Scientists at the University of Maryland have discovered a gene that has the potential to greatly increase wheat yields.
The gene was found in a spontaneously occurring mutant of common bread wheat that grows three ovaries per flower.
Researchers prepared a detailed gene map of the mutant variety and compared it to regular wheat.
They discovered that a normally dormant gene was switched on in the multi-ovary wheat.
Each ovary can develop into a grain of wheat, greatly increasing the potential yield for the crop because normal wheat plants only produce one ovary and one grain per floret.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
Darcy Pawlik, executive director of the Wheat Growers Association, said the research discovery sounds exciting.
