The putative (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase gene family in Hordeum vulgare.

Abstract

There are several lines of evidence that link glucan synthase-like (GSL) genes to the deposition of (1,3)-β-D-glucan in higher plants. This study investigates the role of individual barley (Hordeum vulgare) GSL genes in the deposition of (1,3)-β-D-glucan. There is an emphasis on the identification of the barley HvGSL gene involved in the deposition of (1,3)-β-D-glucan in the response to fungal infection, in the anticipation that disruption of the barley orthologue might lead to increased resistance to fungal diseases in an important cereal crop species.