Researchers traced the genetic basis of late flowering in barley to a single mutation, SNP22, in the PPD-H1 gene. By studying over 2,000 barley varieties and ancient samples, they revealed that this trait originated in wild barley from the southern Levant after domestication. This adaptation, linked to haplotype H10, enabled barley to spread to Europe and thrive under long-day conditions, shedding light on the evolution and spread of cultivated barley.
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