Épi de blé stérile marqué, dans un champ du Moulon

Marked sterile wheat ear in a field at the Moulon site in Essonne, Île-de-France. Wheat flowers are hermaphroditic and contain the ovule and the stamens. They generally self-fertilise, although certain genes result in infertility of the male reproductive function, and in this case fertilisation is carried out by another plant that is fertile. An ear with a sterile male function was marked in May, when researchers can identify them due to the separation of the glumes to allow the pistil to receive external pollen. Research scientists at the Quantitative Genetics and Evolution - Le Moulon unit study the genetic, epigenetic and molecular control of both qualitative and quantitative traits, and their importance in the adaptation and evolutionary history of plant species. They optimize the selection process according to target characteristics (growth, development and adaptation), incorporating advances in genomics and harnessing genetic resources, while taking into account changes in environmental conditions and growing methods.