ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM 2 encodes a STERILE ALPHA MOTIF-containing protein that controls root growth angle in barley and wheat

Significance

To date, the potential of utilizing root traits in plant breeding remains largely untapped. In this study, we cloned and characterized the ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM2 ( EGT2 ) gene of barley that encodes a STERILE ALPHA MOTIF domain–containing protein. We demonstrated that EGT2 is a key gene of root growth angle regulation in response to gravity, which is conserved in barley and wheat and could be a promising target for crop improvement in cereals.