection also contains many mutants that have not been assigned gene or locus symbols. Since barley workers now use a three letter coding system for gene symbols (Linde- Laursen 1997), some older symbols need to be replaced. The new gene symbols suggested for some accessions are based on a grouping of mutants into phenotypic similar classes (Table 1).

The compositum (com) group of mutants exhibit various degrees of branching or multiple spikelet formation in the lower half of the spike, but most have normal culm length. The many noded dwarf (mnd) mutants produce more than the normal number of elongated culm internodes and may be shorter or taller than Bowman. The slender dwarf (sld) group of mutants have short, slender culms and reduced vigor. The brachytic (brh) group of mutants have a short seedling leaf, reduced culm length, and short awns; and often semicompact spikes, short anthers, and round kernels. Two breviaristatum (ari) mutants, ari-i.138 and ari-l.3, are alleles at the brh1 (Kucera et al. 1975) and brh2 (Franckowiak, 1995a) loci, respectively. Several other breviaristatum and erectoides (ert) mutants that show a brachytic growth pattern in their Bowman backcross-derived lines are listed (Table 1).

Since a large collection of erectoides (ert) mutants exists (Persson and Hagberg 1969) and their phenotypes partially overlap those of the semidwarf accessions, identification of new loci would be difficult. To reduce the number of allelism tests required, the gene symbols Zeo, pyr, and dsp are suggested for the continuous array of mutants that have reduced rachis internode lengths. The zeocriton (Zeo) mutants have very compact spikes with a dominant or incomplete dominant inheritance pattern. They are named after a zeocriton (small barley, Zeo2.c) phenotype described in the early barley literature. The pyramidatum (pyr) mutants have shorter rachis internodes near the base of the spike than near the tip. The pyr mutants show incomplete dominant or recessive inheritance patterns. The dense spike (dsp) mutants have semicompact spikes and show a recessive inheritance pattern. Since the donor parents for many mutants have slightly denser spikes than those of Bowman, it is possible that one or more of Bowman backcross-derived lines for the dsp mutants could have a dense spike gene from the original stock.

Semidwarf mutants that do not show conspicuous deviations from normal, except for culm length, are a large phenotypic group to be assigned gene symbols. The name semidwarf and basic locus symbol sdw are suggested. The sdw1.d gene from Diamont and the sdw1.a from Jotun are the semidwarf genes most widely used by barley breeders.

During backcrossing to Bowman, the mutant phenotype in a few accessions was observed to show an association with specific morphological markers of the donor. Since these associations did not appear to be pleiotropic effects, linkage drag was assumed to have occurred (Franckowiak 1995b). This information was used to suggest that certain mutants are associated with specific chromosomes (Table 1).

Table 1. List of suggested allele symbols for mutant genes in selected accessions from the barley semidwarf collection.

Allele
sym. 		Locus name Mutant no. Original
cultivar 		Collection no. BGS/DWS Crs1 Chr.2
com1.a Compositum 1 lax 270 Foma GSHO 1702 BGS 473 7 5HL
com2.f Compositum 2 Mut 2201 Donaria BGS 71 2HS
com2.g Compositum 2 Mult. spike CIMMYT Mut. GSHO 1703 BGS 71 8 2HS
com3.h Compositum 3 lax 257 Foma GSHO 1704 DWS1321 4
com.i Compositum i lax 296 Foma GSHO 1699 DWS1325 3
com.j Compositum j Mut 3165 Donaria GSHO 1701 DWS1342 3
com.k Compositum k Mut 3906 Donaria GSHO 1700 com.k 7
mnd1.a Many noded dwarf 1 CI 2328 Mesa GSHO 253 BGS 519 9 4HS
mnd3.d Many noded dwarf 3 Chr 2 Mult. Rec. Chr 2 Mult. Rec. GSHO 1797 DWS1347 7 3H?
mnd4.e Many noded dwarf 4 OUM168 Akashinriki GSHO 1798 DWS1048 7 5HL
mnd.f Many noded dwarf f UT1713-1 UT1731 GSHO 1796 DWS1357 4
den.6 Densinodosum 6 den 6 Bonus GSHO 1713 NGB115363 5
sld1.a Slender dwarf 1 OUM148-uz Akashinriki GSHO 2488 BGS 126 7 3HL
sld1.a + uz Slender dwarf 1 OUM148 Akashinriki GSHO 2489 BGS 126 8 3HL
sld2.b Slender dwarf 2 OUM142 Akashinriki GSHO 2491 BGS 83 5 2HS
sld1.c Slender dwarf 1 862PK Plena GSHO 2490 BGS 126 7 3HL
sld.d Slender dwarf d 80-T-5899-2 Glacier GSHO 2479 DWS1368 6 2HS
sld.e Slender dwarf e ANT567 Manker GSHO 2480 DWS1050 7 4HS
sld.f Slender dwarf f OB165 Glenn GSHO 2481 DWS1240 7 4HS
sld.g Slender dwarf g XV2334-6R Indian Dwarf GSHO 2482 DWS1238 4
sld.h Slender dwarf h XV2334-6R Indian Dwarf GSHO 2483 DWS1238 6 3HS
sld.i Slender dwarf i I89-285-2 Wis 38/Bow GSHO 2484 sld.i 4
sld.j Slender dwarf j SA4114-2-4 Glenn GSHO 2485 DWS1062 6
sld.k Slender dwarf k SA4117-2-1 Glenn GSHO 2486 DWS1063 4
sld.l Slender dwarf l lax 231 Foma GSHO 2487 DWS1313 3
brh1.a Brachytic 1 br1 Himalaya GSHO 25 BGS 1 7 7HS
brh2.b Brachytic 2 br2 Svanhals GSHO 573 BGS 157 6 4HL
ari-i.38 Brachytic 1 ari-i.38 Bonus GSHO 1657 BGS 1 6 7HS
brh1.e Brachytic 1 O35AR Aramir GSHO 1690 BGS 1 7 7HS
ari-l.3 Brachytic 2 ari-l.3 Bonus GSHO 1660 BGS 157 7 4HL
ari-m.28 Breviaristatum-m ari-m.28 Bonus GSHO 1661 BGS 554 6
ari-o.40 Breviaristatum-o ari-o.40 Bonus GSHO 1663 BGS 556 6
ari-r.14 Breviaristatum-r ari-r.14 Bonus GSHO 1666 BGS 559 6
ert-t.55 Erectoides-t ert-t.55 Bonus GSHO 494 BGS 566 6
ert-za.102 Erectoides-za ert-za.102 Bonus GSHO 501 BGS 571 6
ert-zd.159 Erectoides-zd ert-zd.159 Bonus GSHO 504 BGS 93 7 2H
brh.g Brachytic g 17:10:1 Birgitta GSHO 1672 DWS1002 7
brh.h Brachytic h 17:11:3 Birgitta GSHO 1673 DWS1003 2
brh.i Brachytic i 17:12:1 Birgitta GSHO 1674 DWS1004 6
brh.j Brachytic j 17:13:6 Birgitta GSHO 1675 DWS1005 7 5HL
brh.k Brachytic k 17:14:4 Birgitta GSHO 1676 DWS1006 5
brh.l Brachytic l 17:15:2 Birgitta GSHO 1677 DWS1007 7
brh.m Brachytic m 17:18:2 Birgitta GSHO 1678 DWS1010 6 4HS
brh.n Brachytic n 17:19:2 Birgitta GSHO 1679 DWS1011 5
brh.o Brachytic o 17:20:2 Birgitta GSHO 1680 DWS1012 5
brh.p Brachytic p 18:02:4 Birgitta GSHO 1681 DWS1013 4
brh.q Brachytic q OUM131 Akashinriki GSHO 1682 DWS1035 5
brh.r Brachytic r OUM133 Akashinriki GSHO 1683 DWS1036 6 5HL
brh.s Brachytic s OUM135 Akashinriki GSHO 1684 DWS1037 7 5HL
brh1.t Brachytic 1 OUM136 Akashinriki GSHO 1691 BGS 1 7 7HS
brh.u Brachytic u 409JK GSHO 1685 DWS1156 5
brh.v Brachytic v HE2816 GSHO 1686 DWS1176 6
brh.w Brachytic w 7101 Volla GSHO 1687 DWS1211 5 3HS
brh1.x Brachytic 1 7125 Volla GSHO 1692 BGS 1 7 7HS
brh.y Brachytic y 10001 Bido GSHO 1688 DWS1230 5 2HS
brh.z Brachytic z Hja80001 Aapo GSHO 1689 DWS1246 5 7HS
brh.aa Brachytic aa Hja80051 Hja80001 cross GSHO 1668 DWS1247 4
brh.ab Brachytic ab Wa14355-83 Morex GSHO 1669 DWS1260 4
brh.ac Brachytic ac 402B mo6/4 *Triumph GSHO 1670 DWS1277 4
brh.ad Brachytic ad 17:16:1 Birgitta GSHO 1671 DWS1008 8 3HS
brh1.ae Brachytic 1 FN53 Steptoe FN53 4 7HS
Zeo1.a Zeocriton 1 Mut 2657 Donaria GSHO 1613 BGS 82 7 2HL
Zeo1.b Zeocriton 1 Wolfe's M.D. GSHO 1614 BGS 82 9 2HL
Zeo2.c Zeocriton 2 36Ab51 36Ab51 GSHO 637 2
Zeo.d Zeocriton d MSS361 P11 GSHO 1608 DWS1354 4
Zeo.e Zeocriton e HE902-1 Rubin GSHO 1609 DWS1169 5
Zeo.f Zeocriton f 18:15:41 Birgitta GSHO 1610 DWS1026 7 5HL
Pyr.g Pyramidatum g Hja64202 Hja80001 cross GSHO 1581 DWS1242 6 7HS
Zeo.h Zeocriton h Wa11094-81 Morex GSHO 1611 DWS1259 6 4HS
Zeo.j Zeocriton j SA121-4-5 Glenn GSHO 1612 DWS1053 7 2H?
Pyr.i Pyramidatum i Hja79010 Pokko GSHO 1582 DWS1243 7 3HS
dsp1.a Dense spike 1 MN1111 Honen 6 GSHO 1232 BGS 9 7 7HS
dsp9.i Dense spike 9 OUM113 Akashinriki GSHO 1774 BGS 258 7 6HL
dsp10.c Dense spike 10 Club Mariout Mariout GSHO 71 BGS 111 5 3HS
pyr.aa Pyramidatum aa Betzes erect Betzes GSHO 2431 DWS1252 4
dsp.ab Dense spike ab Mut 2663 Donaria GSHO 1715 DWS1178 7 1H
dsp.ac Dense spike ac Mut 2654 Donaria GSHO 1716 DWS1341 5
pyr.ad Pyramidatum ad Mut 4009 Haisa GSHO 2432 DWS1344 5
dsp.ae Dense spike ae Mut 4014 Haisa GSHO 1717 DWS1179 4
pyr.af Pyramidatum af Mut 4158 Haisa GSHO 1718 DWS1345 5 5HL
dsp.ag Dense spike ag Mut 4551 Haisa GSHO 1719 DWS1180 4
dsp.ah Dense spike ah Mut 4841 Haisa DWS1180 5
pyr.ai Pyramidatum ai 18:08:4 6-rowed GSHO 2433 DWS1018 6
dsp.aj Dense spike aj 18:08:4 6-rowed GSHO 1720 DWS1019 5
dsp.ak Dense spike ak 18:09:3 Birgitta GSHO 1721 DWS1020 7 7HS
pyr.al Pyramidatum al 18:13:2 Birgitta GSHO 2434 DWS1024 4
dsp.am Dense spike am OUM70 Akashinriki GSHO 1722 OUM070 4
dsp.an Dense spike an OUM105 Akashinriki DWS1032 3
dsp.ao Dense spike ao OUM125 Akashinriki GSHO 1723 DWS1034 5 1H
dsp.ap Dense spike ap 7112 Volla GSHO 1724 DWS1215 4
dsp.aq Dense spike aq 7113 Volla GSHO 1725 DWS1216 5
dsp.ar Dense spike ar 7114 Volla GSHO 1726 DWS1217 7 3HS
dsp.as Dense spike as 7116 Volla DWS1219 2
dsp.at Dense spike at 7117 Volla GSHO 1727 DWS1220 5
dsp.au Dense spike au 10002 Bido GSHO 1728 DWS1231 4
pyr.av Pyramidatum av Hja79588 Pokko GSHO 2435 DWS1245 3
pyr.aw Pyramidatum aw Hja80089 Hja80001 cross GSHO 2436 DWS1249 7 1H
dsp.ax Dense spike ax CIho 6880 CIho 6880 DWS1251 4
dsp.ay Dense spike ay Wa11005-81 Wa9037-75 GSHO 1729 DWS1256 3
dsp.az Dense spike az Wa16228-85 Hazen DWS1274 4
dsp.ba Dense spike ba UT1731 UT1731 GSHO 1730 DWS1357 6
dsp.bb Dense spike bb Az34 Steptoe Az34 3
sdw1.a Semidwarf 1 Jotun derv. Jotun GSHO 1414 BGS 518 8 3H
sdw2.b Semidwarf 2 437MG MG4170 GSHO 2466 BGS 133 7 3HL
sdw1.d Semidwarf 1 Triumph Diamont GSHO 2465 BGS 518 5 3HL
sdw.f Semidwarf f Betina Vada GSHO 2449 DWS1165 4
sdw.g Semidwarf g 18:04:1 Birgitta GSHO 2450 DWS1015 3
sdw.h Semidwarf h 18:06:3 Birgitta GSHO 2451 DWS1017 5
sdw.i Semidwarf i 18:11:4 Birgitta GSHO 2452 DWS1022 4
sdw.j Semidwarf j OUM073 Akashinriki GSHO 2453 DWS1030 7 7HS
sdw.k Semidwarf k OUM097 Akashinriki GSHO 2454 DWS1031 5
sdw.l Semidwarf l OUM145 Akashinriki GSHO 2455 DWS1041 5
sdw.m Semidwarf m OUM155 Akashinriki GSHO 2456 DWS1044 4
sdw.n Semidwarf n OUM158 Akashinriki GSHO 2457 DWS1045 4
sdw.o Semidwarf o Morex Dwarf Morex GSHO 2458 DWS1049 4
sdw.p Semidwarf p A210-2-2-1 Glenn GSHO 2459 DWS1052 5
sdw.q Semidwarf q SA1109-2-1 Glenn GSHO 2460 DWS1055 4
sdw.r Semidwarf r SA3108-2-4 Glenn GSHO 2461 DWS1060 3
sdw.s Semidwarf s SA5113-2-3-6 Glenn DWS1066 3
sdw.t Semidwarf t SA5115-2-3-1 Glenn DWS1068 4
sdw.u Semidwarf u SA6102-2-4 Glenn GSHO 2462 DWS1072 5 4HS
sdw.v Semidwarf v SA6103-2-10 Glenn DWS1073 2
sdw.w Semidwarf w 392JK DWS1155 5
sdw.x Semidwarf x 392JK/Bow GSHO 2463 DWS1155 6
sdw.y Semidwarf y 421JK GSHO 2464 DWS1157 5
sdw.z Semidwarf z 555DK DWS1158 2
sdw.aa Semidwarf aa M-63-HE607 Spartan DWS1170 1
sdw.ab Semidwarf ab KM-1053-20 Diamont cross GSHO 2440 DWS1173 5
sdw.ac Semidwarf ac 7004 Volla DWS1170 5
sdw.ad Semidwarf ad 7015 Volla DWS1193 3
sdw.ae Semidwarf ae 7044 Volla DWS1198 4
sdw.af Semidwarf af 7052 Volla DWS1202 4
sdw.ag Semidwarf ag 7055 Volla GSHO 2441 DWS1203 4
sdw.ah Semidwarf ah 7063 Volla GSHO 2442 DWS1208 7 5HL
sdw.ai Semidwarf ai 7177A Volla DWS1229 5
sdw.aj Semidwarf aj HJA80075 Hja80001 cross DWS1248 3
sdw.ak Semidwarf ak Wa11048-81 Wa9044-75 DWS1256 1
sdw.al Semidwarf al Wa11094-81 Morex DWS1258 5
sdw.am Semidwarf am Wa14367-83 Manker DWS1261 4
sdw.an Semidwarf an Wa14369-83 Larker GSHO 2443 DWS1262 4
sdw.ap Semidwarf ap Wa14389-83 Harrington DWS1265 2
sdw.aq Semidwarf aq Wa14387-83 Norbert DWS1264 3
sdw.ar Semidwarf ar Wa14351-83 Morex DWS1272 2
sdw.as Semidwarf as Wa16235-85 Hazen DWS1275 2
sdw.at Semidwarf at Wa16239-86 Hazen DWS1276 4
sdw.au Semidwarf au Ris 1508 Bomi GSHO 2444 Ris 1508 5
sdw.av Semidwarf av 555DK Unknown GSHO 2445 DWS1158 2
sdw.aw Semidwarf aw 90-Ma-1321-B Morex GSHO 2446 DWS1369 5 2HS
sdw.ax Semidwarf ax 17:17:2 Birgitta GSHO 2447 DWS1009 4
sdw.ay Semidwarf ay 18:02:4 Birgitta GSHO 2448 DWS1013 3
1 Number of crosses to the recurrent parent Bowman.
2 Barley chromosome in which the mutant gene is likely located.

 

References:

Davis, M.P., J.D. Franckowiak, U. Lundqvist, and T. Konishi. 1997. New and revised Barley Genetic Stock (BGS) descriptions. BGN 26:44-516.

Franckowiak, J.D. 1992. Allelism tests among selected semidwarf barleys. BGN 21:17-23.

Franckowiak, J.D. 1995. The brachytic class of semidwarf mutants in barley. BGN 24:56-59.

Franckowiak, J.D. 1995. Notes on linkage drag in Bowman backcross derived lines in spring barley. BGN 24:63-70.

Kucera, J., U. Lundqvist, and . Gustafsson. 1975. Induction of breviaristatum mutants in barley. Hereditas 80:263- 278.

Linde-Laursen, I. 1997. Recommendations for the designation of barley chromosomes and their arms. BGN 26:1-3.

Pecio, A., and J.D. Franckowiak. 1992. Coordinator's report: Semidwarf genes: A listing of genetic stocks. BGN 21:116-127.

Persson, G., and A. Hagberg. 1969. Induced variation in a quantitative character in barley. Morphology and cytogenetics of erectoides mutants. Hereditas 61:115-178.

table of contents | BGN main index