The L-Type Lectin-like Receptor Kinase Gene Regulates the Plant Height in Wheat.

Dwarfing is important for the production of wheat ( L.). In model plants, receptor-like kinases have been implicated in signal transduction, immunity, and development. However, functional roles of lectin receptor-like kinases in wheat are poorly understood. In this study, we identified an L-type lectin receptor-like kinase gene in wheat, designated as , and revealed its role in plant height. Real time quantitative PCR analyses indicated that transcript level was lower in a dwarf wheat line harboring the gene compared to its transcript level detected in a taller wheat line CI12633. Importantly, the virus-induced gene silencing results showed that silencing of in the wheat line CI12633 led to dwarf plants. The results of the disease resistance test performed after the gene silencing experiment suggest no significant role of in the resistance reaction of wheat line CI12633 to sharp eyespot. Gene expression analysis revealed that the transcript abundance of was more up-regulated after the exogenous application of gibberellic acid and auxin, two development-related phytohormones, compared to the gene transcript levels detected in the control plants (mock treatment). These findings support the potential implication of in the pathway controlling plant height rather than the disease resistance role, and suggest that may be a positive regulator of plant height through the gibberellic acid and auxin-signaling pathways.