Brachypodium distachyon, commonly called purple false brome, is a model grass that enables researchers to more easily and thoroughly study temperate cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye and oats. These grasses are one of the most important groups of domesticated plants.
The sequencing of the nuclear genome of Brachypodium is a big step towards intensified research on cereal grain species with improved immunity to infections, better adaptation to tough climate and higher yields. The research described in Nature may have a substantial impact on global science, especially when it comes to the question of what humankind will eat in the future.
Re-read the news release for the Brachypodium genome on the DOE JGI website. Read the full Q&A at The Warsaw Voice.