2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): The objectives of the project are to (1) assemble a collection of natural accessions and 2,000 homozygous T-DNA lines; (2) conduct a detailed phenotypic characterization of the collection using a phenomic approach, and (3) begin detailed characterization of a select group of mutants and natural accessions. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): This project builds upon a collection of insertional mutants (T-DNA lines) and natural accessions of Brachypodium that we have already assembled. We will use PCR to identify homozygous mutants lines from segregating populations. We will then use high-throughput, non-destructive phenotyping (phenomics) to characterize the population of insertional mutants and natural accessions. This analysis is expected to identify variation in biomass, growth rate, water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency and other traits relevant to bioenergy crop development. Based on this data we will select a small subset of lines for more detailed characterization including molecular complementation analysis to determine if the T-DNA insertion is responsible for the observed phenotype. All phenomic data and homozygous mutant lines will be made freely available to the research community. 3.Progress Report: The goal of this project is to use high throughput, non-destructive phenotyping (phenomics) to characterize Brachypodium T-DNA mutants and inbred lines. During this year Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) phenotyped 100 natural accessions and observed considerable variation in all traits measured. Albany researchers identified 500 homozygous T-DNA lines and sent them to CSIRO for phenotyping. Initial phenotyping of 100 T-DNA lines was completed and variation in several traits noted. Progress is on target with project milestones. This project relates to the parent project by providing phenotyping data that can be used to study the genetic basis of traits relevant to the creation of improved biomass crops.