Scientists at the University of Maryland have identified a gene that enables a rare wheat variety to produce three ovaries per flower, potentially boosting grain yields significantly. This discovery, detailed in a study published on October 14, 2025, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a genetic tool to enhance food production amid rising global demand. The finding targets the activation of the WUSCHEL-D1 gene to create extra grain-bearing structures in wheat flowers.
The breakthrough centers on a naturally occurring mutant of common bread wheat, which forms three ovaries in each flower instead of the usual one. Each ovary can develop into a grain, potentially tripling the kernels per plant. Researchers created a detailed genetic map of this multi-ovary wheat and compared it to ordinary wheat, pinpointing the WUSCHEL-D1 (WUS-D1) gene as the key factor. Normally inactive, WUS-D1 becomes active in the mutants early during flower formation, enlarging the floral tissue and allowing additional female structures like pistils or ovaries to develop.
"Pinpointing the genetic basis of this trait offers a path for breeders to incorporate it into new wheat varieties, potentially increasing the number of grains per spike and overall yield," said Vijay Tiwari, Associate Professor of Plant Sciences and co-author of the study. He added, "By employing a gene editing toolkit, we can now focus on further improving this trait for enhancing wheat yield. This discovery provides an exciting route to develop cost-effective hybrid wheat."
Wheat, a staple crop feeding billions daily, faces production challenges from climate change, limited farmland, population growth, and increasing demand. Traditional methods struggle to keep pace, making yield improvements crucial without requiring more land, water, or fertilizer. This genetic insight could enable breeders to trigger WUS-D1 activation, creating higher-yield varieties. The discovery may also extend to other grain crops, fostering multi-ovary traits elsewhere.
The study, led by Adam Schoen with co-authors including Yiping Qi, Angus Murphy, Nidhi Rawat, and Daniel Rodriguez-Leal from the University of Maryland's Department of Plant Sciences, was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Australian Research Council, the Royal Society, and the Yitpi Foundation.