Scientists at the University of California, Davis have recently discovered the a fourth gene in wheat responsible for wheat vernalization, the biological process requiring cold temperatures to trigger flower formation. Identification of the newly characterized VRN-D4 gene and its three previously discovered counterpart genes is crucial for understanding the vernalization process and developing improved varieties of wheat, which provides about one-fifth of the calories and proteins that humans consume globally. Manipulation of the vernalization process could have significant outcomes for the global production of such an important staple food. Full article here.