Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinase and MADS-box co-regulation of programmed cell death drives apical spikelet degeneration in wheat
Abstract Spikelet degeneration and pollen sterility are primary constraints on grain set in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), yet their molecular underpinnings remain poorly defined. We characterized degenerated spikelets 1 (ds1), a wheat mutant displaying apical spikelet degeneration and middle spikelet sterility. Relative to wild type (WT), ds1 exhibited a 17.0% reduction in spike length, an 88.8%