Dubcovsky Lab

Finally, we developed dominant miR156-resistant alleles rSPL3, rSPL4, and rSPL13 that accelerate wheat heading time that can be used to improve wheat adaptation to changing environments.

Additionally, We showed that DELLA proteins can interact with SPL proteins reducing their ability to induce flowering and that interactions between DELLA and both VRN1 and FUL2 can compete with the DELLA-SPL interactions, likely reducing DELLA’s ability to repress SPL3 and SPL4 activity.

Earlier heading was associated with the upregulation of miR172 and flowering-promoting genes VRN1, FUL2, and FT1 and the downregulation of flowering-repressing genes AP2L1 and VRN2.

We also characterized the interactions between the age, photoperiod, vernalization and GA pathways in pasta wheat. Plants with reduced levels of microRNA156 or higher expression of SPL3, SPL4, and SPL13 exhibited accelerated heading time, with stronger effects under suboptimal inductive conditions.

Our manuscript on the role of the SPL genes and the endogenous age pathway on wheat heading time is now available in bioRxiv!

www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...

Explore the spatial distribution of the 74,464 genes imputed from the single cell RNA-seq into the spatial transcriptomics at dubcovskylab.ucdavis.edu/imputed-genes.

You can visualize the spatial distribution of the 99 genes included in the spatial transcriptomics analysis at dubcovskylab.ucdavis.edu/JD99-wheat-s...

Our Genome Biology paper on wheat spike development integrating single cell and spatial transcriptomics is now published! Check out the paper here: doi.org/10.1186/s130... and enjoy the beautiful pictures (including our 44 supplementary figures)! Be sure to check out some of our tools below!

74,464 genes with imputed expression from single cell RNA-seq into spatial transcriptomics cells dubcovskylab.ucdavis.edu/imputed-genes.

99 genes characterized with Molecular Cartography dubcovskylab.ucdavis.edu/JD99-wheat-s...

We also developed two WEB tools to visualize gene expression in cells of wheat developing spikes linked in the thread below!

Spatial and single-cell expression analyses reveal complex expression domains in early wheat spike development Wheat is important for global food security and understanding the molecular mechanisms driving spike and spikelet development can inform the development of more productive varieties. In this study, we...

An update to our spatial transcriptomics study of the wheat spike is now available in bioRxiv! The updated version includes functional validation of the roles associated with the specific expression patterns of LFY in intercalary meristems, SPL14 in inflorescence meristems, and FZP in glume axillae.

Durum wheat with Yr78 and common wheat with Yr78 and Yr36 in coupling show enhanced stripe rust resistance Introgression of Yr78 (where Yr is yellow rust) from common wheat into durum wheat enhances resistance to stripe rust in tetraploid wheat. A combination of Yr36 and Yr78 resistance genes in coupling...

🌱From Crop Science: New wheat lines combining Yr78 with other resistance genes cut stripe rust severity, offering stronger, multi-gene protection for breeders. (Chen Dang, Joshua M Hegarty, Xiaofei Zhang, Jorge Dubcovsky)
▶️ acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#PlantScience #PlantPathology

In this paper, we report the transfer of the stripe rust resistance gene Yr78 to durum wheat (PI 702944) and the combination of the resistance genes Yr36 and Yr78 in coupling in common wheat (PI 706442) to facilitate their simultaneous deployment in wheat breeding programs.

Durum wheat with Yr78 and common wheat with Yr78 and Yr36 in coupling show enhanced stripe rust resistance Introgression of Yr78 (where Yr is yellow rust) from common wheat into durum wheat enhances resistance to stripe rust in tetraploid wheat. A combination of Yr36 and Yr78 resistance genes in coupling...

Our lab recently published "Durum wheat with Yr78 and common wheat with Yr78 and Yr36 in coupling show enhanced stripe rust resistance"

The federal government's $1B dollar demand from the University of California is designed to devastate public Universities and their critical mission. Our lab will #StandUpForUC to defend one of America’s greatest public university systems and support this life-saving work. ucal.us/standupforuc

Talking Biotech 467 - #Celiac safe wheat? Less immunoreactive wheat has been developed by
@UCDavisPlants using old-school mutagenesis. A scintillating talk with grad student Maria Rottersman.
@ASPB
share.transistor.fm/s/9419052e

Old Tricks, New Wheat for Celiacs - Maria Rottersman SummaryIn this episode of the Talking Biotech Podcast, Kevin Folta...

🎙️ Just published a new episode of Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta: Old Tricks, New Wheat for Celiacs - Maria Rottersman. Have a listen:

Targeting Gluten: Researchers Delete Proteins in Wheat Harmful to People with Celiac Disease A UC Davis study found that deleting a cluster of genes in wheat may reduce wheat allergies without harming breadmaking.

🌱 From UC Davis: Deleting key gliadin genes boosts wheat gluten strength & cuts celiac-triggering epitopes—without harming yield. (Maria Rottersman, Jorge Dubcovsky)
▶️ www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/ta...

New work from a graduate student, Maria Rottersman, and others in the lab demonstrates that deleting the alpha-gliadins on chromosome 6D of wheat improves gluten strength and produces less celiac disease epitopes. Check it out now in Theoretical and Applied Genetics: rdcu.be/egXZ2

A high-quality genome assembly of the durum wheat landrace PI 192051. a Circular diagram showing the assembly features of PI 192051. The tracks, arranged from outermost to innermost, include: (i) chromosomes, (ii) GC content, (iii) gene density, and (iv) syntenic connections between A and B subgenomes. b Comparison of genome assembly quality (contig N50) between PI 192051and other published tetraploid (turquoise blue) and hexaploid (pink) wheat genomes. The horizontal axis represents the year, and the vertical axis represents the contig N50 size. Each circle represents one genome, with the diameter of the circle corresponding to the genome size. PI 192051 is highlighted with a red arrow. c Syntenic blocks among T. urartu (G1812 v2.0), T. monococcum (PI 306540), T. durum (PI 192051 and Svevo v1.0), T. dicoccoides (Zavitan v1.0), Ae. searsii (TE01), Ae. speltoides (TS01), and the A/B subgenomes of the bread wheat variety Chinese Spring (CS, RefSeq v2.1). Each line represents a syntenic block of 15 or more gene pairs with ≥ 80% identity.

🌱From a Nature Portfolio preprint: Cloning of Lr30 reveals it’s identical to Lr.ace-4A and encodes a unique NLR gene conferring strong rust resistance in durum #wheat, but less so in hexaploid. (Jorge Dubcovsky)
▶️ www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
#PlantScience #PlantImmunity

Public Statement on Supporting Science for the Benefit of All Citizens TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE We all rely on science. Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care. We count on engineers when we drive acr...

Please read this statement supporting science from members of US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. It’s important we stand against these egregious cuts to science.

Opinion | Why Did Elon Musk Go After Bunkers Full of Seeds? Gene banks are like a survivalist cache: our nation’s safeguard against all future challenges to growing the food we need.

Check out this article by a previous lab member, Iago Hale, on the impact of cuts to the USDA germplasm system. Definitely worth a read! www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...

Blocking the scissors: New genetic tool makes grain breeding faster Scientists have developed a new genetic tool that makes it easier and faster to breed grains that grow more efficiently and are better adapted to different environments. They're using a ground-breakin...

Check out our work on fine-tuning miRNA control of plant height in wheat and triticale, as covered by the folks at the plant sciences department! www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/deberna...

Single cell analysis of wheat spike development | Plantae This preprint wins the award for “most beautiful paper” this week. Xu, Lin et al. carried out an expression analysis of developing wheat spikes at three developmental stages, using both single-cell…

Plant Science Research Weekly -- Single cell analysis of wheat spike development (bioRxiv) @dubcovskylab.bsky.social (Summary by Mary Williams @PlantTeaching.bsky.social ) buff.ly/O6elukV

#PlantaePSRW

Three stages of wheat spike development with color-coded labels showing gene expression clusters. Several structures are visible clearly changing in form and gene expression pattern between the three developmental stages.

#PlantSci Research Weekly March 7 plantae.org/plant-scienc... (2/2) Single-cell analysis of wheat spikelet; Autoactivated calcium channel enhances symbiosis; Fungal pathogen hijacks phosphate signaling; Erucamide inhibits the type III secretion system; How Rhodanobacter R179 evades plant immunity

Spatial cell clusters based on the expression of 99 genes analyzed by smFISH at three stages of wheat spike development.

Expression profiles of genes differentially expressed during spikelet development.

We’re excited to share our new preprint on wheat spike development! We used spatial transcriptomics and scRNA-seq to take a closer look at the different cell types and expression domains during key developmental stages of the wheat spike. Check it out here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

A triplicated wheat-rye chromosome segment including several 12-OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE III genes influences magnesium partitioning and impacts wheat performance at low magnesium supply We previously reported a structural rearrangement between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale) chromosomes 1BS/1RS that increased the do…

🌱 A wheat-rye chromosome rearrangement alters Mg partitioning between shoots and roots by increasing jasmonate biosynthesis, enhancing wheat tolerance to Mg scarcity. (Gilad Gabay, Jorge Dubcovsky)
▶️ www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#PlantScience #Genomics #Wheat

Congrats @cristobaluauy.bsky.social, incredible news!

We’re excited to announce the recent publication from our lab was featured on the cover of the plant biotechnology journal! It demonstrates an approach for precisely controlling wheat and triticale plant height. Read the full paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...