Abscission zone development of Eragrostis tef

Grain shattering is an unfavorable trait for cereal crop yield. The abscission zone of Eragrostis tef is non-lignified and located immediately below the caryopsis, a position common in Eragrostis but rare in other species of the grass family. This project aims to identify the genes enriched in the abscission zone by performing RNA-Seq analysis in the abscission zone and tissues immediately above and below it at different developmental stages. The genes that are highly enriched in the abscission zones are candidates for future studies to reduce shattering in E. tef.