There are a number of well-developed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods for dicotyledonous plants, but few for monocotyledonous plants. Fursova et al. develop a new approach for transient gene expression in the grass, Brachypodium distachyon, using co-cultivation of mature seeds with bacterial cells, and including leaf extract of Nicotiana tabacum and acetosyringone. Expressed proteins are directed to a [...]

The model grass species Brachypodium distachyon has three cytotypes that are currently regarded as part of a single species. Catalán et al. combine analysis of phenotypic traits with multiple cytogenetic analyses and detect significant differences between the cytotypes and demonstrate stability of characters in natural populations. Genome size estimations, GISH, FISH and CCP confirm that the [...]

The Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) family of proteins are transporters of metal-phytosiderophore and metal-nicotianamine complexes. Information concerning their physiological role(s) is critical for understanding metal homeostasis on the whole-plant level. By comparative genomics analysis of the YSL family from Brachypodium distachyon, maize and rice, Yordem et al. establish the existence of a highly conserved clade within [...]