Characterization of the WRRC T-DNA Insertional Mutant Collection

The model grass Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) is an excellent system for studying the basic biology underlying traits relevant to the use of grasses as food, forage and energy crops. To add to the growing collection of Brachypodium resources available to plant scientists, we generated a collection of 8,491 Brachypodium T-DNA lines and assigned 5,285 insertion sites tagging more than 1,300 genes. In collaboration with the High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre in Canberra, we have initiated high-throughput phenotyping for more than 600 individuals homozygous for T-DNA insertions in or near genes. We are evaluating visible imagery (plant morphology, biovolume, growth rate, and color), chlorophyll fluorescence (quantum yield), and infrared thermography (canopy temperature and stomatal regulation) data to select candidates for detailed phenotyping. Current progress will be presented. Information about the Western Regional Research Center Brachypodium insertional mutant population is available on a searchable website (http://brachypodium.pw.usda.gov) designed to provide researchers with a means to order T-DNA lines with mutations in genes of interest.